The USPS wants to raise rates to mail promotional materials, and it could have a negative effect on your business.
The United States Postal Service recently announced a proposed rule change for mailing direct mail, marketing mailers, and promotional merchandise through the USPS.
Until this point, all promotional materials and direct mail pieces were to be mailed using USPS Marketing Mail. This service is for both for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations. Under this program, you have been able to send:
- Printed materials (flyers, brochures, circulars, advertising)
- Newsletters, bulletins, and circulars
- Small parcels
If this proposed rule passes, what you can send via Marketing Mail will be limited just to letter-sized or flat-size pieces. All other mailers (like small packages containing branded giveaways) will have to use a different USPS service, like Priority Mail or Parcel Select. This could end up costing you more just to mail your promotional materials.
Though this was just recently announced, there has already been a great deal of pushback from both suppliers and distributors within the promotional products industry. If this goes into effect, this could negatively affect you and your marketing budget; you would end up paying more to mail logo giveaways to your customers.
Who this proposed USPS rule change affects
This affects anyone who mails promotional giveaways, branded merchandise, or marketing mailers to their clients or target audience. It can especially hurt business owners with strict marketing budgets because what used to be affordable might now become a deal-breaker.
But this will really affect non-profits who rely on marketing mail prices to afford mailing promo merchandise. In fact, the Alliance for Nonprofit Mailers has submitted comments to the USPS calling the proposed content restriction unlawful.
What you can do about this proposed change
The USPS is accepting comments on this proposed rule. You have until October 22 to submit comments. You can mail or deliver your written comments to:
Manager, Product Classification
U.S. Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446
Washington, DC 20260-5015
You can also email your comments or questions to: ProductClassification@usps.gov using the subject line “USPS Marketing Mail Content Eligibilty.”
You can read the full details of this proposed rule change at federalregister.gov.
4 Unconventional Year-End Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses
Let’s face it. From Halloween until New Year’s Day, we are inundated with garish billboard advertisements, commercials filled with redundant jingles, and sale after sale after sale.
So is year-end advertising a bad idea? Quite the opposite, actually. But we think a more subtle approach can lead to better business relationships and stronger client referrals within your community.
Here are a few unobtrusive year-end marketing ideas for your small business.
1. Throw a Christmas party and don the Santa suit.
Do your clients have kids? Dress up as Santa and host a breakfast, or even an open house with cookies and small crafts for kids. Offer a photo op, and have you or one of your willing employees dress up as Santa.
What you can hand out as an event giveaway
Kids of ALL ages will remember this event. If you’re having pictures with Santa, you can hand out some inexpensive cardboard frames as unique Christmas party favors. If it’s a small party, order these blank (we require no order minimum on our blank cardboard frames).
2. Offer your services at the school Christmas pageant.
If you’re a handyman, contractor, or construction professional, offer to help build the set for the school or church Christmas play. Run a catering company? Help provide snacks for after the show.
Even if you don’t have a skillset that is directly related to producing a school play, your services could be of help, and your business will likely get a free ad placed in the playbill or school newsletter.
What you can hand out as an event giveaway
If there is no playbill or newsletter, consider handing out branded calendars at the event as an easy way to get your name out there. Not sure if promo calendars are effective? Let us convince you why logo calendars are practical advertising investments.
3. Send thank you cards, not Christmas cards.
Religious affiliation and political correctness aside, saying “thank you” instead of “Merry Christmas” could give your customers a more favorable opinion of you over your competitors.
But why send a thank you card in place of a Christmas card from your business?
By sending cards that say “thank you for your business” or “we appreciate your loyalty,” you’re doing more than just pushing a sentiment at them; you’re telling them something genuine. By saying thanks, you’re encouraging your audience to keep doing business with your small business. And we all know how important it is to work with small businesses.
Now, we’re not saying that you should say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” Saying those things is a great idea.
Consider this instead: send a thank you card near year’s end, thanking them for their business this past year. If you want to say Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings, or Happy Hanukkah, write it with your personal handwritten message.
4. Blog about cookies or share your creations on social media.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a realtor, a plumber, a freelance designer, or a financial advisor. Just about everyone loves cookies, and people go gaga over Christmas cookie recipes.
