How Will You Be Remembered?

How will you be remembered this holiday season?   A sure way to be remembered is with the gift of food. 

Why?

Food is for everyone.  When a business receives a food gift, everyone feels appreciated from the people answering the phone, to the service department, all the way up the ladder to the boss.  It’s important to remember everyone in a business works as a team.  Thank them all with a tasty treat they will remember.  

Smell and taste are the strongest two senses and the more senses applied to something means it will be learned faster and retained longer.   We’ve all experienced this at one time or another.  The smell of baking cookies reminds us of grandma’s house, and we can all relate to the smell of turkey roasting on Thanksgiving!

Giving the gift of food in a reusable container means that even when the food is gone, your container will still be around.  A branded container means that you’re name will still be seen, even after the holidays are over.

Of course food gifts aren’t just for the holidays.  Reward employees for a job well done with a delicious basket.  Drop off a branded jar of treats to a client for the break room.  Every time someone has a snack they’ll be thinking of you.

Why Branding?

Not only is it memorable, it’s fresh. You name on a bar of chocolate means it hasn’t been sitting on a shelf in a warehouse for months, waiting for the holidays to arrive.  Your clients will be able to tell the difference, and they’ll remember you for it!

Don't forget to visit our website for more great ideas to help your business grow.

http://www.ctsafeguard.com/

Cool Stuff!

We love cool stuff...who doesn't?  We also love sharing cool stuff and giving you ideas on how to use it to make your business grow.  Check back often to see what we've found and how you can use it in your business!



We love.... 'The Tangle' from our friends at Prime.

Are you tired of leaning over your desk, searching your computer for an extra hub?  You're sure you saw one, but it's dark in the corner, and hanging upside down is making the blood rush to your head.

Enter...The Tangle.  With a 30 foot cord and four ports that twist 180 degrees, you'll never feel like you're playing twister with your computer again.

Add your logo and give the gift of not having to see a chiropractor to your clients and customers. The Tangle, imprinted with your logo, will be on their desk for all to see.  Great word of mouth and visibility, while providing a useful product..who could ask for anything more?

Imagine how much more productive your employees would be with The Tangle.  Everything they need at their fingertips, and no more work related injuries with heads bumped on desks.   Give 'The Tangle'  to new employees, as awards for great service, or as gifts around the holidays. 

Dont forget to visit our website for more great ideas to make your business grow!

http://www.ctsafeguard.com/

 

It's been a busy September

We’ve seen a lot of vendors in the past few weeks.  Althea and Joe took on Vegas at the North American Business Meeting (NABM) earlier this month and visited a lot of our preferred vendors.  (And met Dick Vitale, the keynote speaker along the way)

Kate ‘attended’ a virtual show through ASI and got to see some pretty interesting things without leaving the comforts of the office. (Ever see hand-sanitizer in a self dispensing wrist band?  I hadn’t either. Pretty neat.)

To cap off the month, Althea, Dawn, Kate and Debbie went to Massachusetts to the NEPPA (New England Promotional Products Association) show.  It was a long day, with a lot of walking but we met some great people and saw some new and innovative products.  We’ll be sharing the things we’ve seen, as well as some of the great ideas we’ve gathered along the way.  Stay tuned!  

Joe and Althea Take Vegas

Althea and I recently attended the Safeguard North American Business Meeting in Las Vegas.  The meeting lasted for 3 days and offered a number of classes focused on finding solutions for our customers needs, from social media marketing to high security check products to promotional product campaigns.  We also visited 70 of our top print and promotional vendors at a private tradeshow. 

With the end of the year coming it is time to begin planning for 2012 and our team at Safeguard is uniquely positioned to offer everything a business needs to drive sales, operate more efficiently and reward top employees.

-Joe

Why Direct Mail?

Direct mail provides you with a more personal connection with your customers than other forms of advertising.  Newspapers, television and online ads are more generic and impersonal, and there is no guarantee they are going to reach the audience you want to interact with. With direct mail, you can target a specific group of people who are more likely to respond to your offer.

By placing your message directly in your customers’ hand, you are encouraging them to do business with you.   Providing them with information about an upcoming event, or a coupon, gives them the incentive to act.  By counting how many coupons are used, or how many sales are made, you can easily analyze the success of your program and adjust marketing as needed.

