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It is starting to become a marathon. The longer our economy fails to achieve real growth, the more businesses will be dropping out of the race. What can you do to ensure that you will still be here for the long haul? And how will you keep your employees motivated? Unless you are in the investment banking business, federal dollars are hard to come by for a loan, and bonuses and pay raises for employees are out of the question.
With a limited budget on all ends, advertising and employee recognition suffer. And with both expenditures vital to the growth and success, a drop in the number of businesses in this country is inevitable. Still, smart businesses with short resources find a way to promote their organizations and still inspire their staff.
One economical way to achieve both effective marketing and employee service is by distributing promotional products. We are not talking about just handing out a pen on every sales call. We are talking about an entire program that can turn low priced giveaways into high yielding investments.
If you still exhibit at trade shows, health fairs and conventions, than promotional giveaways are a must. You have spent thousands of dollars on travel, exhibit space, hotels and catalogs or literature, so why not a few hundred more for a unique item to leave out that will draw attendees to your booth. Custom candy is a natural draw to people who must walk by hundreds of exhibits, aisle by aisle. Once you get them there, personally hand them an imprinted magnet or Office Gift gift with your company’s contact information. This way they can reach you when they get back.
When making sales calls, a personalized coffee mug, wall calendar or mouse pad will come in useful for the buyers you are meeting as well as their receptionists. When meeting with a group, bring in a candy of food assortment to warm up the meaning and leave laser engraved pens or customized key tags that will be held onto. Consider your audience. Gender and age appropriate gifts will make a bigger impact. And if you already know about some of their personal interests or hobbies, find something that they will enjoy. Golfers love logo golf balls and accessories while bbq enthusiasts would love cooking utensils.
Finally, the act of motivating employees and promoting pride and loyalty can be helped with kind gestures such as gifts for their interests. Or you can handout useful items like personalized lunch bags and bottles that can be used during breaks. You can leave a message that promotes quality, production and safety. You can also hand out custom apparel for casual work days and when employees leave for the day, your logo will be seen by everyone later on.
Promotional items with your custom message or logo are quite affordable. You can spend as little as a quarter to get your name out there. And you can spend more when you want customers and employees to know how much they are appreciated, even when times are tough.
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