Share your favorite recipe, or even a few recipes from your staff members. While this sort of blog or social media post might not be directly related to your industry, it’s a light-hearted subject, and it adds a nice “human element” to any business blog. Don’t have a blog? Send it in an email.
Further your reach by sending completely custom Christmas cards, complete with your cookie recipe (can’t choose just one recipe? Print a tri-fold calendar card for even more cookie recipe-sharing goodness).
We’re here for your year-end marketing needs.
Need some help choosing the best promotional item for your year-end customer giveaways? On The Ball Promotions is here to help. Browse our selection of custom branded items, or call our customer service team at (800) 475-2255.
Quick Tips to Save Money on Promotional Products
Ordering promotional products is an investment for your business, and it’s one you should take seriously.
Want to save money on your promotional products?
We’ve provided you with five easy tips on how to save money on your personalized promotional products. You want to get the most out of your investment, and we want to see your promotion succeed.
Read these quick tips to see how easy it is to save money on custom promo products from On The Ball Promotions.
1. Split the cost with another business, aka Co-Branding
They say sharing is caring, but sharing can also save your business some advertising expenses.
Your first thought might be that sharing ad space with another business or organization will take away from your ad’s impact, but that’s far from the truth.
You simply need to advertise with a business that complements yours, or one that is so entirely different that you would lose no customers in sharing the ad space.
Here are some promo item co-branding we’ve seen:
- Small town/neighborhood businesses: grocery store and mechanic (Sound weird? Trust us, it works! They are different industries, and both services are necessities to those separate audiences.)
- Funeral Home and Flower Shop
- Restaurant and Theater or Art Center
- Tax Attorney and Marketing Firm – great for marketing to local business owners
- Book Store and Coffee Shop
- Choose your profession and partner up accordingly: HVAC, plumber, electrician, carpenter, painter
How realtors use co-branding to save money on presentation folders
Realtors often use co-branding on their pocket folders, but they take it to a different level. Instead of splitting ad space straight down the middle, the realtor is the main advertiser on the pocket folder.
Rather than co-branding, they sell advertising spaces, much like the ads you see in a theater playbill. By selling advertising spaces, they are often able to completely cover the cost of their pocket folders.
So how can realtors sell ad space on their presentation folders without hurting their brand image?
Much like two businesses who participate in a co-branding initiative, realtors only choose advertisers who relate to—but con’t compete with—their business.
Here are some businesses realtors sell ad space to on their pocket folders:
- Mortgage brokers
- Insurance agents
- HVAC professionals
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Landscaping companies
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
2. Non-profits, churches, and fundraisers: Use sponsors or donors
This is a great way to provide donors with more brand visibility. To help offset the cost of purchasing promo giveaways, let sponsors help pay for those items.
Here’s how to save money on branded event giveaways with sponsors:
Offer ad space on your calendar, photo frame, or presentation folder to help offset to the cost of purchasing these logo items. You win because that’s money that you don’t have to take out of your marketing budget, and your donors or sponsors win because their brand is seen by a larger audience.
Here are some ways we’ve seen sponsor logos work
- Golf charity tournaments. Many golf events have different sponsorship levels. Include this option in the highest sponsorship level, since their logo and branding will be taken home with the event attendees, making a longer-lasting impression than just sponsoring a hole.
- School events. This is popular with sports events and music or theater productions. Sometimes those advertising print ads are sold to businesses, or sometimes they are added because that sponsor gave something to the organization or event (either service, hard goods, or a monetary donation).
- Non-profits. If a non-profit group is advertising for an event, they will often include sponsor logos on event invitations. They do this because those sponsors have typically donated a large sum to appear in that position.
3. For long-term products, buy in bulk
This is perfect for non-dated items like cardboard frames with just your business logo, logo note cards with your company logo, or custom printed gift card holders.
We offer upfront, bulk discount pricing, so order more and save. As long as the message will stay the same, we say stock up.
Here are some tips for buying branded giveaways in bulk:
- Don’t add a date. Once you add a date (like an event date), once that date has passed, those leftover bulk branded giveaways are mostly worthless. Buy promo items with just your logo or just the event name so that you can use these giveaways for multiple events and purposes throughout the year—and also use them for years to come.
