Archive for the ‘Branding’ Category

Every marketer knows that promotional merchandise is one of the most cost-effective branding tools for your business. There are a wide variety of options when it comes to branded goods, from logo pens and mugs to promotional clothing and sportswear. How to decide which one is right for you?

1) Occasion

Fist of all think “when” you are going to use your promotional collateral. Is it for a tradeshow or for a charity fundraiser event, or maybe for a corporate party? If you are attending a tradeshow, you want to prepare something small and handy that anyone can stick in their goody bag and use on a daily basis. The all time favourites are branded pens, of course. Handy, but not very original, because 80% of other participating businesses will be giving away their branded pens too. You might want to look into stress relief balls or mouse pads or maybe business card holders (if it’s a B-2-B tradeshow or a conference).

2) Budget

This one probably should have been number one in this list, because at the end of the day, your budget will determine the scale of your branding campaign and how much money you can actually allocate for the branded merchandise. You don’t have to spend a lot of money if you stay creative enough and; a) pick an item that will serve the recipient long enough, before it wears off or breaks; b) choose an item that will be useful, so the recipient actually uses it and shows off your brand. Promotional travel bags and backpacks are a great example of a useful branded gift. People need a bag for travelling and travelling is an excellent way to reach out your brand to a lot of people in a short period of time.

3) Audience

This one is a self-evident, but is a shame how often it gets neglected. Knowing your audience is key for any marketer. Do your homework, research the latest trends within your target audience group and then make your decision. It is easier to determine the new and hot trend nowadays with the help of the social media networking sites. See what people are talking about on Twitter or Facebook. Use any opportunity to learn more about your target market.

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Find more ideas for promotional gifts.

Christmas always comes faster than we want it to. Especially the part when we need to send out Christmas cards and do gift shopping. There is always so much stuff to do before the holidays, and you want to make sure everything is ready ahead of time, so you can actually relax and enjoy your time off.

If you are a business owner, you have an extra to-do list in addition to your usual family chores. One of them is sending cards and thank-you gifts to your partners and clients.

Christmas gifts are a great way for businesses to accomplish several goals at once:

1) Show them that you care

Thank-you gifts are just that, they show your appreciation and support. They show that you took a minute of your day to think about the person you are sending the gift to. Business is like life; if we like someone on a personal level, we will want to do business with him or her. If we are not fond of the person, then it is less likely that we will stay in a business relationship for long.

2) Customer retention tool

By sending a branded gift to your existing customers you provide a constant reminder of yourself (or rather your business) when the recipient is using the gift. Similar to other marketing and branding initiatives your conduct, presenting a gift strengthens your bond with the client, preparing them for their next purchase.

3) Branding tool

Branded, promotional gifts are an effective way to promote your business. Make sure your gifts are of a good quality and are actually useful to the recipient. Depending on your audience and target market you can always go with embroidered shirts, logo umbrellas or office supplies.

As long as it’s a thoughtful and sincere gesture, Christmas gifts don’t have to be extravagant or expensive. Use your imagination, and be merry!

A brand is simply how people perceive your company. By building your brand, you are building a reputation for your company, your products, and your services.

Why do you need to care about your brand? The answer is self-evident, but I would like to emphasize the importance of a brand when it comes to the power of branding and customers’ view.

• First of all; brands provide value and meaning to customers
• Brands can be an effective way to secure a “sustainable” competitive advantage
• Strong brands improve product or service identification and encourage repeat purchase

Customers are bombarded with thousands of promotional messages each day and you, as a business owner, have limited time to stand out and get noticed. A brand is a set of thoughts and feelings associated with your company and services that can help you to get noticed!

When I say “Telus”, what kind of associations and feelings does this brand evoke? Ok, we are not going to go there today for obvious reasons, but my point is; a brand can be a positive or a negative association with your business, and clearly you don’t want any negative associations with your company.

By providing top-notch services and products you are already making your first steps to create a strong brand. Once you have established your foundation, your next step will be to actually get your brand out there in the crowd by putting your logo on your corporate clothing, or promotional mugs, hats, pens, umbrellas, etc.

It is not surprising to see that more businesses are cutting back on their marketing expenses this year. The current economy situation leaves us thinking twice about where our marketing dollars are going to, and how we can save without compromising the overall outcome of our advertising efforts.

Unfortunately, the marketing (and branding) budgets are the ones to shrink first, and your job as a marketer is to make a decision on where and how to spend your money in order to get the highest return on investment.

