Your Classic Exhibits Toolbox for Sales and Marketing At a recent Shared Knowledge University, we reviewed ten online tools available to all Classic Exhibits Distributors. The attendees told u...
Read moreThere are several ads on television (yes, I still watch linear TV with commercials) for promote two large promotional product distributors. These are companies that sell branded products and do mos...
Read moreCase Study: How Product Placement Can Create Publicity They say there's no such thing as bad PR. Well, that may depend on your point of view, but product placement can create a b...
Read moreBusinesses often struggle with how to price our products and services. The goal is to find the sweet spot where our clients believe they're getting a fair price for the quality and other aspects of...
Read moreLast month, I attended the big, annual trade show for the promotional products industry. It's an amazing show where I not only see an array of new, "new," and classic promotional products; I also h...
Read moreThe question I'm asked most often at trade shows and in conversation, especially by new clients and prospects is, "What's hot?" You easily can substitute trendy, cool, popular, or another similar a...
Read moreWe often get asked about how to pick the "best" of whatever product our client is looking for. While the "best" can differ based on the situation, we also know that our knowledge of over 600,000 ...
Read moreThere's a huge problem in the world of graphic design in terms of how those designers are being taught or, at least, where their focus is in the design process. What many of us on the production...
Read moreI've been asked to teach a class on how to handle a promotional products order from beginning to end to ensure the best possible outcome several times over the years. Who is my audience for this ...
Read moreI'm heading off to my big industry trade show in a couple of weeks to find out what's new and exciting in the world of promotional products, I'm also inundated with clients needs for trade show g...
Read moreWhen Lev Promotions was a member at our local regional Chamber of Commerce, we would display at the quarterly morning mixers. I found the event to be a good networking opportunity and had gotten ...
Read moreHere I am setting myself up for controversy on my opinions, so read this at my own risk! I've been hearing for years now how the Millennial generation is so different - they want instant gratifi...
Read moreI was at a networking event the other evening and we had a guest speaker come in. He was billed as a motivational speaker, but I would call him a sales strategy speaker. He was dynamic. He had som...
Read moreClients often ask me, "What is the number one most effective marketing tool?" My answer is, "Delivering consistent customer service at or above the level that is consistent with your image." The...
Read moreOne of the challenges I face on a regular basis is getting clients and prospects to understand that their marketing should be a reflection of them without being all about them. It's a difficult c...
Read moreSo, I'm on the freeway when I see a van with signage for a plumbing company I know. Traffic is moving a bit slowly, so I'm able to peek in the window to see if the driver is one of the employees ...
Read moreWhile this may read as a gripe session, it's really not - it's not meant to complain; simply to illustrate a point about life. I am pretty much at the end of trying to connect with someone who w...
Read moreI recently read an article that said that even the most memorable TV ads didn't cause any type of significant, sustained uptick in business for the company advertising! Those super-expensive ads ...
Read moreFor years, I used to belong to those one-industry-rep-only "exclusive" networking groups. They were Chamber affiliated or independent groups, but built on the same basic model as BNI or Le Tip. ...
Read moreAlthough customer service representatives are generally the experience of the brand, people may be willing to give some leeway for a poor experience knowing that, in a larger company, the rep the...
Read moreI attended an event featuring a LinkedIn expert who spoke on how to leverage LinkedIn to grow a business. I must admit that I was impressed by what he had to say - his strategies made sense to me...
Read moreWhile COVID has changed some of our behaviors, I suspect that many of those networking-related actions will return once in-person events resume in full-swing again; if they haven't already in you...
Read moreChallenge: An insurance company needed to share the agenda of a conference and wanted to include a snack treat to keep attendees energized and not wandering off to find a snack. Soluti...
Read moreOne of the things I love doing most is helping my clients make their trade show/tabletop show exhibits more successful. It's been a quiet year in regards to those live shows, but they're baaaaack! ...
