As an Event Manager, do you think that the only events you should be attending are tradeshows? Well, we’ve got news for you. The more that you expand your vision, the more that your demographic (and business) will grow. If you are in the field of technology, get it out of your head that you can only attend IT conferences. From sporting events to concerts to street fairs, the limit of your brand’s reach is up to you. Whatever event you choose to attend, be sure to arrive prepared not only to mingle, but to make a strong connection with potential clients. In this article, we will discuss how using event merchandise will translate into gaining loyal consumers.
No matter which way you spin it, people love free stuff.
How often do you see people turn away free samples of food at your local market? How many times have you seen people go crazy for a free t-shirt at an event? Look at your collection of pens; we bet not many are store-bought. A free product is one of the easiest ways to get a person’s attention. However, we want to show you how to use that initial interest and successfully convert it into revenue.
Which events should you attend?
The first step is to choose your event wisely. Think about your current demographic and how you could expand it. Delve deeper into different age groups, ethnicities, and interest groups. For example, say you run a craft brewery. However, you are only drawing in broke, post-college graduates who come in specifically for your happy hour. Sure, you value your current clientele. Nonetheless, you realise that you, too, might be living in your mother’s basement if you don’t bring in higher paying clients.
Think about what kind of people you’d like to add to your clientele. What do they do for a living? Where do they hang out? What are their favourite activities? As the owner of the craft brewery, you may want to make an appearance some golf tournaments. Pay a visit to your local casinos or rent a booth at the next car show. Choosing the right events to attend is crucial. However, it is only part of the equation. Knowing the keys of using promotional merchandise at events will make your investment worthwhile.
How do you determine which promotional products to use?
When choosing the merchandise to pass out, don’t take the easy road. Skip what everyone else in your field is handing out. Unless you’re trying to attract writers, don’t bother with pens. Use your creativity to stand out as much as possible; design a quality product that people will actually use. In the instance of the craft brewery, a beer bottle opener, an eye-catching t-shirt, or a schooner glass would all work seamlessly as promotional merchandise. Why? Well, people who drink beer would actively use all three items. Each time they do, they will think of the brand that was so generous with them. When you are giving, it’s very likely that this act will be reciprocated – in the form of purchasing your products. This is how loyal consumers are born.
At Red Tomato, we are here to help you successfully grow your business, no matter if you’re a veteran or in the process of creating a start-up. If you would like to discuss ideas about which events or promotional products are right for you, please let us know! We will work side-by-side with you, helping you create the perfect alchemy of investment, creativity, and increased revenue. You will be amazed at how using promotional merchandise at events can lead to life-long clients, who in turn will very likely bring in referrals.
Are you ready to start planning your next event? Download your Free Event Planning Checklist and make your life easier.
Perhaps you have put on trade shows before, but gave up on them because they didn’t yield the results you expected. Or maybe this is your first time organising a tradeshow and aren’t sure where to start. No matter your situation, we want to reassure you that trade shows are absolutely worth the time and effort, if done right. They are an effective way to spread the word about your services, gain brand recognition, and ultimately grow your business.
Nonetheless, behind every successful trade show is a ton of organisation and preparation. We understand that planning a trade show can be overwhelming, and this is why we have created a trade show checklist for you. By following this list, you are sure to be ahead of the game before, during, and after your show.
What are you waiting for? Start planning now with the help of the following tips:
1. Create a realistic budget.
2. Book your hotel accommodations and arrange travel plans. The earlier the better!
3. Prepare your booth and products.
A solid trade show checklist starts with deciding on booth size, messaging, imagery, and decorations. Make sure your booth is well labeled and eye-catching to visitors walking by. Make sure you have enough brochures, business cards, and promotional products to give out to leads.
4. Decide on promotional products.
Tradeshow visitors are more likely to visit your booth if you are giving out a product, and are 80% likely to keep that promotional product for over a year. Make sure your promotional product strategically combines creativity, brand messaging, and usefulness to have the greatest impact on your booth visitors; turning prospects into leads.
5. Hire staff.
Trade show visitors are not likely to wait in line to talk to your company, make sure you have enough staff on-site to chat with booth visitors!
6. Thoroughly prepare your staff.
Practice, practice practice! Know what messages and language you want your staff to use when they’re chatting to booth visitors; make sure they’re prepared to convey your company’s message effectively.
1. Avoid generic questions, such as: “Can I help you?” and “Are you enjoying the show?”
Remember that you want to stand out.
2. Be chatty
Be the friendliest you can – waiting in line for the bathroom, buffet, seminars, etc. You never know whom you might be standing next to.
3. Network with your competitors.
Have a set schedule of times of when you are working the booth and when you are able to walk the floor.
4. Collect business cards.
Always follow up!
Only 50% of exhibitors will follow up with the people who visited their booths, if you are not, your competitors will be. Every single person you speak with should receive a follow up within 24-48 hours.
