Tag Archive for: marketing

Inspire Loyalty – Eat Your Heaties

 

This company decided to inspire loyalty within its season ticket holders by creating a buzz with unique packaging and promotions. Instead of the standard envelope with tickets, this minor league baseball team used a custom cereal box filled with fun items.

Wouldn’t receiving this fun package inspire you to get excited about the upcoming season?

Case Study – Inspire Loyalty

Create a Buzz with Unique Packaging

Cereal Box

Objective

Inspire loyalty among season ticket holders and create buzz for the upcoming minor league baseball season.

Strategy Execution

We began brainstorming ideas in November 2014 for a fun way to package season tickets. Previously used concepts included a custom home plate box, metal tin/lunch box, and a wooden cigar box all designed and printed with Dayton Dragons branding. We designed and presented an imitation of a Wheaties cereal box, using the Dragons mascot, Heater, on the front of the box and called it “Heaties”.

The box contained a sample of the Limited Edition cereal, season tickets and owner’s manual, magnet and pocket schedule, and a “free prize” (custom promotional keychains). The full-imprint on the box was jam-packed with information such as the opening date, Dayton Dragons social media icons, serving sizes (of fun!), alumni players, QR codes, “best if used by date” (the date of the last home game in the 2015 season), and six puzzles and quizzes. All the giveaway promotional materials were delivered by March for final distribution to the season ticket holder recipients.

Results

92% retention rate for season ticket holders. We kept the project within budget and delivered on time. The impression this promotion makes sets the tone for opening day and increases overall game attendance.

Inspire Loyalty Fun Product Ideas

  Cereal Box

Schedule Magnets 

Baseball Bat Key Ring 

Bagged Treats

Reinforcing Values – Making It Fun

Presenting your company’s core values, beliefs and mission can be a boring exercise, usually presented in a folder or marketing sheet. How can  you reinforce values and information in a fun, engaging way?

Take a look at how one company went outside the box to do just that:

 

Case Study – Core Values

A Fun, Engaging Presentation

Puzzle

Objective

To reinforce the company core values to the Wood Group Pressure Control employees.

Strategy Execution

Wood Group Pressure Control promotes a series of core values that are commendable…Customer Focus, Integrity, Excellence, Performance, Teamwork, Diversity and Accountability, to name a few. To make sure employees would know and remember the values, the company developed a custom cube puzzle that even used actual employee faces with the core values imprinted on the various surfaces.

The puzzles were distributed to employees and were accompanied by a letter from the president, reinforcing the significance of the cube and of the values it represents. The cube, while promoting virtuous ideals and beliefs…is also fun! Employees can’t resist flipping the cube open and discovering all of the hidden surfaces as they explore the mesmerizing design of the puzzle. This is also a terrific reinforcement of the values as it is easy to get lost in the puzzle while absorbing its messages.

Employees can’t resist flipping the cube open and discovering all of the hidden surfaces as they explore the mesmerizing design of the puzzle. This is also a terrific reinforcement of the values as it is easy to get lost in the puzzle while absorbing its messages.

Results

The puzzle cubes were a huge hit with employees. Many were taken home as employees, on taking a closer look at the company’s core values, found them to be important to reinforce with their families, as well.

 

Reinforcing Values Fun Product Ideas

Magic Cube

Promo Blocks

Rubik’s Cube

Wave Calendar

 

Creating Awareness of Products & Services

Creating Awareness of Your Products and Services

Creating awareness of your products and services can be a bit daunting. How can you spend your advertising dollars in a way which will create the biggest impact and return on your investment? Studies have shown that using promotional marketing in your advertising campaigns leads to the greatest recall of any other media.

promos create advertising recall

What is it about promotional marketing that causes it to create such an impact? Why do 82% of the recipients of a promotional product remember the advertiser, while only 27% of online ad viewers can do the same?

Because it’s tangible. It can be held. It can be experienced. It can create a trigger or a call to action. And if it’s the right item, with the right message, it can last. It can be reused or viewed or remembered. And all of that helps to imprint your message, brand, product and services into the recipient’s mind.

The case study below demonstrates how effective (and fun) promotional marketing can be:

 

Case Study – A Race to Success

Increased Sales by 250 Percent

creating awareness The Creative J

Objective

To increase awareness and sales of a new American General Annuity product by 100 percent.

Strategy Execution

Targeting 2,000 agents in one of its selected banking institutions, American General Annuity launched the highly effective “Race To Success” campaign.