Read moreIt's been a while since I offered my "Developing a Strategic Marketing Plan" seminar, but I remember how I would get a lot of requests at the end of December wanting to know when the next one would...
Read moreI was reminded today of a discussion I had some time back about our local Chamber where I mentioned that our Chamber knows how to sell, but not how to market. Not sure what that means? Think tha...
Read moreOne of my pet peeves is the outgoing message on a seemingly friendly and helpful voicemail that ends with, "I'll call you back at my earliest convenience." Your earliest convenience? So, you'll ...
Read moreI was having a conversation with someone the other day about the definition of marketing. She believes that advertising is not a part of marketing. In my opinion, that is incorrect. The way I se...
Read moreSometime ago, I wrote about developing a 30-second commercial and five of the key points that go into making a successful elevator pitch. Part of that pitch can be your unique selling proposition, ...
Read moreDetermining what is a successful marketing technique for any business can be challenging. Most businesses don't have good tracking methods in place to measure ROI/ROO. Those that do, tend not to ...
Read moreI was rereading some old blog posts from 9 years ago and came across this one. While it is not applicable to this moment in time, with a vaccine here and events probably starting up again in th...
Read moreAlthough most of what I write about has some sort of tie-in to marketing, I'm taking this opportunity to write about something that has personal meaning to me. Hopefully, this will inspire someon...
Read moreHaving been a startup once and having worked with several over the years, I've learned some critical lessons. One of them is that startup owners' goals are usually lofty and they have the willing...
Read moreWhile we may not be sharing elevators too much right now, we are still attending networking events - virtual or otherwise - and that pesky "elevator pitch" is still important to your introduction...
Read moreI recently read a post on LinkedIn talking about trade show someone had attended in the past month. There was a comment that the best thing in the show bag was a COVID-19 rapid test. I have to admi...
Read moreThey say there's no such thing as bad PR. Well, that may depend on your point of view, but product placement can create a buzz that equates to an ad or PR spend. When you're ...
Read moreChallenge: A major television station was about to begin producing a new morning talk show. They wanted to do something special for the studio audience for the first month of the show's airings to ...
Read moreI don't know about you, but I don't believe that having that little sentence at the end of an e-mail advertising the fact that it was sent that e-mail from your phone excuses anyone from good spe...
Read moreI've been in the promotional products business for about 20 years now and I can tell you that I honestly believe that they are 99% worthless as marketing tools. OK, pick your jaw up off the floor ...
Read moreEvery month, I update the Lev Promotions website with a list of upcoming commemorative dates, holidays, and events that can be used as wonderful marketing tools. Many of them are fun, silly littl...
Read moreGood marketing is all about making you stand out from the others - building a brand that is recognizable, unique and compelling. Why then do so many business owners insist on doing what someone (...
Read moreI was on the phone the other day with a prospect. I asked him who his target market is and he told me, "Every church in town." When I told him that, although in theory "every church in town" coul...
Read moreI am often asked if food gifts are good for marketing purposes. The answer is, "They can be." If you choose something that doesn't taste good, or that arrives spoiled or broken, then no, it's no...
Read moreEver notice that, once you've put your mind to something, things kind of fall into place to make it happen. I was reviewing my strategic marketing plan to see where I was on track and what needs...
Read moreWith businesses opening back up and bringing along better access to our clients and prospects I am fielding a lot of questions about choosing and using promotional products effectively; especiall...
Read moreAs businesses begin to open up again, it's time to make sure that we've done everything we can to polish our image and make some changes to the way we present ourselves to our customers and clients...
Read moreFor three years, my older daughter participated in the annual Lion's Club speech contest for high schoolers. She didn't win, but she gave two really great performances out of her three speeches. Pu...
Read moreA while back, I received an invitation via Facebook to join a new networking group that is being organized by someone local to me who owns a marketing company (yes, that technically makes her a c...
Read moreIt's a challenging time we're in now. Between trying to stay healthy and keeping our finances healthy with lost jobs and/or lost work for those of us that are self-employed, some days just feel lik...