Luckily, there have been definite positive changes in the branding department for those who are ready to take the risk and, more importantly for those who have a plan. As more companies are pulling out their branding efforts, you, if continuing on the right path can really stand out, as there would be less players to compete with. So, by not slowing down, and by gaining the momentum, you can really get ahead in the branding game. This is where your branded corporate clothing and accessories play their strongest parts.

Three easy steps to get it right in the tough economy:

1) Identify your audience and tailor your clothing for them. Narrow it down to hit the sweet spot. This will help you to decide what type of clothing you should go with. If your budget is tight, and you could go with only one piece of branded clothing; make sure it is the right one. For example if your target audience is into golf, do your research to see what is the hottest item for golfers this year, and go with it.

2) Clothing with a purpose. There are many options to choose from when it comes to branded corporate clothing. T-shirts, jackets, dress shirts, and when you are aiming to save, you want to choose one piece that would not only be worn often, but also could complement other pieces of your employee’s wardrobe. For example a simple, well-made raincoat or a waterproof jacket could be a good choice for the fall.

3) Branded Accessories. Umbrellas, baseball caps, luggage are always the winners when it comes to branded merchandise. Their longevity and durability have proven to be the best selling points for marketers when choosing a promotional material.

I agree, it’s challenging to stay in the game when the economy is tough, but if your branding efforts are done right today, you will see the positive outcome tomorrow.

Everyone needs an umbrella. Unless you live in Egypt or LA,  it’s a must-have item in any household. This is where the power of a branded umbrella comes into place. The fall is almost here and so is the rainy season, which makes it the perfect time for ordering a new batch of custom made logo umbrellas.

I know that at first it’s slightly overwhelming to decide what kind of umbrella to choose and how to find the right company for the job.

Here are some key points worth keeping in mind when outsourcing an umbrella company.

1)    Umbrella quality is the most important factor. Do not settle for a cheap, flimsy umbrella. By putting your logo on an umbrella you “approve” the quality of the product, and you don’t want to be associated with a cheap looking umbrella, that is going to flip inside out with the first blow of the slightest wind.

2)    Product range. Find a company that offers a wide range of rain umbrellas. There are so many options out there – windproof umbrellas, golf umbrellas, folding umbrellas, stick umbrellas, etc. Once you start working with an umbrella company and establish your relationships with them, it would be good to switch between products for different occasions, instead of looking for a new company every time you decide to order a children’s or golf umbrella.

3)    Free design services. Some companies offer free umbrella design services, which is a very nice perk. All you need to do is to submit your logo and design requirements and they will take care of the actual umbrella design.

4)    Branding options. A custom umbrella is called “custom” because it’s made especially for you, to meet your branding requirements, to reflect your corporate image. Look for a company that offers anything from pantone matched frame to printing on the handle and shaft, or an engraved handle ring.

And remember, a creatively designed promotional umbrella carrying your logo gives you a solid ROI. It’s a unique corporate gift on one hand, and an effective outdoor advertising media on another.

Corporate branding is a process of establishing a name and image for your business. If the branding job is done right, it works like a switch in people’s heads when they see your logo. If your brand is recognizable, well-known and trusted, people will more likely be willing to do business with you, rather than if they do not know you.

Yes, everyone starts without a logo and strong brand recognition, but a strong brand is something that should be built on a daily basis from the moment you decided to start a company.

So, how can the corporate branding be achieved?

First things first – you need a corporate logo.

The second step is to put your logo on something tangible; t-shirts, corporate clothing, promotional umbrellas, baseball caps, luggage, you name it.

Corporate clothing is one of the easiest, and proven ways to create brand awareness, simply because people need clothes, and if it’s free (promotional clothing is free most of the time), then even better. One thing you need to ensure is that your corporate apparel is of high quality, otherwise you will be wasting your time and money on clothing that no one is going to wear.

How do I choose what kind of corporate clothing to make?

You can go as simple as an embroidered t-shirt or a fleece, or you can design a branded jacket or sports wear. It all depends on your occasion, well, and your budget of course.

Are you having an annual corporate summer party? An embroidered baseball cap with your logo would be a nice party favor. New employee in the company? Welcome her/him with a corporate t-shirt, with your logo on it. Are you a start-up company that doesn’t have a marketing budget yet? Order some custom-made logo shirts or sweatshirts for yourself, friends and family.

Good luck!