- Stock up on multi-purpose items. Pocket folders with your logo can be used for press release kits, employee welcome folders, board member meetings, or general staff use. Logo note cards can be used for birthday greeting cards, employee anniversary cards, business thank you cards, or even as your company Christmas cards. Buy something that can be used by everyone to further your branding reach.
4. Email sign-up for special promotions
Retailers and e-commerce websites alike often have email lists that provide product info, tips, and, yes, money-saving promotions.
We’ll be honest, we’re no different.
Our email newsletter contains helpful product info, like product use case studies, effective ad design tips, and special offers. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your email address. Sign up for the On The Ball Promotions newsletter.
We’re here to help you save money on promotional items.
We work with a variety of businesses and organizations every day, each one with a different budget. We’re here to make sure you get the most of out your marketing budget.
Need some help finding the best promotional giveaway to fit your ad budget? Shop OnTheBallPromotions.com, send us an email, or call us at (800) 475-2255.
Why we don’t do “cool” promotional items
Consider this a brief study on why practicality always wins.
On The Ball Promotions (that’s us) is a small business, and we’re devoted to helping business owners and event planners like you find the best promotional items for your business.
We help you choose a product that will stick within your budget and advertise your brand in the most effective way. It’s all about ROI, right? Right.
Which is why “cool” often falls short.
“Cool” promotional items often generate buzz immediately after an event, but like fast fashion, their purpose is all-too-often short lived.
Instead, we focus on practical promotional giveaways because they have proven, time and time again, that their advertising impact lasts.
Are billboard ads and promotional calendars cool?
If a business decides to place a billboard next to a busy expressway, do they leave it up for a week or a year? Billboard ads are an old idea, but they’re still around for a reason: they are a constant brand reminder.
We’re in the suburbs of Chicago; millions of people see billboard ads on their way to work each day. Yet no one looks at a billboard ad and says “COOL!” No, they look at it, and the branding sticks with them.
The same idea applies to promotional calendars. Since they come with a full-year’s calendar pad, people hang onto them for that full year, giving your business constant, repeated brand exposure.
We’ve talked about how effective promotional calendars are, and we really mean it. You can add a really creative, eye-catching brand design to a calendar, but rarely is a calendar thought of as a “cool” promo item. They are practical, but practicality wins.
Because let’s face it, a fidget spinner won’t be as helpful as a reception desk reference calendar.
Does the cool promo giveaway reflect your brand?
Also, is it the best giveaway for your audience? When buying promo items online, sometimes we forget about our advertising ROI and get caught up with what’s hot in the marketing giveaway world (fidget spinners, anyone? That’s so 2017).
Remember, these are your hard-earned dollars you’re spending. We want you to get the biggest impact for the best value.
We’re not saying that your fifth-generation furniture restoration business can’t have a little fun with your branding. But what fits your brand image more, a single-use plastic cup, or a reference calendar that lasts all year?
We get it. With online shopping and cheap prices from overseas production (we work with American manufacturers), it’s easy to get caught up in the fast, the cheap, and the “cool.”
But when you buy cheap cool promo items, what are you really getting?
You’re getting something that was made with little more thought than, Well, this should hold their attention for a little while. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a small business owner, or manage a chain of restaurants, your brand deserves better.
Don’t settle for products that pop and fizzle. Choose something like a presentation folder for meeting new clients, or table tents to display in all of your branch locations.
If you want your brand’s image to be one of reputability and timelessness, choose promo items that reflect those qualities.
Short term clutter vs. long term brand visibility
The thing with cheap promo giveaways (let’s just call them “tchotchkes”) is that they can come across as a desperate way to catch your customers’ attention. Often, they just add clutter to desks or counters, and end up in the garbage after a very limited number of impressions.
Let’s look at calendars. These things last. According to a 2016 study by the Advertising Specialty Institute, customers do hang onto promotional calendars for the full 12 months, and 76% of branded promotional calendar recipients display them prominently in their home or office.
So what does a study on calendars have to do with your brand?
If your brand is one that values lasting customer relationships, and you build your business on referrals, things like calendars matter. Not only are you giving your audience a practical item for their home or office, you are giving them something that advertises a product or service they will likely use again or use in the future.
What is the product’s true purpose?
We put the focus on your brand, using the calendar, notepad, or folder as a vehicle for your brand’s message. Those “cool” promotional items? The focus is on the product first, your brand second.