Read moreFirst of all, let me say that this article is not in response to what's happening with the Covid-19 virus. It's just a general observation of the challenges of being sick when you're a solopreneu...
Read moreSo 2020 is officially here. Have you taken the time to review 2019's business successes, challenges and (dare I say it?) failures. If we want to make a difference to the growth opportunities we h...
Read moreI've noticed over the many years I've been in business helping others market theirs is that there is often lack of clarity with the terms "target market" and "referral source." In order to market...
Read moreAnyone who's known me for more than 2 minutes knows that I am an avid Disney fan. Not only do I enjoy just about everything Disney on a personal level, but I find many things about their busine...
Read moreDoes your business have a change coming up that you'd like to publicize? A custom branded product that has a changing image component to them are the perfect item to get people excited about the ...
Read moreIt's not unusual to find me at a trade show - either walking the aisles of one of my industries trade shows or exhibiting or helping a client with their exhibit. A couple of weeks ago, I attended t...
Read moreI remember when I enlisted my then 0-year old daughter to stuff and label envelopes for me for a Lev Promotions' mailing. Each envelope required seven steps in order for it to be ready to mail. S...
Read moreSo you're a micro - to mid-size business owner and you just don't/can't find the time to be away from the office long enough for a vacation? I'm in the same boat, but I know that vacations are impo...
Read moreAt the risk of creating a great LinkedIn controversy and alienating my photographer friends, clients and prospects, here is my view of using your photograph as a marketing tool. I know the most po...
Read moreAlthough most of my blogs have some sort of a tie-in to marketing, I'm taking this opportunity to write about something that has personal meaning to me. Hopefully, this will inspire someone readi...
Read moreI've been working with several start-ups recently who are looking to put together a marketing plan. Their goals are lofty, but they have the willingness to work to achieve those goals. The proble...
Read moreI often see the question "What's the difference between marketing and advertising?" posted in chat groups and discussion boards. Do you know the difference? Or is there one? Advertising is a par...
Read moreEvery business has something that they are promising, along with the product or service itself - a benefit. The item will work better or faster. It will last longer. You will receive it within a ...
Read moreYou may have seen that stress or mood card, often used as a business card, which shows your stress level when you put your finger on the test button. It turns a color which you match up with th...
Read moreChallenge: A promotional products company (okay, it was us, Lev Promotions) was exhibiting at our first international trade show/conference (ExhibitorLive) and wanted to ensure some show floor me...
Read moreI often start a seminar/presentation/workshop on marketing by saying, "Your number one marketing tool is great customer service. Without at least good customer service, there's no sense in spending...
Read moreI often see the question "What's the difference between marketing and advertising?" posted on chat groups and discussion boards. Do you know the difference? Or is there one? Advertising is a par...
Read moreA five-star resort that frequently hosts corporate events for Fortune 500 companies wanted to reach out to corporate guests to entice them to return for family vacations. The goal was for the guest...
Read moreA computer repair store attended a local home show and wanted something useful but unique to attract attendees to their booth. They also wanted something that would keep their name top of mind when...
Read moreI am often asked how do I like being in sales? It's a valid question; after all, part of my job is to sell promotional products. When I am asked this, I always think back to my days as a Front O...
Read moreThis may be a repeat topic, but it's worth saying again: Your vendors are your friends - or at least they should be. They are the ones who keep your supply chain moving, who may be able to help y...
Read moreThere are those who are of the belief that any publicity is good publicity - even if it's bad. I don't believe that a bad story about you can be "good" publicity, but there may be a way to spin i...
Read moreYou don't have to work in the field of promotional products to notice the impact they can have on any organization's marketing efforts. As the most effective medium of advertising across all genera...
Read moreA great marketing tool for businesses and organizations is holding an event. It can be an open house, a launch party for a new product or service, a grand opening for a new location, an anniversa...
Read moreWhen it comes to business gifts, what's outside can be at least as important as what is inside the package. By making the packaging and/or presentation of a business gift creative, we can make th...