The auto race theme was supported by a series of scheduled mailings consisting of items such as a race car tumbler, a race car shaped pen and sticky notes with racing graphics. The mailings also displayed several messages using racetrack terms and clever wordplays to explain the annuity product and its features.

The first mailing contained coupons that could be redeemed for the first and fifth sales of the product. The first sale coupon was redeemed for a 13-piece tool kit featuring the “Race To Success” imprint. The fifth sale coupon earned the holder a mini-maglite with racing graphics.

Results

The program, lasting only two months, generated enough interest in the product to increase sales 250 percent-well above the anticipated goal.

 

The right marketing campaign will create a connection with the recipient, building the foundation for a relationship. This is promotional marketing that works!

 

Racing Theme Product Ideas

What Makes a Wise Promotional Product Choice?

Using the right promotional product for your marketing campaign will help you reap the benefits of increased business, loyal clients and appreciative employees.

The wrong item can at the least, be throwing your money away; or at the worst, a poor reflection on your company and it’s values.

For Example:

Poor Promo Choice–

You’ve got a trade show next week and suddenly realize you’re out of promo items to hand out. In a rush, you go online and order the least expensive pens you’re able to find and upload your artwork. There’s no time for proofing, so you anxiously await their arrival. When you receive the pens, you notice the imprint is small and hard to read, but there’s no time, so you decide to use them anyway. At the trade show, potential customers are taking your pens, but they are having a hard time reading the imprint. In addition, you’re finding out the pens aren’t writing well and have seen many of them in the trash.

Wise Promo Choice–

For this same trade show, another company is considering what item would be best to hand out to potential customers. Knowing they want this item to be used and kept by the recipients, they decide a pen will be their best option. They know on average, a pen is expected to be used at least 353 times by the recipient, if they like it’s quality and keep it. With the help of their promotional consultant, they are able to find a good quality pen and decide upon artwork that will effectively communicate their message. In addition, they decide instead of handing out only a pen, they will enclose it in a marketing card which details more about their company. The card also includes a coupon for their services, creating an incentive for the recipient.

 

After reading these scenarios, which company do you think will receive more results from their time at the trade show? What impression has each one created upon their potential customers? Although both companies use a pen as their marketing tool, only one of them saw the marketing value it presented.

People hold on to promos that are useful, relevant and memorable. Without any of those qualities, odds are, the item will either find it’s way to the trash or dropped in a drawer, or left behind. With purpose and goals in mind, we’ll help you make sure that doesn’t happen with your promos and that you get the most out of your marketing dollars.

 

promotional marketing card

Adding a marketing card to contain a smaller item is an easy way to get more information into potential customers’ hands.

MarketingPenCard

Small pen marketing folders are eye-catching and allow for more of your message to come through.

Not Your Typical Mobile Marketing

Calling all trade show exhibitors!  Looking for eye-catching, yet cost-effective display options for your booth or exhibit table?

We’ve got the perfect solution for you: Table Top X-Stand and Retractable Banners.

Did you notice one key phrase there? ….Table Top! No more lugging around gigantic floor banners, stands and cases. (Your back will thank you.)

We like to call these two products mobile marketing because the huge display area allows you to market you Table Top X-Stand & Retractable Bannerbrand but is still small enough to take everywhere.

Another advantage: the graphics can be changed out easily – a great cost effective way to update your change your message to fit the occasion.  Now companies with numerous products, events or services to advertise have the ability to do just that with these lightweight, low cost, and easily transportable banners and stands.

We are sure that you will love these two mobile marketing products. For more great trade show and exhibit ideas, give us a call. We’re here to help you find solutions which will bring you the results you need.

Can You Feel It? Media for ALL the Senses.

Do you have a prized possession to show off an achievement? Whether it be a graduation diploma, a trophy for dominating the third grade spelling bee, celebrating a five-year anniversary at work with cake, or maybe even a Super Bowl Championship ring – all of these gifts are items which trigger emotion.  We might never get rid of that third grade trophy because it takes us down memory lane back to that glorious moment, right down to the feel of the sweater on our back.

These trophies, these awards, these simple little items are Sensory Media.

According to Jae M. Rang, author of Sensory Media, “Sensory media does two things: it anchors the ‘feel-good’ emotion and it rewards the participants with a gift.”  When you hold sensory media – also known as a promotional product – you hold the brand.

Promotional products are responsive and tangible items.  They can create or recreate an entire brand.  If done correctly, sensory media can encourage, honor, influence, educate, and acknowledge everyone involved.

 Senses (for blog)

Companies have one goal in mind when purchasing promotional products: they want to be memorable.