Ask yourself this: what matters more, the promotional item or my brand?
We think we know your answer, and we’re here to help.
Browse our selection of practical promotional giveaways at OnTheBallPromotions.com, or call our customer service team at (800) 475-2255. We’ll help you choose a promo item that really reflects your brand.
Which material is more eco-friendly for promotional products: paper or plastic?
Trying to choose the most sustainable option for anything nowadays can make your head spin. With promotional products, it’s no different.
At On The Ball Promotions, we do have one easy way to differentiate sustainable products from not-so-sustainable products. Just ask yourself this question: is it paper or plastic?
Do you know which one is typically the more eco-friendly option?
Paper is more sustainable than plastic because paper can be recycled 5-7 times (plastic can usually be recycled just once), uses fewer resources to manufacture, and is biodegradable.
So what makes paper the more sustainable option when it comes to promotional products?
Paper uses less oil.
While plastic is not made from crude oil, it is manufactured from petroleum products. In 2010, 191 million barrels of liquid petroleum gases and natural gas liquids were used to make plastic products.
On the other hand, paper has no crude oil or petroleum products in it. True, some oil is used in equipment and transportation, but overall, much less oil is used to manufacture paper than is used to make plastic products.
And let’s not forget about the inks.
We work with our printer to ensure our products are made with soy- or vegetable inks, rather than petroleum-based inks. This means little oil is used in the production of our inks. It also means that the printing inks are low-VOC.
Paper is easier to recycle.
The paper products we offer can always be recycled, whether they were printed or foil stamped. The neat thing about paper is that is can be recycled over and over again (between 5-7 times).
Low-VOC inks also make it easier to recycle paper, as they come off the paper easier in the recycling process.
Plastic, however, has a very limited lifespan. Some plastics can only be recycled one time, others 4 or 5 times.
Despite that, most plastic doesn’t even make it to recycling facilities; an estimated 8.8% is recycled. The rest goes to the landfill, where it can take 450 years to decompose. During those 450 years, it breaks down into microplastics, causing pollution on both land and in the water.
Unlike plastics, the paper products we offer are completely biodegradable.
Compared to the low 8.8% of recycled plastic materials, more than 65% of all paper products were recovered for recycling in 2020. According to the American Forest & Paper Association, the U.S. has recycled more than 63% of all paper products each year for the past eight years. The organization’s goal is to exceed 70% by 2030.
Want recycled paper? That’s easy. Want recycled plastic? That’s not so easy.
Recycled plastic can be difficult to work with, and it can be expensive. Because of this, most plastic manufacturers choose to work with virgin materials.
Recycled paper, on the other hand, is easy to manufacture, and often costs the same as paper made from virgin pulp.
When you look at the amount of paper that is recycled (65%) compared to the amount of plastic that is recycled (8.8%), it’s easy to see why recycled paper is the more budget-friendly option.
You get a lot of personalization options with paper.
While the most popular paper for printed advertising materials is our standard white paper stock, we offer more than 40 color papers and textures, including a variety of recycled papers.
If you want to add your logo to a plastic promo item, your personalization finish options are limited.
With paper, we can do a lot. We can print, foil stamp, and even emboss. Want to get fancy? We can combine those finish options (we love custom projects; talk to us for a quote).
Paper is lightweight.
When looking at promotional giveaway items, paper products are most often lighter in weight than plastic.
If you compare vinyl document pouches to paper document pouches, you will find that the paper pouches are lighter than document envelopes made from their plastic-based counterpart.
So what do lighter-weight promotional products mean for you? Cheaper shipping costs.
We suppose this would be a good time to remind you that orders over $300 get free ground shipping (in the continental U.S. Sorry, Alaska and Hawaii).
Nevertheless, we still pay for shipping, so lower shipping costs for us mean lower product prices for you.
We’ll call that one a win for paper.
So which option is more sustainable: paper or plastic?
When it comes to promotional products, paper will almost always be the more environmentally sustainable option. From the raw materials to the finished product and back to the recycling facility, paper wins.
Need some promo items made from paper?
We have what your business needs—calendars, greeting cards, pocket folders, table tents, and more. Call us at (800) 475-2255, send us an email, or browse our products at OnTheBallPromotions.com.
