Shhhh! Quiet! We're Listening!

Lately we've had inquiries on our activities this Summer. In fact, Star Promoz was recently accused of being - *gasp* - silent all Summer... and we couldn't be prouder of this accusation!

Personally, I'm known for matching clients to the items that best "fit" their businesses. Marketing budgets that include branded items must also consider that any marketing expense is an investment. Would you invest blindly in a new business venture or the stock market? I hope not! You shouldn't invest money into branded items without speaking with someone who is listening to your needs and strategizing for your business.

This means that the majority of my time is spent listening! I listen to WHO is the target for branded items, WHAT has worked in the past for my clients and WHEN the items are needed. I listen to what makes my client special in their field, and the ways that my client's products or services are different than the competition's products or services.

Sometimes I'm like a BRAND therapist, through the ups and downs! I'm there for my clients when business is slow - brainstorming ways to increase sales - and I provide support for my clients when business is booming - meeting deadlines for items that were needed yesterday.

In other words, YES! We've been quiet all Summer. And beyond assisting our network with invaluable sales and marketing tips, we're going to continue our quiet trend!

Technology & Promotions

Business Tech: I was just reading this great article at LegalZoom.com that outlines the ways technology has transformed business in the last 10 years.

• Banking - Online banking & loan applications
• Media - RSS Feeds, blogs, networks, smartphones
• Personal Communication - Video chatting & chat freedom
• Google - It's more than Google! It's Picasa, Blogger, etc
• Social Networking - One of the most significant communication phenomenons
• Tablets - Personal tablets & ultra mobile computer
• Cars - Smart cars & hybrids
• Legal Matters - Common legal issues & questions fixed online!

This list is to just get everyone thinking about how technology has transformed business. When you consider the list, it's apparent that any marketing strategy should investigate not only these changes but also the future of technology. Where will tomorrow take our businesses? How can we anticipate these changes to be on the forefront of business technology instead of being left behind?

Promotions! A key element of promoting your brand is thinking ahead of your competition and using all tools available to you to develop an efficient and effective marketing strategy. We offer many fun ways to incorporate technology into your brand strategy - such as branded Flash Drives - that will elevate your branding into the next generation!

Tip: Integrate testimonials into your marketing materials

Today's tip maximizes your ability to not only reach your customers, but connect with them too!

Hot Tip: Integrate testimonials into your marketing materials

Think about it - you're advertising your business by telling them what you can do and why you're better than your competitors through brochures, websites, business cards, flyers, etc. But do you include on these materials a second opinion? Do you give your marketing materials an opportunity to speak for you?

Take a moment this week an evaluate your advertising strategy. If you haven't already, begin to collect testimonials. You'll begin to see how easily those testimonials can be included in your advertising strategy, and you'll never miss out on the opportunity again!

Show your love! Valentine's Day Promotions

Valentine's Day is the perfect time of year to show your love for EVERYONE: clients, business associates, fellow networkers, employees and anyone who has shown their love for you by giving you a referral! We sometimes forget to say "thank you" so it's a holiday that gives us a stress free opportunity to show our love in fun and creative ways.

Sweets for a sweet gatekeeper? Heart shaped tokens of appreciation as incentives for employees? The possibilities are endless ... so let's make February EXTRA sweet and spread the love to everyone!

Trade Show Season is Here!

This is an exciting time for Star Promoz. We are committed to helping small business make the most out of the trade show experience. There are so many fantastic opportunities during this season, especially for branding your business and business networking!

So, to kick off the season right, I'm including some fantastic links around the web to begin researching your trade show strategy this year:

1.) Avoid these mistakes: 10 Mistakes Exhibitors Make
2.) Tips & Strategies to Remember: Seven Super Trade Show Promotion Steps

I would love to personally sit with each and every one of you this year and discuss making the most out of this season. As always, you are cordially invited to my showroom. However, I can also come to you if your schedule is too crunched!

I'll be posting more links, tips and ideas as they come to me. If you have a specific question, please don't hesitate to drop me an email or give me a call! Consider me your personal trade show advisor. :)

hzagaro@starpromoz.com

(516) 459-5376

Marketing Tips: Important Dates in February & March

Your marketing strategy should always include *timely* events, so plan around the calendar for your promotional strategy. In this post I'm including the upcoming holidays & national awareness days for February and March. Mark your calendars and order your promotional materials in time!

February 2011

1st        National Freedom Day
2nd       Groundhog Day
4th        National Wear Red Day
8th        Boy Scout Day
14th      Valentine's Day
21st       President's Day

February is ... American Heart Month, National Children's Dental Health Month, AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month, National Wise Health Consumer Month

March 2011

4th        Employee Appreciation Day
17th      St. Patrick's Day
20th      International Earth Day
25th      American Diabetes Alert Day

March is ... National Nutrition Month, Music in Our Schools Month, Save Your Vision Month, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, National Endometriosis Awareness Month, Trisomy Awareness Month,

Tip: Make "more" out of follow-up

I recently received a fantastic tip for follow-up that I would like to share with you. We all try to reach out to our existing clients and remind them of our services and our commitment to satisfaction, but how many of us reach out to our existing clients and try to improve their business simply to say: I care!

One way we can all strive to build our b2b relationships: look for relevant magazine articles, helpful surveys, interesting industry studies and other important information - whether digital or print - and pass this information on to our existing clients. Clip an article that helps them market or build their business and send it to them with a note.

It's an easy method for follow-up that actually helps everyone. If we all did this, imagine how successful we could be together!