As a small business owner I have been tightening the business belt for the last two years, and wonder like all business owners when will these economically hard time turn around.  A recent study published by the U.S. Federation of Small Businesses shows how many small businesses are cutting back to stay in the game.

- 23% of respondents have cut staff

- 36% of respondents have decreased business travel

- 36% of respondents have minimized marketing efforts

- 29% of respondents have put a freeze on bonuses and raises

Being in the promotional products industry with a marketing and advertising background the third most popular cut, minimizing marketing, raised my eyebrows for sure.  I am amazed that any business would even consider cutting their marketing and advertising in a slow economy.

Marketing has never been more important for a businesses survival, if you are not marketing your business consumers may forget about you or assume that you have fallen victim to back economic times and gone out of business.  Keeping in touch with current customers takes even more marketing dollars for the same reason.

Beefing up your advertising and marketing lets your current customers and potential customers know that you are a strong company and ready to service their needs in these rollercoaster times.

If you still find your marketing budget needs to be cut here are 8 low-cost or no-cost money saving tips that any business can use.

1. Word-of-mouth marketing, ask for referrals – better yet, give referrals and you will get them in return.
 
2. Generate an eNewsletter, market to current customers.

3. Create YouTube Videos. Video is a very strong and free way to get your business noticed.

4. Post on forums and message boards. Posting valuable comments will build your reputation and lead to more business.
 
5. Start a Blog. A business Blog is a must these days, you can advertise, review your offerings and give free tips as often as you’d like without worrying about running up your budget all while building traffic to your brand.

6. Get your clients to advertise for you. Trade blog posts or email blasts with customers.

7. Join trade associations. You’ll get industry-specific information, advice, sales opportunities and other member benefits.
 
8. Double Up. Include advertising material in all your mailings such as invoices. You can also drop a small ad into every email you send.

To Your Success!

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

I have attended and exhibited at hundreds of tradeshows and never really see anything new and exciting to grab or keep my attention in regards to tradeshow giveaways – I hate to say I’ve seen it all.  Being in the promotional products business I supply many customers with Tradeshow Give-A-Ways, most often your basic Pen or Stress Ball, the normal humdrum stuff.

In a recent visit to an industry tradeshow I was exposed to a brilliant idea that will double tradeshow booth traffic.  This item that will make your booth stand out from all the other exhibitors that are just handing out a low cost custom printed pen. 

When someone stops by your booth you hand them a custom printed pedometer that features your company name and web address.  You then tell them to wear it and return to your booth at the end of the show, because you will be tracking the amount of steps each attendee has taken and the one with the most steps wins a prize, like an iPod or some other cool techno gadget.

This is a great concept that will excite the recipient and make them return to your booth a second time giving you an advantage over your competition that more than likely will only have one exposure to prospects attending the event.

To Your Success!

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

Every year the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) hosts industry tradeshows throughout the US featuring some of the best promotional product lines in the industry.

This video showcases 7 hot promotional products featured at the Chicago event.

Visit our website for pricing on any of these items as well as over 750,000 others.

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

The post was guest blogged by Tim Andrews, president and CEO of the Advertising Specialty Institute:

Many ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute) members are telling me that video is starting to transform how they’re selling advertising specialties and they’re thinking about using videos to increase sales faster.  Some already use them extensively.

We’ve embraced using video at ASI and you can watch several on the homepage of asicentral.com that provide personal introductions to our staff and demonstrate business-building features of our products. 

But, using video was unchartered territory for us not long ago - maybe for you too - and we’re constantly refining and trying compelling new ways to deliver video that keeps viewers engaged.

In a recent business radio program about using video, I shared some tips that we’ve learned at ASI that you can apply to your videos or ones you’re starting to make.

Tips for producing and using videos that sell:

• Keep it simple - show the most unique features of a product to keep viewers interested.
• Make videos brief - several short segments are easier to digest than one lengthy one.
• Repurpose - post a video on your Website, but also email it to prospects and run it in a loop on a screen in your trade show booth.

I’ve uploaded the video of the radio program and you can click here to watch it for more video tips from me, the hosts and another invited guest.

Let me know your thoughts about the radio program and producing videos - I’d like to hear your experiences.  Post a comment or email me anytime, at tim.andrews@asicentral.com.  For videos of new products from our trade shows, visit youtube.com/timasitv. 

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

Companies and consumers alike are becoming environmentally consciousness and the promotional products industry is leading the way with thousands of eco-friendly promo items. Some plastic products take up to 450 years to break down in the environment, the new Evolve Tumbler biodegrades within 1-5 years in a managed landfill. 

The Evolve line is California Prop 65 and FDA compliant – and BPA free.  Top rack dishwasher safe and microwaveable.  Evolve products are even shipped in eco-friendly packaging to reinforce the message of sustainability. 

For a limited time, we are offering FREE set-ups on 1-color imprints (1-location with standard lid and assembly). 
 
Here’s Just One Way Evolve Drinkware Has Been Successful as a Branding Solution:

A company sponsored a series of morning seminars at an industry trade show in Las Vegas.  They provided an assortment of gourmet coffees served in the Evolve Infinity Tumbler to help late-night revelers stay awake during their 8:00 AM product demonstrations.  The attendees appreciated the good coffee – and took home Evolve tumblers with the company’s logo and contact information. They had a 20% increase in business after this trade show over previous years.  Several attendees appreciated the fact that these mugs were environmentally responsible and the loved the fresh colors they came in, which livened up the look of the room for their early morning meeting.

The minimum order is just 96 pcs at $2.85 each (Plus Screen $50, Shipping/Tax/Art), production time is 7 working days.  The colors available are Black, Blue, Dark Green, Light Blue, Lime, Stone.

Visit our site for more Eco-Friendly Promotional Items.

To Your Success!
Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.