How to design effective bilingual logo products
Many business owners have an audience who speaks just one language: English.
When it’s time to order promotional products, it’s easy. Just design it and you’re done. But what if you have a multilingual market? Bilingual logo products are easy to design, and we’re here to show you how to do it.
Being residents of the Chicago suburbs, we understand why advertising to a polylingual audience is so important.
Bilingual speakers are commonplace in Chicago and the surrounding area. While English is the dominating language, Spanish is the most common language behind that. Depending on what suburb or neighborhood you’re in, you could also hear Polish, Indic, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese, and more. Seeing advertisements in two or more languages is the norm.
But you didn’t come here for a lesson in Chicagoland linguistics. You came here with a marketing predicament. How do you design multilingual promotional giveaways for your business? It’s easier than you might think.
Here are four easy tips for designing effective bilingual logo products.
Tip #1: Choose a double-sided product
It’s easy: put one language on one side, the other language on the other. And there are a lot of promo giveaways that work perfectly for this.
Great for service professionals, local businesses, and hotels, the 2004 Door Hanger from On The Ball Promotions can be printed front and back, making it a perfect bilingual printed advertisement for your market.
Another great use for door hangers is for city services or public works. If the water department needs to leave notices on homeowners’ doors in a bilingual neighborhood, this is the perfect solution. No guessing on what notice to leave on the door. One bilingual logo product covers your needs—and audience.
Restaurants, bars, and cafés can promote drink and dinner specials or upcoming events with a double-sided table tent. The above example shows the menu in English on one side and in Spanish on the other side.
Need to promote a cause? The Wave Table Tent has a unique shape, and you can put the same message on both sides, but in different languages.
Tip #2: Choose a giveaway with large ad space
Have a lot of selling points or information you want to fit on your multilingual giveaway? You’ll want something big.
Here, a tri-fiold calendar card was used as a reminder to register for school. Instructions were given in both English and Spanish.
A health care system wanted to promote their website for appointment scheduling and visit overviews. Since they are located in an urban area that boasts a large bilingual audience, they chose the extra large 10-½” x 14″ daily date to pass out to all their providers as an office reference calendar.
Tip #3: Tell them what languages you speak
We see this a lot on advertisements, flyers, promotional giveaways, and on TV. The ad is entirely in English, but there is a line or two in there that say “Se habla Español” or “Mowimy po Polsku” (in case you are stuck, those say “Spanish speaking” and “We speak in Polish,” respectively).
Tip #4: Keep it simple
Sometimes, less is more, especially when you’re trying to fit two messages into one ad space. Sometimes branding is the only language you need to speak.
Hosting a community event in a bilingual area, or throwing a customer appreciation event? Take photos of guests and hand out cardboard picture frames with nothing but your logo.
Let’s make your bilingual logo products
Need some Spanish promotional products, or perhaps some Polish promo giveaways? We can help. Check out our entire product line at OnTheBallPromotions.com. Don’t see what you need? Help is just a phone call away. Reach us at (800) 475-2255.
Why receptionists love our desk calendars
You know what we love? Seeing our products in action.
And—hands down—the one we see the most is our desk calendars, especially on reception counters or consultant or sales reps desks. If you aren’t familiar with our small logo calendars, here’s why they’re so popular:
Promotional calendars take up a small spot on your desk, but are highly practical reference calendars for your patients or customers.
It really is as simple as that. Whether you’ve just finished your dentist appointment, or are at village hall getting picking up a building permit, the seemingly vintage calendar design suddenly makes a lot of sense.
Not just for receptionists! Here’s why secretaries, sales reps, and consultants also appreciate desk calendars:
Let’s look at a few real-use examples.
The doctor’s office receptionist and appointment scheduler
A patient at your medical office needs space to sign some forms and set up a follow-up appointment. It would be a nuisance having to work around a large counter calendar, or looking down at paperwork, then searching for the ubiquitous—but sometimes hard-to-find—wall calendar. Instead, you tuck a small desk calendar to the side by the pens. Takes up very little space, and is in a practical, easy-to-reference spot.
The busy sales rep
Or perhaps you’re a sales rep who schedules a lot of appointments. A desk calendar with a memo pad by your phone makes scheduling meetings and presentations a lot easier, but doesn’t take up too much valuable desk space.
