Magellan Promotions Insights to the World of Promotional Products

Reward the Referrals

It is well known that one of the most effective ways to generating new business is through referrals.  Referrals are key to generating new business for the following three reasons;

1. Provide instant credibility and trust (of the biggest obstacles to getting new business)
2. Can help you sell deeper within a company, industry
3. Low cost (your referral sources generate the leads)!

I recently attended a seminar put on by Tony Rubleski, a best selling author on marketing and sales, and one of the topics he discussed was referrals.  Tony stressed that to maximize referrals, your company must have a formal plan.  Here are three aspects of a good referral plan should have in order to be successful;

1. Formalized plan for how and when company representatives asks for referrals
2. Advertise the plan to all potential referral sources  on a continual basis
3. Reward referral sources to thank them and give them an incentive to continue referring

For a referral program to be successful for the long term, all three of these aspects covered.  As a promotional product company, we have help come up with a plan to appropriately reward referral sources.  From food and candy to BBQ kits and music download cards, we have a wide variety of products that we can provide to reward these important your ambassadors.  There are two main benefits of using a promotional product to reward your referral sources instead of standard gift cards.

1. Promotional products are useful items, so you can provide products that your referral sources will appreciate and have a need for.   
2. Since promotional products have an extended ad period, the referral source will be reminded of your company and the rewards of referring your company for a long time. 

There are several ways we can put together a referral program for your company.  One unique option is we can set up an on-line company store of blank or logoed products so your ambassadors can pick out which product they would like to have. 

To give you an example of a referral reward program, referrals to Magellan Promotions that turn into business receives a tasty tin of chocolate and yogurt covered pretzels. 

So when you want to take full advantage of using referrals to build your business, we would be happy to discuss options with you.  

Marketing During These Economic Times

Hardly a day goes by without hearing another financial indicator that does not bode well for our economy.  The big R word is being used a lot lately and this has many people worried. 

At times like these, it is a common reaction for companies to pull back on their marketing budgets.  Even if business is doing well, the thought process can be ‘we might be doing well now, but for how long will this last?’. However during times like these, companies should be aggressively marketing their businesses.  Think about it; if your competitors are pulling back on their marketing and focus on protecting their existing clientele, this leaves you an opportunity to be out promoting your business.  While your competition is hunkered down waiting for the economy to turn around, your company is continuing to build your brand and business.   

During times of recession, companies are still functioning.  Companies are still buying copiers and software while consumers are still purchasing cars and eating out at their favorite restaurants.  However when we learn about our declining economic situation, the picture seems to be painted that all of us will be living in caves until the economy turns around.  Once the economy begins to grow again, we will come out of our caves and business will start up again.

So what are your options to continue marketing your business during slow economic times?  Most of the traditional advertising methods (print, radio and television) are not only declining in effectiveness but are expensive to produce and roll out.  Marketing is now more focused than ever on individual messages and personal contact.  That is where the real power of promotional products (or as we call them business builders) comes in     Promotional products are not only cost effective vehicles to promoting your brand but offer numerous positive attributes that are unmatched by more expensive means of marketing.  What other advertising medium can help build a relationship with a prospect and be used by that prospect on a daily basis? Through three dimensional marketing, you can control exactly who receives your advertising message while providing a useful, long lasting product.   

So look at this possible economic downturn as an opportunity for your business to grab market-share by being on offense as other companies concentrate on playing defense.  Then when the economy begins to recover, your company will have a stronger market share and larger list of clients and prospects. 

Nine Key Features To Selecting a Compu-Briefcase

Today’s briefcases have certainly changed from 20 years ago when the hard leather products ruled corporate America.  No one put a briefcase over their shoulder and the cases were much simpler.  Briefcases have changed to accommodate how we travel, work and play.  The briefcases of today are often a nylon material and are built more on function than fashion.

 

There are numerous key features to consider when making a decision to purchase a computer briefcase beyond the price of the bag.  Since these bags are used on an everyday basis, the bags need to function for all of your uses.  So to help with the decision making process, we have made a list of 9 important factors to consider when purchasing a laptop briefcase. 

1. Shoulder Strap and Handles – Since these bags are made to carry laptops plus other materials, these bags can get heavy.  So you want to make sure that the bag you are purchasing a bag that has a padded shoulder strap and handles that are comfortable.  You also want to check the strap clips to see if they are made of a strong material the will withstand consistent usage.   

2. Bag Usage – Consider how the bag will be used by the recipient.  If you are buying a bag that you want your sales force to use for a long time, find a bag that will stand up over a long period of time and will easily not show wear.  If you are giving away a bag to your clients and prospect, make sure you take into account how your brand will be affected by the performance of the bag.  .   

3. Size of the bag – When considering a briefcase, you want to consider how many materials you will be putting in the bag on a worse case scenario to ensure the bag will work for you.  You also want to check the size of the laptop the bag holds to make sure it is an appropriate size for your needs.   

4. Zippers – This is often overlooked as an important part to a bag, but there are two important zipper features to consider.  First, the zippers need to be strong to stand up to consistent use.  Second, the zipper pulls need to be large enough to easily grab and hold on to.

5. Organizers – Most bags come with internal organizers for pens, business cards…  The thing you want to consider here is how accessible this organizer is and if it is user friendly for your needs. 

6. Internal Compartments – When considering a bag, you want to review how many internal main compartments the bag offers and if there are any internal dividers and pockets. Consider where the laptop is placed in the bag and look for contrasting colors for the internal dividers so that they stand out from the inside color of the bag. 

7. Aesthetic Appearance – The bag should fit the image that you want to convey.  So you want to consider the material, color scheme and style of the bag to make sure it fits your company image.   

8. Accessories/Pockets – Extras can make or break a bag.  Too many confusing extra pockets and accessories can make a bag too busy and nonfunctional.  Or too few pockets can be a waste of useable space.  So consider the outside pockets and accessories as an important feature for the bag. 

9. Decorating Options – Not all bags can be decorated the same way (embroidery, Deboss, printing, color dome…), so make sure you are choosing a bag that can be decorated in the manner of your choice. 

Since not all of these factors can be easily determined at looking at a catalog or online, we always recommend getting a sample and/or asking your promotional product consultant for their recommendation.  If we can be of any help with your decision making process, please feel free to contact us. 

www.identity-promo.com - 414-831-0184