Here is a checklist of how you should go about following up to make sure your company message effectively resonates with booth visitors:
1. Select follow up channels
Online, email, telephone, direct mail, and face-to-face. The channels selected will depend on the individual and how they prefer to communicate.
2. Create a schedule
3. Check availability
Look at your availability over the next 2 weeks following the event and decide when you are able to dedicate time to contacting leads.
4. Decide the priority of each person
(1st is hot lead, 2nd is warm lead, 3rd in cool lead, 4th is not lead). Here are some examples of ways to reach out:
Hot leads – send a handwritten card or text message first couple days after the event, then later a LinkedIn Connection, and a couple days after that a promotional product and a coffee invite.
Warm leads – these are the most often miscategorised leads, so make sure to have a follow-up call to qualify them and which also makes a personal connection.
Cold leads – send a FAQ email, video message, or recap article a few days following the event, then a week later make a telephone call.
5. Make a calendar of how you will reach each person and the message you will send.
6. Execute plan.
7. Say thank you.
Remember to say thank you to the parties who helped make your trade show a success. This includes:
Key vendors – LinkedIn recommendation, email, tweet, etc.
What are the benefits of using branded promotional merchandise? Nowadays, it seems that many marketing strategies are purely social media-driven. No matter who you are in the marketing industry, don’t let anyone tell you that promo products are a thing of the past. Ignoring the power of merchandise would be the most detrimental business move you could make.
In this article, we will explore why promotional merchandise is still relevant to your business and how to implement it in your marketing mix.
BENEFITS OF USING PROMOTIONAL MERCHANDISE
What can promo products do for your brand?
It doesn’t matter if you own a motorcycle shop or bake gluten-free pastries; promotional products will help your business thrive. Think of these giveaways as a more useful version of your business card. Craft an eye-catching keychain or a reusable bag with your cute cupcake logo, and you have just created real-life, walking advertisements. This is an effective, affordable way to grow your brand’s exposure.
Why are promotional products still relevant in a digital marketing world?
You may be thinking, “This is 2018. No one even writes with pens anymore.” Sure, the world we live in has certainly changed, and technology is one of our biggest consumptions. Nonetheless, everyone loves a free gift, especially if it is useful. This type of advertisement puts your brand in a favorable light. It shows your clients that this is a reciprocal relationship; out of all the businesses out there, you actually care about their happiness.
Do you know how long the average tweet circulates? According to Social Media Specialist, Rebecca Coleman, the answer is “about 15 minutes.” Facebook and Instagram posts? Roughly 24 hours. However, according to the Promotional Products Association (PAA), 76% of people who own promotional merchandise can clearly recall the company who gave them the product, as well as the event in which they received it. To top it off, “Well-designed and useful promotional products are more often than not retained for a year or more, ensuring that your brand remains on display for far longer than would be possible via conventional promotional techniques.”
Do you want your clients to remember your brand for 15 minutes or over a year?
HOW TO IMPLEMENT PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS INTO YOUR MARKETING MIX
“Gifts such as promotional… gadgets and clothing bearing brand logos have been proven to be an instrumental aspect of any effective, balanced marketing strategy.” –Andrew Nash, Promotional Products Expert
What’s your marketing mix?
First off, don’t feel bad if “marketing mix” is a term you haven’t heard in awhile. We all have too many acronyms and terminologies to add to our lives daily. Basically, your marketing mix is a tool combining the four Ps: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. You want to have the right product, at the right price, in the right place, and promote it correctly. As Andre Nash explained in the quote above, the most important component of this “balanced marketing strategy” is the product itself.
The best way to add promotional merchandise to your marketing mix
Do your research and know your target audience. If you aren’t familiar with your buyer persona, get to know them before you make any decisions. Don’t select products to give away because you or your nephew think they’re super cool. What could your ideal client really use? What merchandise would he or she be excited to receive and show off to friends?
The best way to add promotional merchandise to your marketing mix is to get the product right the first time. Make sure you’re ordering quality items. After all, your promo products represent your brand; do you want your company to fall apart after being used twice? In addition, while ensuring that the merchandise represents your company’s key values, try to appeal to your clients’ emotions and ethics. For example, if you aim to target eco-conscious athletes, the last thing you want to distribute is plastic beer mugs.
Your marketing mix will never get better than your promo product selection.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions whatsoever about the benefits of using promotional merchandise, we are here for you. Likewise, if you’re struggling to integrate promo products into your marketing mix, we want to help. Whatever the case may be, our mission at Red Tomato is to assist you in achieving your biggest company goals.
When you work with us, you know that we are invested in your vision and ultimate success. From the first consultation to the day of distribution and beyond, we are there for you every step of the way. We are eager to show you how to make the most of your valuable services.
What do you think the benefits of using promotional merchandise are? How have you implemented promo products into your marketing mix? When did you see the best results? Please let us know in the comments below!
Get in touch with us and start your journey to becoming the best brand possible now!