The insurance agent
An agent is meeting with some new clients, and they are unsure which policies they need. So the agent gives them all the info they need, then references the calendar and asks if an upcoming date will work for them.
A desk calendar might be small, but it fits the space. No matter the setting, no matter the industry, it’s easy to reference whether you’re filling out paperwork or scheduling appointments.
Who uses desk calendars?
Our desk calendars are largely used by service-oriented businesses and organizations. Here’s a list of where we’ve seen our desk calendars in use, and where our customers have told us they use them:
- Dentist and doctor’s office reception desk
- Village hall or government office
- Bank and credit union teller counters
- Attorney, accountant, and business advisor desks
- Purchasing managers
- Insurance agent desks
- Library check-out counter
- Sales reps (keep by their phones for easy scheduling)
- School and daycare front desks
- College and university admissions centers
Who gives out these desk calendars?
Anyone who wants to promote their business, service, cause, or event.
For example, the local barber might give calendars to local business owners to display on their desks to stay top of mind. The grocer might do the same, advertising specialty services their store provides. The chamber of commerce might hand them out to all members to use on their work desks or reception counters.
Promotional calendars are not only an extremely effective advertising medium, they are also a highly practical, usable tool for your customers.
How to get desk calendars to advertise your business
If you’re curious about desk calendars, but not sure how to use this reliable advertising giveaway, talk to us. Our promotional products experts will help you choose the right calendar for your business. Call us at (800) 475-2255, send us an email, or browse our calendars at OnTheBallPromotions.com.
What is Branding?
Just when you thought you had advertising figured out, along comes marketing. And just when you figured out marketing, along came branding. But what is branding?
In its most basic definition, “brand” refers to a mark designating ownership. Think livestock branding on a large ranch. The animals are branded so that ranchers know who they belong to.
That being said, branding within the realm of marketing is very similar in that it provides an easy-to-identify mark that consumers use to associate your product or service with your company.
But this is marketing we’re talking about, so there is more to it than a mark on your product.
So what is branding?
Branding is the perceived image of your company and its product or service.
Sounds easy, right? Right. But let’s back up a few steps and go over some individual points and ideas that make your brand, well, your brand.
Branding is your logo.
Just like ranchers brand their animals to designate ownership, your logo designates ownership of your product or service. It plays such a significant role in your brand because it’s the thing consumers look for on store shelves, on signs, or online.
The logo might not be your entire brand, but the color, font, and shape of your logo all play a role in defining your brand. Not sure where to start with your logo? Read through these 5 easy logo design tips. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a designer to understand what makes a good logo.
But remember, the most important thing about your logo—and unfortunately all-too-often overlooked—is consistency. Using the same logo across all mediums gives your brand a more professional image, and helps consumers more easily recognize you.
Branding is your tone of voice.
Tone of voice is how you write on your website, blog, social media channels, emails, and in print media.
If you speak to your audience in a relaxed, easy-going tone, that paints a picture that your company is casual. If you speak in a very formal tone, with no playful or colorful expressions, your company will be perceived as structured, formal, and very professional.
Whether it’s the receptionist, the marketing team, or the CEO, make sure everyone understands your brand’s tone of voice—and follows it.
Branding is the imagery you use.
Whether you have an e-commerce jewelry store or a website for your construction company, the images you put online and in print will reflect your company’s image.
If time and budget permit, hire a professional photographer. Have them photograph some products, both studio-style (white background) and contextual (showing the product in use). Those photos will come in very handy for your website, email marketing, print marketing materials, and social media.
If you face budget constraints, read some intro books on photography, watch some videos, or peruse the countless articles online about photography 101. It won’t make you a pro, but you’ll learn enough to make your photos better than the average amateur.
But remember, sometimes a simple snap on your phone is all it takes. A landscaping company can take pictures of their crew installing a new landscape design and post to social media for immediate brand interaction.
Which takes us to the next point:
Branding is how you interact with your customers.
Yes, really. In fact, your interactions—whether they’re in-person, via email, or over the phone—play a huge role in your company’s branding. This is also the point where some businesses lose branding momentum because of lackluster communication or poor customer service.
Let’s look at a scenario where a contractor is going to a potential client’s house.
