Buzz Worthy
Brand Strategy
Come to the promotional items buzz for brand strategy blogging tips and to here the business branding talk of town.
Tips for Increased Facebook Activity
0127 days
by Brandon
in Brand Strategy
If you’re a distributor or supplier with a Facebook page, you know that it can sometimes be difficult to engage fans. But there are ways to increase activity on your page.
Let’s take a look at some tips from the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI):
1. Post more photos
Did you know that sharing photos on Facebook generally garners more attention than videos, status updates and links? Mashable reports that picture updates will actually receive as much as 20 times more feedback.
2. Ask questions
This one’s kind of a no brainer. Ask questions in order to better engage your audience. It promotes conversation!
3. Focus on quality, not quantity
Nobody likes spam, so make sure your company’s posts don’t look like it. Update no more than two times a day to receive the highest level of engagement possible.
4. Timing is everything
So much research has been done on the best times to post on Facebook. Stop ignoring the statistics! The best times to share an update on Facebook, according to Dan Zarrella, are at 12 p.m. and just after 7 p.m.
What other tips do you have for promotional products companies on Facebook?
PPAI on Attracting Young Workers
0182 days
Did you know that approximately 50 percent of adults aged 18 to 29 with a college degree are either unemployed or underemployed? Millennials are in dire need of jobs, and the promotional items industry, according to PPAI, needs young workers. But how can we bring the two together?
PPB Magazine asserts that certain elements will help draw younger individuals in to your organization. They are:
1. Flexible hours for a well-balanced work and home life
2. Access to technology for increased productivity
3. Consistent feedback outside of an annual review
4. Work with meaning, like opportunities for philanthropy and volunteering
Why’s it important to bring in more young people? Adventures in Advertising Corporation’s Greg Armstrong told PPAI that “We need new blood in order to grow. We need that new blood because we just won’t have enough hands [to get the job done].”
Furthermore, without new, younger workers, the industry could shrink. bus
What do you think? Do we need more fresh talent in the promotional items industry?
Can Promotional Items Help Sway Voter Opinion?
0274 days
In politics, distributing logoed products is nothing new. With hundreds of millions of dollars spent on giveaways leading up to a big election, one can’t help but wonder: Can promotional items really help sway voter opinion?
According to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) and Counselor magazine, items like branded apparel certainly do have an impact: “more than two-thirds (67.4%) of respondents have taken an action as a result of receiving a promotional item, with more than half visiting a candidate’s website.”
A smaller percentage of both men and women — 34 percent and 24 percent, respectively – said that they’re more likely to vote for a nominee after receiving a political giveaway. Furthermore, the study revealed that nearly 25 percent of Democrats have contributed money to a campaign after receiving a promotional giveaway. So while website hits and donations don’t necessarily equal a vote, ASI’s findings do highlight the importance of promotional items in raising awareness for a candidate and his or her fundraising efforts.
“It’s clear from ASI’s election survey results that candidates need to pay close attention to how they brand their campaigns and get out their core messages, since what they choose to sell or give away can sway voters to pull a lever, give money – or choose the other guy,” ASI president and CEO Tim Andrews said.
Have you ever voted based on a promotional item you received?
Ready for Fall?
0295 days
Whether or not you want to admit it, the autumn season is right around the corner. Don’t worry — it’s not time to pack up the bathing suits and pool supplies just yet. But when it comes to promotional items, it’s best to be prepared for next season’s promotional campaigns!
Thankfully the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI)’s “The Joe Show” covers fresh products all the time. The most recent episode covers “New Products for Fall Promotions.” Check out the clip here:
As you can see, Joe’s picks range from unique socks to dazzling holiday ornaments. These giveaways are perfect for tailgating events, charity drives, and more.
Make sure your company or organization has the best fall promotions so you can stand out through the holiday season!
Where’s Your Holiday Spirit?
0298 days
The holiday season seems to begin earlier and earlier each year. As soon as fall rolls around, we begin prepping for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Chanukah and eventually Christmas. It might be a little soon to feel any holiday spirit today, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start preparing.
The Promotional Products Association International (PPAI)’s “Promotional Consultant Today” offers the following tips on seasonal selling:
- Suggest holiday-related ideas
Share relevant products and information ahead of a specific holiday or season to pique readers’ interests. When they’re prepping for Halloween, for example, “share ideas on the best flashlights to use for trick-or-treating.”
- Show off your lively employees
One trick to becoming a well-liked company is to be (and have) fun. Organizing an office-wide Thanksgiving feast? Post photos and videos of your celebration on social media platforms and blogs. Customers and potential customers will enjoy the personal touch.
- Dress up your logo
We’ve all seen at least one “Google Doodle.” You, too, can add a special touch to your logo or website landing page to observe special holidays and seasons, “be it a football jersey, an injection of orange and black for Halloween, Valentine hearts or whatever the season.”