Read moreDescription: 3 Section Lunch Container Industry: Healthcare What it was purchased for: A hospital was looking for a unique lunch packet for nurses, doctors, and anyone else employed at any of the...
Read moreA few weeks ago, I wrote about how it's already time to start thinking about holiday business gifts. Well, after the gifts have been chosen, the big question is all about the imprint. Although ...
Read moreBusiness gifts of food are, without a doubt, popular; maybe even the most popular holiday gift item. The question remains, "As a business gift, do I get the desired marketing results with a foo...
Read moreIf you haven't already started thinking about your holiday business gifts, then now is the time. While most people believe that the best time to give holiday business gifts is the week or two le...
Read moreWhat generates over 95 million photos and videos each day, 4.2 billion likes daily and has 700 million active users? You guessed it - Instagram. This photo and video sharing social platform have re...
Read moreNow I may have addressed this topic before - I may even have an entry under the same name; nevertheless, here I go again. Why, you ask? Because I am currently on hold to speak with a customer ser...
Read moreI was planning to write about branding today, when I came across an article in one of my trade magazines about how too much growth too fast can be as detrimental to a company as a decline in busi...
Read moreDescription: 4" Mini Plush Buddies Frog with Shirt Industry: Education What it was purchased for: A community college was looking for a giveaway item to have at their booth for the upcoming colle...
Read moreI know a few business owners and sales people out there who seem to be addicted to the "expert" marketing or sales guru. They have made almost a religion out of following several different coaches ...
Read moreIt seems to be a constant refrain from the many business owners and managers: "We just don't have the money to market the business." My question to them is, "How do you expect to make sales if y...
Read moreWithout revealing my own political beliefs, I can honestly say that politics embodies one of the worst examples of marketing that I have ever seen. Really doesn't matter if it's for a person or for...
Read more'Tis almost the season for developing marketing plans for 2019. But, really it's never too early to start planning. When a developing a marketing plan is on your to-do list, it's important to kno...
Read moreProduct: Auto Safety Kit Industry: Banking What it was purchased for: As a gift to anyone who opened a new bank account for over $1,000.00. How it was distributed: The bank was looking for a bra...
Read moreWhile you may think the photo above is just a map, in fact, it is a microfiber cleaning cloth. Or, in better terms, it is a great pre-show mailer invitation for your target market attending a tra...
Read moreI make it a point to attend the trade shows in my industry on a regular basis. I've been to my favorite ones often enough to notice when a regular exhibitor isn't in their "usual" spot. Not only...
Read moreObjective A local brewery wanted an eye-catching promotional item to place on tables that would boost their alcohol sales and highlight their weekly specials while encouraging enrollment for their...
Read moreI believe the most overlooked, and yet very important, part of a marketing plan is evaluating the components to see what is working and how effectively it is working. That means examining the resu...
Read moreYou've probably heard the phrase "viral marketing." If you're unsure what it means, it is word of mouth taken to the nth degree by having people spread the word quickly and effectively about a pa...
Read moreI firmly believe that customer testimonials are one of the most powerful marketing tools available to any business. Nothing says "success" like a customer willing to put into words how much what ...
Read moreSubstantial research shows why color matters in branding and how it plays an important role in how we experience marketing. These 16 facts give you a glimpse into how you can use color to your adva...
Read moreWe've all heard the phrase "under-promise and over-deliver." I am a personal fan of that saying. I heartily believe that you should deliver at least to the level you promised. When possible, prom...
Read moreI am already preparing to head to a regional trade show for promotional product consultants in August. It is one of two large trade shows for the promotional products industry that I attend each ...
Read moreIn a world of ever-changing advertisement trends, there is one marketing solution that never grows old - promotional products. Studies show promotional products were ranked as the highest advertisi...
Read moreIt seems that the biggest argument for decreasing marketing budgets is that the results are seemingly "impossible to measure." Without hardcore proof of ROI or ROO, how do you justify spending th...
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