If you walk into a meeting or go to a bid job and you are prepared and confident, that is a strong reflection on your brand. It shows that you are reliable.
If, however, you arrive and start talking about you were almost late because you had to wait in a long line for lunch, and then had to take a detour because of construction… well, those are just excuses, and they reflect poorly on your brand. Even if you have the best logo design in your industry and a consistent tone of voice, a poor impression with customers or clients is a poor reflection on your brand.
And don’t forget about first impressions. Receptionists might not always get the credit they deserve, but they are the primary contact for customers calling your business. Though their only line might be, “Good morning, Frank’s Auto Supply, how may I direct your call?” it’s amazing the effect that little line can have on a caller. So do yourself a favor and hire a receptionist with a pleasant demeanor, who can handle whatever type of personality calls in. Because the first impression is a lasting impression.
Want to chat with our nice receptionist and easy-going sales team about promotional products? Give us a call at (800) 475-2255.
Branding is your product selection.
This isn’t a quantity vs. quality argument, but rather an idea that what you offer will affect how your customers view your brand. Stay focused with the products or services you offer—and why you’re offering those.
How do I enforce my company’s branding?
Write a brand book! In it, include specific directions for the following brand components:
- Colors
- Fonts
- Proper and improper logo usage – include specifics for social media platforms, if necessary
- Image use criteria
- Tone of voice guidelines
Check out this collection of brand books for inspiration.
Branding doesn’t have to be complex. For many small business owners, their branding comes naturally. Others have to really sit and think, and that’s ok. Your brand is how your audience perceives your business, so take the time to create a brand that really reflects how you see your business.
We’re On The Ball Promotions, and we can help you enforce your branding with promotional products. Find the best branded giveaways for your business at OnTheBallPromotions.com.
Why your small business should do business with other small businesses
We’re a small company. Our story might be similar to yours, or perhaps drastically different (you can read it here).
What we do know is that, as a small business owner or employee, you wear many hats, each and every day, and we know what it’s like. It’s exhilarating and frustrating at the same time, right?
Thing is, you’re not alone. There are a lot of small business owners out there; as of the 2012 census, there were roughly 33.2 million small businesses in the US, ranging from 1 employee to 500 employees. A majority are non-employers (a business owner with no paid employees) or sole proprietors. Others have hundreds of employees.
It’s awesome to see that there are so many motivated Americans running small businesses; small businesses are an integral part in building our economy.
All this being said, why should you, a small business owner or employee, do business with these other small businesses instead of large corporations?
The answers to that question are simple, personal, and relatable.
You get lots of networking opportunities.
Whether you’re working with a small business owner two blocks down or two hundred miles away, completing a business transaction with a fellow small business owner creates a fantastic networking opportunity. Why? Both parties learn more about the other’s business. If a peer needs a similar service, both small business owners will be more likely to recommend someone they’ve done business with before looking around online.
Not sure where to start when networking? Join your chamber of commerce (as an added bonus, being a member of the chamber of commerce gives customers an added level of trust in your business). Or perhaps there is a local, industry-based organization you can join. And, of course, there are always industry trade shows, conferences, and conventions.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention online networking. LinkedIn is the most generic professional networking site available. Connect with those you’ve done business with, join some groups, and seek out business owners nearby. And although Facebook is not necessarily a professional platform, there are industry-specific professional groups for you to join.
You’ll get empathy from your peers.
Even if you’re working with someone in a different professional field, it’s likely most small business owners find themselves in similar situations: managing business finances and HR issues, the stress of tax season and audits, or dealing with problematic customers. We’ve all been there, so we understand what it takes to deal with these situations.
And it’s not only empathy for the hard times, it’s also celebrating the excitement of business growth, the pride of receiving awards and recognition, and commemorating business milestones. It’s laughing over how (or where) your business started, or perhaps an embarrassing mishap with a client.
While empathy from other business owners and employees won’t necessarily increase the bottom line, sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that others are facing the same struggles and triumphs that we face every day.
You can help support the local economy.
With nearly every business having their own website, it’s easy to do business with companies across the US—or even globally.
However, sometimes you want to do business with a marketing company near you. You don’t have to understand much beyond Economics 101 to know that when you do business with local companies, you’re putting your money back in the pockets of people in your community, from the business owners to their employees.