“An interesting giveaway almost always guarantees participation.” -Deepa Christina Radh
You’ve done your research and your marketing team has picked out the perfect event merchandise. This is going to be your biggest event yet, and everyone is expecting your ROI to soar. After you think that you’re completely prepared for your day, be sure not to skip one of the key elements to success. Whether you’re representing your company at a trade show, festival, conference, or sports event, crowd engagement can make or break your investment. In this article, we will help you achieve your goals with the most innovative ideas for event crowd engagement.
Make it Personal
No two events are the same, and there is no one-size-fits-all promo merch for different demographics. As QuickTapSurvey points out, “At the center of any activation lives a big idea that must be creative, measurable and relevant… You shouldn’t expect the same activation to be successful across a bunch of different [events]. Personalise your idea based on the personality of the [event] and the needs and tastes of its core audience.”
Promoting your brand at a sports event will obviously draw in a different crowd than an opera concert, and your approach needs to reflect that. You shouldn’t expect that your logo-emblasoned beanies will go over well for both occasions. Also take factors, such as weather and event-based needs, into account. You could pass out blankets in the winter and sunglasses at a summer festival.
Crowd Games
Whether you’re at a travel conference, a marketing tradeshow, or a rugby game, most people love a fun, interactive game. According to research, roughly 90% of event attendees who engage in crowd games will remember the brand that hosted it. That’s quite a favourable percentage. Games in physical and digital form both work well. A trivia game that encourages attendees to engage others ensures that more people will get involved. This translates to increased brand awareness. On the flip side, if you own an app company, take advantage of how often people use their phones. Create a simple game specific to the event. Allow them to unlock rewards- such as promotional merchandise or a coupon code- with each level they pass.
Social Media Engagement
While everyone loves receiving free, useful gifts, you must always keep in mind how to get the most out of your company’s investments. This is where social media comes in, and your strategy should span the event before, during, and after the fact. Create a hashtag specific to your brand and the event. Send out a Facebook blast prior the event, hyping people up with clues to what you’ll offer. During the event, encourage people to tweet, tag your company on Facebook, or share a photo of their new gear on Instagram. Make sure they use the hashtag! After the event, thank everyone, and create a slideshow of the most popular posts.
A great way to motivate people to use your hashtag is to set up a photo booth. Take advantage of the selfie-obsession, and give them a colourful backdrop to pose in front of. Don’t forget to make your logo clearly visible! Another idea is to offer prizes to a few, randomly selected, attendees who have used your hashtag. For example, if you’re at a technology conference, offer a coveted item such as an iPad engraved with your logo. Stick to your budget, but keep in mind that the better the prize, the more engagement you’ll receive.
All in all, the more crowd engagement you inspire, the more your ROI and brand awareness will increase. No matter where you perform your activation, keep it useful, fun, and interactive. Also, don’t forget to utilise the power of social media.
What did you think of these crowd engagement tips for events? What has worked best for your company in the past? Please leave your answers in the comments below!
You’ve seen them everywhere – the iconic red and yellow Surf Life Saving Cap, the Qantas Air Hostess’ uniform, or a waitstaff’s branded polos. Is it really necessary to have company uniforms?
These company uniforms aren’t just there to make the staff look alike. Work uniforms serve many other useful purposes as well. Here are some of the benefits corporate uniforms have for employees as well as employers.
The employee benefits of having a work uniform
There are many benefits to having a work uniform. First of all, a uniform makes life easier for your staff. They don’t have to think of what to wear to work because they already have their outfits decided. They also don’t have to spend extra money on purchasing clothes just for work.
Having a corporate uniform also makes work easierfor your team. Uniforms create a clear distinction between employees and customers, so there will be no confusion. A work uniform will also give your employees authority on anything related to the company, because it is obvious they are staff.
Not only do uniforms make things easier for your staff, they also build team unity. There is a reason sports teams have uniforms. Having similar work uniforms will encourage team unity amongst your employees and promote company pride.
It is also a great way to onboard new staff. Once a new employee joins your company, giving them a work uniform will immediately help them feel like they are part of the team.
Company uniforms can bring a lot of benefits to your company in addition to improving work life for your employees. For starters, providing employee uniforms will ensure they will look professional and in-line with the company messaging. You can design exactly how they will represent your company and that is a great advantage.
Additionally, studies show that employees are more conscious of their actions when they are wearing a uniform. Employees know they are directly representing the company when they wear a uniform. It makes them more aware of what they say and do, and how they interact with your customers.
Uniforms also can improve security and protect your workers. Your company knows best the safest clothes and conditions in which staff should perform their jobs. The best way to ensure that they are compliant with safety regulations regarding clothing is if you supply it.
The branding advantages that uniforms provide
In a recent survey,56% of participantsexplained that company uniforms were more effective for their branding than online advertising.
Your employees are representative of your company’s brand, so shouldn’t their uniforms be as well? Like we mentioned before, you can design and determine how your staff’s uniforms will look. This gives you space to create a uniform that goes inline with your messaging and tone.
Company uniforms create brand awareness and are another way to promote your brand. The clear visuals on a uniform across an entire staff increases brand recognition.
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