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to get your company involved in celebrating the season! Any more tips? Leave a comment below!
Disney on a Diet
0344 days
Last week, The Walt Disney Company took a big step toward preventing and hopefully defeating America’s child obesity epidemic. Disney has placed restrictions on commercials for junk food during its television and radio shows, as well as on its websites.
According to Ad Age, Disney’s new guidelines match federal standards: “Snacks shouldn’t have more than 150 calories per 1-ounce serving, for example. Juice shouldn’t have more than 140 calories per 8-ounce serving; added sugar is only allowed for cranberry juice, up to 5 grams in a serving.”
And Disney won’t stop there. Counselor magazine reports that “…it will also reduce the amount of sodium by 25 percent in the meals served to kids at its theme parks, and create public service announcements promoting child exercise and healthy eating.”
It’s a smart move for Disney, whose healthier products will appeal to parents who want their kids to eat better. But more importantly, it shows that the folks at Disney realize how influential the brand really is. “The emotional connection kids have to our characters and stories gives us a unique opportunity to continue to inspire and encourage them to lead healthier lives,” said Disney CEO Robert Iger.
How do you think Disney’s decision will affect the company’s bottom line?
PPAI Unveils Part II of Calendar Study
0382 days
Last year, the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) unveiled new data about promo calendars. The organization’s latest video continues the calendar study, offering more proof on why printed calendars are so important. Check out the clip now:
Let’s discuss some of the highlights. According to PPAI, promo calendars provide:
- Strong recall
- Low cost per impression
- Favorable reactions
PPAI calls this combination the “advertising trifecta.” And that’s what makes advertising calendars so effective; they successfully combine all three. According to PPAI, “Despite the increasing reliance on technology, the printed calendar is still a mainstay in the home and office.” Eighty percent of homes and offices throughout America have at least one promo calendar.
Therefore, advertisers can really benefit from utilizing this type of promotional item. Their brand is likely to be remembered, and most recipients even plan to work with the advertiser. If you’re not handing out calendars printed with your company name/logo, it’s time to reconsider!
Have You Adopted the Code of Conduct?
0386 days
by Brandon
in Brand Strategy
Are you familiar with the Promotional Products Association International’s Code of Conduct? It’s “a statement of principles. It is what a supplier would hand to a distributor and what a distributor would hand to an end buyer when an end buyer expresses those expectations,” according to PPAI.org. If you work within the promotional items industry, watch the following video:
While there is no law in place for adopting the PPAI Code of Conduct, it could be a great option for your copmany. PPAI asserts that “there is remarkable similarity among those that have been adopted. Many of them draw from working conditions standards that have been put forth by various international entities, government as well as non-governmental.” Why wouldn’t your company want to commit to ethical and responsible conduct?
Honk if You Love Promos!
0389 days
As Promotions East prepares for its June 3 – 6, 2012 trade show, industry professionals are beginning to promote the big event.
Touted as “The Industry’s Premier East Coast Event,” the trade fair is sure to be bigger than ever. It will take place at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, NJ. The show will feature new marketing concepts, stand-out products, the industry’s top suppliers, and informative educational seminars.
Check out the bumper sticker Promotions East sent out to advertise the event and its associated contests:
According to the direct marketing piece’s instructions, if you stick the ad on your car and post a photo on Facebook, you’re eligible to win a free hotel stay during Promotions East! But that’s not all; if your vehicle is spotted at the trade show with the sticker attached, you could win a $15 gas card!
Will you be attending Promotions East?
Guest Blogging: Advice and Opportunity
0407 days
If you’re a supplier or distributor within the promotional items industry, chances are you struggle, at least to a certain degree, to get noticed. The industry is constantly growing and expanding, and it may take some time to build your brand and get recognized. But one way to do so is by guest blogging on other sites.
According to SEOMoz, a Web site that allows companies to effectively manage their SEO and monitor their social media, “Guest blogging and guest authorship across websites other than your own is a fantastic strategy to build your brand, get in front of new people, earn some links back to your site, and earn the recognition from other communities that can lead to all sorts of good marketing opportunities in the future.” But how can you keep it high quality and make it worthwhile? SEOMoz’s Rand Fishkin offers the following advice:
- Pitch to write for blogs within your niche
- Pay attention to Web sites’ Domain Authority, Page Authority, and other metrics that may be helpful
- Try to gauge how big of an audience a blog has
- Be wary of blogs that seem to take guest posts from everywhere; they’re more likely low-quality and may not help you at all
- Build relationships first, reach out about guest blogging after
- Optimize content for the blog’s audience
- Incorporate embeddable content that reference back to your site
Here at Promotional Items Buzz, we’re happy to work with you on creating a guest blog post. If this is something you might be interested in, feel free to leave a comment! Together, we can create a supportive community within the promotional items industry.