Promotionally Yours: April Promotional Ideas... Promotionally Yours, Sh...

Promotionally Yours: April Promotional Ideas... Promotionally Yours, Sh...: As February comes to an end, your marketing mind is probably thinking SPRING. You may be putting the final touches on March promotions, ...

April Promotional Ideas... Promotionally Yours, Sheri Breaux

As February comes to an end, your marketing mind is probably thinking SPRING. You may be putting the final touches on March promotions, but now is also a great time to finish lining up your April marketing campaigns. Here are a few ideas you can tie into your April promotions.
Stress Awareness Month
It’s probably no coincidence that Stress Awareness Month is the same month as tax day, and your clients would probably appreciate a little help calming down during this stressful time. Stress relievers are the obvious choice here, and the right one can make an impact. Consider using a clever, brand relevant shape (mascot or logo) or create a stress-free gift pack. It could include the stress relievers, chocolate and an adult coloring book.
National Public Health Week (April 4-10)
This year, National Public Health Week is promoting making America a healthy, actually the healthiest, nation by 2030. This is a great opportunity to encourage wellness in your organization and your community. Kick off a wellness program with promotional fitness products like pedometers and healthy snacks. Encourage community members to walk or bike to work with an incentive contest, hold “walking meetings” and on-site flu shots.
Earth Day (April 22)
Earth Day draws attention to environmental issues around the world. It’s the perfect time for businesses to promote green initiatives and sustainability. Recycled and reusable products deliver that message in a tangible way.
Administrative Professionals Week/Day (April 24-30/April 27)
Administrative Professionals Week is an excellent occasion to show your appreciation and build your internal brand. Flowers and food gifts are nice, but they last only a few days. Give your administrative staff a fun or high perceived value gift for their desktop to remind them every day that they are appreciated. Consider executive pens, journals, and desk organizers.
For more April promotion ideas, check out our Really Big Promotional Marketing Calendar or contact your HALO Account Executive today.

HALO's 2016 Haloha Product Luau

Promotionally Yours: Building a Trade Show Marketing Plan, Part 2: Bra...

Promotionally Yours: Building a Trade Show Marketing Plan, Part 2: Bra...: Building a Trade Show Marketing Plan, Part 2: Brand Experience Posted on February 17, 2016 by Phil Peden In a world of o...

Building a Trade Show Marketing Plan, Part 2: Brand Experience ~ Promotionally Yours, Sheri Breaux

Building a Trade Show Marketing Plan, Part 2: Brand Experience

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Phil Peden

In a world of online stores, e-blasts, video conferencing, and social media connections trade shows offer you a unique opportunity to tell your story face-to-face.
95% of people say face-to-face meetings are essential for long-term business relationships. With face-to-face interactions making such an impact, getting that customer face time at trade shows can be critical for your business. Trade shows offer a chance to give customers a personal experience with your brand that they just won’t receive anywhere else, especially for those without a brick and mortar store. Visitor impressions aren’t limited to personal interactions with your booth staff either, the entire trade show booth ­­– signage, promotional items, marketing materials, and product displays – need to work together to bring a complete brand experience to each visitor.
Since there is a lot riding on this personal customer experience, we’ve come up with a list of things to help make it a good one.

Staff Apparel

Why does your favorite sports team wear a uniform? It makes them easy to identify. Staff facilitating your trade show booth should have a cohesive, on-brand look. Your brand advocates should be easy to identify among the masses even if they are not at your booth. The type of apparel also leaves an impression. For example, a casual t-shirt says something completely different than a performance polo.

Giveaways

Promotional products are a staple of the trade show experience. The right promotional product can pay dividends long after a person visits your booth. Your promotional items should reflect your brand, be useful (or fun) and speak to your target audience. A well-crafted and designed message on a quality product will ensure your audience remembers you long after the event. An eye catching promotional product also creates envy among other show goers creating a “Where did you get that?” buzz around your booth. Always be sure to include contact information on your promotional giveaways.

Floor Plan

It’s not just a booth. It’s a way for visitors to experience your brand, quite possibly for the first time. Its layout should be inviting and draw people in. Remove barriers like tables away from the front of the booth. The booth’s design should be simple yet compelling, featuring a bold graphic and your brand messaging. Your booth staff, marketing materials and promotional products should tell your brand story to potential customers.

Promotion

Not everyone will be able to attend a trade show, let alone see your booth. Use social media tools to bring your trade show exhibit to the masses. Post live updates and photos on social media to give people that can’t attend a glimpse of the experience. Post video interviews or tours of your booth to YouTube or your website. A trade show can be a gold mine for social media interaction.

Everything at your booth should work to draw in potential customers and have them leave with a positive brand experience. The goal is to have them remember that experience long after the event. My next post will explain how to capitalize on the great interactions you just had at your booth.
Contact your HALO Account Executive for help planning your trade show experience and be sure to download our free white paper “Booth! There It Is” for tips on how to build an awesome event.
This is the second in a series of posts identifying three key promotional opportunities to maximize your trade show presence. (Read Part 1 – Booth Traffic)

Promotionally Yours: Branded ~ Promotionally Yours, Sheri Breaux

Promotionally Yours: Branded ~ Promotionally Yours, Sheri Breaux

Branded ~ Promotionally Yours, Sheri Breaux

Promotionally Yours: Building a Trade Show Marketing Plan-Part 1 Promo...

