In 2015, the journey of the promotional products professional in shifting prospects to clients is more challenging than ever. With the Internet, email, texts and blog postings added to phone calls, direct mail, meetings and cold calls all constantly interrupting the day, there is so much noise out there to overcome!
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This year, the Be Bold, Be Different, Be Memorable blog postings will have a common theme. Promo Marketing has asked me to focus on the topic "My Best Promotion."
Every year more and more products are being introduced into the market, and after a while it all looks the same. What if a program was developed that helped generate a true (ROI) return on a trade show investment? During my tenure as a promotional products consultant, I was absolutely amazed at how ineffective most marketing managers were at effectively managing the results of their trade shows.
As I was growing up—and even to this day, I am very involved in athletics. As a high-schooler and through university, I participated in varsity track, basketball and baseball, and studied martial arts, achieving my black belt in tae kwon do and hapkido. I learned many valuable lessons that have been tenets for me to this day; lessons that I use and have passed on to both my children, Caitlin and Alex.
For some people, setting sales goals is not a waste of time. It's all about perceptions, really—perceptions that empower and motivate you—and about being in control.
One of the best ways to promote your business is with compelling end-user testimonials. Here are 10 tips for testimonials that are compelling and useful.
How about that shocking headline? Did it grab you? Well, there is some meat behind the sensationalism. Buckle in and let’s go…
The Internet, the obvious low barrier to entry, unskilled salespeople, the economy—each of these drive price wars and ultimately erode profits. Additionally, these issues relinquish control over to the client thus giving the client ultimate control to manage and drive the process. However, it doesn’t need to be that way. Choose to be different!
A great many of my coaching clients ask for help with focus. They are easily distracted and stray from doing the important. As I was on the final push for the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro this past July, I asked myself what would get me to the top.
A few years back I was speaking at Fruit of the Loom’s national sales meeting, I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with a gentleman whose name escapes me, however, his message during our offstage conversations still resonates with me today.
Accountability—the very mention conjures up feelings and thoughts of stress, being under a microscope or micro-managed. Accountability is imperative to running any organization. Whether it is a business, a household or a team—everyone needs to be accountable. So where does it begin?
The show "How Its Made" is celebrating its 22nd season on television. How can we be a hit, season after season, for our clients and prospects in the apparel trade?
Be a hero. Look for opportunities to swoop in and save the day. Source your inner Thor or Wonder Woman. He's in there. She's in there. How do you do it? It's all about attitude—and having a superhero state of mind.
Many promotional products professionals are really getting beat up on price and see the industry’s products becoming commodities. Many people tell me that their customers are demanding them to match or beat impossibly low prices. What is happening out there?
As a speaker, it is imperative to follow a certain set of standards to stay on top of my game. These same standards helped me when I was making client presentations. Learn these guidelines and continue to hone them, and you will see amazing success.