Inspired Promotions Blog

It's only a tool.....

How do you build a house?  Depending on where you live or what the house is made of, that will determine the type of tools that you need.  Most likely though you will need a hammer, saw, screwdriver and other basic tools.

Marketing is no different, you need the basics also.  One of those basics is promotional products.  I was co-sponsoring a large New Home Bulder's Fair yesterday and as the attendees stopped by my display, I gave them a little something to remember me and my company.  Any guess on what I gave them?  I'll give you a hint..... It was simple, practical, and went with the theme of the event.  Give up?

                                                                                          Out of the almost 200 people that stopped by, at least 30 of them said something to the effect of "Do you know how badly I need one of these?"  I walked away with 9 confirmed appointments and have follow-up calls to another 14.  Not a bad ROI for an inexpensive, but targeted promotional item.

Do you have the right tools in your marketing tool box? 

Can you believe it???????????????

A 50 degree differential.  That's right, from 110 degrees to 60 degrees in a couple of days.  I came from Chicago where the saying is "If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute because it will change."  Chicago is also the perfect place to be a radio or television weather forecaster. Everyone there knows that you can't be blamed because the forecast is always wrong.  Now that I'm in Arizona, it is hard to believe that towards the end of May the high temperature of the day is under 60 degrees.  Oh just wait, in no time at all, we'll be back into the triple digits.

On a more serious note, I was at a wonderful Business Development Workshop yesterday sponsored by Shared Vision Network.  At the workshop, Suzanne Muusers talked about "Creating a Mini Business Plan That's Fast, Easy and Gets Results".  She emphasized the 6 sections needed in the plan:  Vision, Mission, Brand, Meaningful Goals, Strategies, and Marketing Activities.

What most entrepreneurs forget about or don't spend enough time on is their own brand.  What is your brand?  How are you remembered by your clients and prospects? 

It Finally Happened

Yes, it finally happened.....it hit 100!!!!!!  No, I'm not talking about the price of a barrel of oil because that happened a long time ago (don't we wish it was "just" $100 again?)  I'm talking about the temperature, and in my eyes, 100 means the start of summer.  When you think of summer, you think of swimming pools.  When you think of swimming pools you think of pool safety.  The first thing that comes to my mind with pool safety is all the advertisements and public service announcements that Fulton Homes does for their "2 seconds is too Long" campaign.

Why do I bring this up?  Not only because pool safety is very important, but also the idea that getting your message out is one of the most powerful tools to keep your name in front of your clients.  How do you get your message out?  Are you "top of mind" with your clients when they need your product or services?

NorthStar Identity Launches Blog

In today’s real estate market, new headlines declare more doom and gloom each day. The housing market is in a slump across much of the country, home values are declining rapidly and foreclosures are on the rise at an alarming rate. How, in all of this, does a real estate agent stand out among the noise, win more customers, and make more sales?

These are the challenges that Jim Gordon of NorthStar Identity understands well. He works not only with the real estate industry, but other businesses on a daily basis to help them generate referrals and stay top-of-mind with customers when it matters most. To help companies and entrepreneurs maneuver through the potential minefield of the recent market downturn, Gordon has added one more valuable resource for his clients: the Inspired Promotions blog.

“I wanted to create a blog that offers our customers a place to go that gives them ideas and inspiration as well as practical tools for how they can grow their business, even in a market downturn,” says Jim. “There is a lot of fear out there right now, but with a solid strategy and carefully chosen branded products that customers use every day, businesses can blossom during this volatile market.”

The blog will feature weekly branding tips, articles on promotional strategies and a monthly special offer promotion for regular readers. For busy professionals who must stay top of mind to succeed, NorthStar Identity’s Inspired Promotions blog is a must-bookmark resource for regular reading.