Promoting your business?
So you're in business. You go to a seminar/event/exhibition. You know the type. Available at every hotel/conference centre/leisure centre across the UK, all aimed at 'businesses'. You get there and you think to yourself 'Did I really take time out of my busy schedule to come here? A small hall packed with people so desperate for you to buy their services that they will do anything to get your attention.
So what would you think these SMEs would do to make themselves stand out as experts in their field – as leaders in their market? They give you a carrier bag... Not the most environmentally sound item in the world, but handy for putting in all the brochures your given later. But what else? The obligatory pen. Seriously? A pen. You want my company to engage in your services because you've given me a pen? Not just a pen though, oh no. Lurking in the bag is a keyring! Wow!! So you want me to put that on my keys and wave my keys around to advertise YOUR company for you FOR FREE. Oh, ok then. And what else do I have? Sweets... and boiled ones at that...
Do people think they can win new business by buying cheap irrelevant items out of a promo catalogue? Think about what you're offering. Think of how to engage a potential customer or client. Put yourself in their shoes. What would you want to see? Think about your company, the service it offers, the way you perceive it to be. Does a free stress ball have anything to do with what you offer? Is it cheap and nasty?
Time to be a bit cleverer. If you make a product, hand out samples. Have an item that represents your businsess or service, or that forms part of a wider campaign (advertising or online). It's all about you as a brand.
So what would you think these SMEs would do to make themselves stand out as experts in their field – as leaders in their market? They give you a carrier bag... Not the most environmentally sound item in the world, but handy for putting in all the brochures your given later. But what else? The obligatory pen. Seriously? A pen. You want my company to engage in your services because you've given me a pen? Not just a pen though, oh no. Lurking in the bag is a keyring! Wow!! So you want me to put that on my keys and wave my keys around to advertise YOUR company for you FOR FREE. Oh, ok then. And what else do I have? Sweets... and boiled ones at that...
Do people think they can win new business by buying cheap irrelevant items out of a promo catalogue? Think about what you're offering. Think of how to engage a potential customer or client. Put yourself in their shoes. What would you want to see? Think about your company, the service it offers, the way you perceive it to be. Does a free stress ball have anything to do with what you offer? Is it cheap and nasty?
Time to be a bit cleverer. If you make a product, hand out samples. Have an item that represents your businsess or service, or that forms part of a wider campaign (advertising or online). It's all about you as a brand.
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