Another option with direct mail is to provide information about your business to potential clients.  By explaining the services you offer, you can make sure that potential clients don’t pass you by because they were unaware that you provided a certain service.  Sending along a small but useful gift, such as a calendar or key chain, also keeps your business in front of your current and potential customers each day.

Keep direct mail in mind when deciding how to establish a new connection, or to reconnect with a former customer.  Whether you send a simple postcard updating your clients about your business, or an elaborate flyer with professional images to announce a major event, by personalizing your news, you are more likely to get and keep the attention of those you are trying to reach.

Do Businesses Even Send Holiday Cards Anymore?

They should. Not E-cards, by the way.  Real, honest to goodness paper cards.  In envelopes.  With stamps.  That are delivered by the mail carrier. Why?

The simple reason is because people like to get things. People especially like to get things in the mail that aren’t bills.  Think about it.  If your mail consisted of ten invoices and a greeting card, which would you open first?  The greeting card, naturally.  Who wouldn’t choose a little bit of happy when it’s delivered to their door?

Why a ‘snail mail’ greeting over email?

In addition to giving someone a little lift, there are other reasons to avoid using email for all communication.  Consider how many emails the average person gets in one day.  Now think about how many times you check your junk folder to make sure you didn’t miss something important.  Do you want to spend your time writing a thank you, or a seasonal greeting to a client only to have it vanish into cyberspace?

 Even if your email is read, there’s a pretty good shot it’s going to be deleted immediately.  Have you ever seen anyone print out their email and place them on the mantel for everyone to see? 

I haven’t either. It’s simple.  People keep real cards longer.

How many emails do you delete each day without even reading them?  If your clients think your email is an advertisement, they might overlook it entirely.

Sending your customers a holiday greeting, a thank you card, or a birthday card lets them know you appreciate them enough to take the time to say so.  People feel special when they receive a card addressed to them instead of an email addressed to everyone whose name ends in .com. People who feel valued are going to remember who values them. 

Sending an actual card allows you to send other things as well.  Insert a calendar in the envelope and make sure your business is remembered all year long.  Include a coupon for a discount on your product if used within a certain timeframe.  There’s no rule that says you can’t, especially since you’re specifically thanking your customer base. 

It’s simple and direct.  Thank them for doing business with you and give them an incentive to keep the relationship going.

Take the time to send your customers a holiday or greeting card.  They’ll appreciate it and in the long run, so will you.

Who Needs a QR Code Anyway?

Everyone.  Why?  With the amount of people carrying smart phones, and using them to access everything from Amazon to Zappos, it’s time to take advantage of QR technology to drive business your way. QR codes give instant access to the information you want people to have.  No waiting for an email, fax or phone call, QR is all about instant gratification.  QR can also increase your business by linking to coupons, discounts and special offers. The potential for growth is fantastic.

What's a QR Code...and what can I do with it?

A QR code (short for Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional code that is readable by QR readers and smart phones.  It looks kind of like someone took an old fashioned bar code and shook it up.  Originally used as a way to track inventory, the QR code is now used just about everywhere.  It’s not hard to find a way to utilize these little guys in your business.

• Link your code to your Facebook/Twitter pages to increase your social media presence. A QR code will get you more ‘likes’ and ‘follows’ because it will be easier for people to find you.
• Put a QR on your front door to provide your customers with an instant coupon.  Because QR codes are so versatile, it is easy to change offers frequently, which increases traffic to your store.
• In real estate, add a code to a ‘For Sale’ sign, providing quick contact information for any interested buyers or a slide show of the property.  Why risk losing a potential sale because they drive by and run across another property with more information available?
• A QR code on a table tent can increase traffic by providing information of upcoming events, specials, drink menus, etc.  Offer a free appetizer or a discount on a second dinner on specific days to increase business.
• Have a ‘contest’.  Have two or three QR codes that are different from the rest, offering deeper discounts to those who scan them.  The code can link a customer directly to your mobile site, allowing them to shop and apply the discount immediately.
• Link a QR code to a video, showcasing your business or product.  Give your potential and existing customers instant access to information and new products, engaging them immediately.
• On your business card, have a QR linked directly to your phone so calls are immediate, or provide a map directing customers to your location.  
• A code directly on a product label can provide a link to more information or reviews for those interested.
• Put a QR code on your promotional items.  Provide your clients with information about your company, your contact information or special offers.

The potential for QR codes is really limitless.  Be sure that wherever your QR code takes those who scan it, that the page is optimized for mobile use.  Use your imagination and find a way to bring this technology into your business.