Promotionally Yours: Building a Trade Show Marketing Plan-Part 1 Promo...: It’s every exhibitor’s fear. You reach your space, set up the perfect display, layout your marketing materials, run through your talk track...

Keep it, Give it or Throw it Away... Promotionally Yours, Sheri Breaux

Keep It, Give It or Throw It Away

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Phil Peden

It’s been a week since we’ve returned from the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas and I’m finally getting used to working at my desk again. One of the biggest questions that’s been asked since our return is, “What are the hot new promotional products?” Well, we’re glad you asked, but you’ll have to wait while we put the finishing touches on HALO’s “2016 Favorite Things” new product guide. Until then we would like to invite you to play a little tradeshow give-away game called…



As I walked the 2016 PPAI EXPO floor checking out what was new, meeting exhibitors and picking up some trade show goodies, I started to realize that I was unconsciously playing a game. After I shook hands with the event staff and thanked them for their time, they would offer me a “Thank You for Stopping by Gift” otherwise known as a promotional product. I started noticing as I put the product into my newly acquired, four color process trade show tote, that I would ask myself this question, “Am I going to keep this, give it to someone else or, at the first opportunity, throw it away?”
Now that I have put it out there, you may be realizing that you have played this game before. You may also be realizing that some of your event giveaways have fallen into the third category. If so, never fear, we’ve come up with these tips to help keep your branded merchandise out of the landfill.

1. Do Some Research. Who’s going to be at this event? Are there any specific demographics they fall into? A little attendee research can go a long way.
2. Choose a product the audience will find useful. According to a PPAI study, 69% of consumers keep promotional products because they find them useful. Trade show giveaways are no exception.
3. Use clever text or graphics. People attend events connected to things they care about. Text and graphics that relate to the audience or event will increase your product’s value well beyond its price tag. These extra touches can also help to establish a connection between attendees and your brand.
4. Check portability. Not everyone drove to this event. The easier the product is to carry or fit into luggage the better chances it has to go home with them.

Are you ready to put these tips to good use? Call your HALO Account Executive, they are always available to help you choose the perfect product for your next promotion.
What’s your favorite “KEEP IT” product that you have ever picked up or given away at a show? We would love to see or hear about it in the comments section below.

Building a Trade Show Marketing Plan-Part 1 Promotionally Yours, Sheri Breaux

It’s every exhibitor’s fear. You reach your space, set up the perfect display, layout your marketing materials, run through your talk tracks one last time, and… nobody stops. After a while, you start to feel anxious, and the next thing you know you’re chasing people down, forcing them to take your brochures and yelling your product points at them as they run down the aisle. Ok, maybe that’s a little overly dramatic, but if you rely solely on foot traffic to get people to your booth, it can sometimes feel like this.
Booth traffic can make or break a trade show investment. The Center for Exhibition Industry Research has found that 76% of trade show attendees plan their booth visits in advance. In order to make sure your booth is marked on their show route, you need to start promoting your presence well in advance.
Here are a couple of tips to help you direct booth traffic:
Invitations – Don’t Expect Them to Show Up Uninvited
Attendees won’t know you’re going to be at a show unless you tell them. Announcing your presence at an event using pre-show mailings, sending e-vites and adding show info to your email signature are musts. You can also create some buzz by teasing details about what attendees might see or get at your booth on social media and your website. No matter what you do, always be sure that dates, times, locations and your booth number are front and center.
Incentives – Be a Great Host, Bring Gifts
Invites are a great start, but sometimes it takes a little more to motivate people to stop by your booth. A sweepstakes for your premium product or service will grab attention and help start a conversation about them. Show specials can move a mildly interested prospect into a face-to-face meeting. You can also use your invites as an entry or redemption form for sweepstakes and giveaways allowing you to track prospects easily.
Remember, not all traffic is created equal. Sure, you want to draw a crowd, but be sure to keep your eyes and ears out for high value prospects. Develop a list of questions to help separate motivated prospects from the crowd.  It’s also a good idea to thank qualified prospects for their time with a higher value giveaway that is not available to the general public.
It’s never too early to start promoting your booth. Be sure to take a campaign approach with your pre-show promotions, using multiple touches through a good mix of marketing channels. Creating a buzz is a great start, but it raises the visitor’s expectations of your booth. Meet and exceed those expectations with your booth, and your trade show exhibit will be a sure success.

Promotionally Yours: Keep it, Give it or Throw it Away... Promotionally...

Promotionally Yours: Keep it, Give it or Throw it Away... Promotionally...: Keep It, Give It or Throw It Away Posted on January 27, 2016 by Phil Peden It’s been a week since we’ve returned from t...