Rang explains, “The reality is promotional products are a very human form of media. We’re sensory beings―we see, hear, smell, taste, touch―so ‘sensory media’ aligns so well with us. The products, as well as the messaging, represent the brand and are interactive in nature making them very impressionable.”

Sensory media demands interaction.  You can eat it, write with it, wear it, smell it, and play with it.  It is a constant reminder that it is much more than a branding tool and can be used to create an unforgettable foundation.

It’s time to move our perceptions of promotional products from the often-called “swag” or “trinkets” to the real, purposeful media and result-driven marketing it truly creates.

 

Tradeshow Planning

Tradeshow

We’re almost to that season… No, not Christmas and the holidays, but Tradeshow Season. Winter and spring seem to be primetime for tradeshows. If you plan to exhibit at an upcoming tradeshow, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:.

1.  Set A Goal – What do you plan to gain by exhibiting?
You spend a lot of time, money and energy planning for a tradeshow. Make sure you have measurable goals defined. You’ll be able to clearly track and measure your results in relation to the goals you set. Most goals are going to be either sales or communication related. Such as:

  • Sales related – showcase your products and services, find the decision makers, influence customer attitudes, open doors for future sales calls
  • Communication related – meet your customers, establish your company image, learn new industry trends, gather information about competitors, obtain feedback
For example, your goal might be to talk with at least 50 people of which you can qualify at least 10 prospects for future business.
2.  Staff Your Booth with Trained People
Staff should be well-trained on your product or services, friendly, and well presented. They should also understand your goals for the tradeshow and their role in achieving those goals. They need to come across as friendly and knowledgeable to anyone who stops at your booth.
3.  Create a Budget
Draw up a budget so that costs can be kept in check. Don’t forget to include display items and giveaways, such as banners, tablecloths, promotional materials and dining.
4.  Create an Eye-Catching and Effective Display
You won’t reach your goals if nobody stops at your booth, so it’s vital to have an eye-catching and inviting display.
  • Shoot for a high traffic location – look for locations near entrances, concessions, restrooms or near major exhibitors. Avoid dead-end aisles, obstructive columns, loading docks or other low traffic areas.
  • Appeal to the senses – display your products or services in a variety of ways so that attendees can see, touch, hear or taste them. Use colorful visuals, employ background music or sound, offer demonstrations.
  • Keep it simple – don’t go overwhelm with your graphics or “stuff”. One large photo or graphic that can be seen from down the aisle may have a greater impact than many smaller graphics. Use a catchy or simple slogan which readily identifies your business.
  • Gimmicks work – Drive traffic to your booth with contests and giveaways. Offer incentives or rewards to attendees who bring others back to your booth. Give out crazy hats or bags that will be seen all over the show floor.

Booth

5.  Promote Your Presence
No matter how good your booth looks, it will fail if nobody shows up. Strong pre-show promotion is a must. Studies show that 76% of all show attendees arrive with an agenda. You need to ensure that your booth is part of their agenda.
  • Call top customers and prospects, let them know where to find you at the show or set up meetings.
  • Send out mailings – include a small giveaway with the mailing to increase awareness. A simple magnet, card, or contest piece will keep you top of mind and is proven to increase attendance.
  • Email one or two reminders before the show.
6.  Be Approachable and Generate Leads
Being proactive at your booth will generate more conversations and thus more leads. Be proactive by initiating the conversation with the visitor. Use good opening questions such as:
  • “What brings you to the show this year?”
  • “What caught your eye in our booth?”
  • “Have you found what you’re looking for at the show this year?”
Generate qualified leads by determining the following about your booth visitors:
  • What role does this prospect play in the decision making?
  • Can they use your product or services in their company or department?
  • How long do they need in order to make a decision?
  • Are there any obstacles to your company conducting business with this person?
  • Gather their contact information
7.  Plan Your Followup Strategy
Decide on your followup strategy before the show. You’ll be able to reach out to the contacts you made while the show is still fresh in their minds.
  • Make followup a priority – it’s your number 1 task to make sure your tradeshow was successful.
  • Create a mailing before the show that’s ready to send out as soon as the show is over.
  • Qualify leads during the show – rank your leads while at the show and contact the hottest ones immediately upon your return to work.
  • Keep your promises – make sure you followup on any promises you made at your booth.
This is just a brief overview of some things to consider before exhibiting at a tradeshow. For some creative ideas for exhibit display items, giveaways, and traffic generators, contact your rep at The Creative J.Unknown