You’ll get increased referrals from a trusted source.
Granted, this applies to small or large businesses, but sometimes you’ll get increased referrals from fellow small business owners because they empathize with you, you’ve networked with them, and you’ve supported their business efforts. Referrals like this can often mean more to consumers because a lot of people like supporting small businesses over large-scale corporations.
Don’t believe us?
It’s estimated that on Small Business Saturday in 2015, more than 95 million people shopped at small businesses. Yes, this is a special occasion, a “shopping holiday,” if you will. But those numbers don’t lie. Americans like supporting small businesses.
Sometimes they just need a little encouragement, like referrals from you and your professional peers.
We love doing business with small businesses.
Our customers range from sole proprietors to global corporations. We welcome inquiries from any and all business or organizations. As a small business, though, we get where our fellow small business owners are coming from. While we can’t offer discounts because of your business size or professional affiliation, we can offer honest customer service, professional knowledge, and empathy if you need it.
We’re On The Ball Promotions, and we’re promotional products experts. Our personalized promotional items advertise your business in a practical way. Find the best giveaways for your business at OnTheBallPromotions.com.
Are promotional calendars effective?
YES. Promotional calendars are highly effective. They are a practical giveaway for your customers, and they provide year-long brand visibility. That’s advertising money well spent.
But we’re in the business of promotional calendars, so of course we’re going to tell you they’re effective. However, we’re a practical group of promo product experts, so if we didn’t think they were effective, we wouldn’t sell them as a tool for growing your business.
Aside from the practicality of having a calendar sitting on their desk or hanging on their wall, that still leaves the big question: why are promotional calendars so effective?
Let’s start with what turns some people off of advertising in general: advertising costs money. Sometimes too much.
Calendars cost just pennies a day to advertise your business.
Let’s say you’re going to order 150 desk calendars, and the cost per calendar is $3.50. Most customers hold onto calendars for a full year, so that comes to just under 1¢ of advertising per day (0.97¢, to be exact) for each of your calendar recipients. Multiply that by all customers who received calendars, and that’s about $1.46 per day.
That’s less than a pay-per-click ad campaign or having a glanced-over banner ad on a website.
$1.46 per day? That’s budget-friendly ad spend right there.
Logo calendars provide year-round brand visibility.
Whether you put just your logo on a mini sticky calendar or go full-color on a large Daily Date calendar, your company’s name is right there for your customer to see all year long, on the desk, wall, or dashboard.
Your phone number or website are always right there. Your logo becomes a more and more familiar symbol. They don’t forget your name. The calendar is a business card that sits on their desk, hangs on their wall, or sticks on their dashboard all year long.
All of this is part of your brand. So put your logo on a calendar, get 365 days of easy brand advertising.
Promotional calendars reach a targeted audience.
The goal of any marketing campaign is to advertise your service or product to a specific audience. Let’s say you want to retain your current customer base, so your target audience is your customer base.
So you hand your company logo calendars out to your current customers. No money is lost on mass mailings to an entire community. What percentage of those mass mail recipients actually need your services?
You know your customers need your services, so your investment in advertising calendars will have a much better ROI than spending ad dollars on a mass audience.
Promo calendar case study
Let’s take a small HVAC business, run by just one man (let’s call him Joe). Joe wants to grow his customer base by reaching out to homeowners in his area. So he tries to think of the most practical location or event to reach new customers.
The answer? His city’s annual home and garden show. Attendees are either already homeowners or are interested in owning a home, so it’s the right crowd for Joe’s marketing outreach plan. So Joe sets up a table and hands out sticky calendars as a giveaway, telling them to stick the mini calendars on their furnace so they can reach him when they need him.
So did Joe fulfill his goal of attracting new customers? He wanted to reach out to a new audience within his market, and he did. Good job, Joe.
So, are promotional calendars effective?
Promo calendars are a year-long advertisement. They are also an inexpensive, practical promotional product. Lastly—and perhaps, most importantly—they advertise directly to your audience.
We call that a marketing WIN.
Promotional calendars work. If they didn’t , we wouldn’t sell them. They’re not throwaway advertising kitsch; they’re practical giveaways that your customers will actually use all year long.
Interested in promotional calendars for your business? We can help. Head on over to OnTheBallPromotions.com to start your promotion.