Porter Lee | MagiCubes 3D Media - Part 6

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So far Porter Lee has created 163 blog entries.
24 11, 2009

Buying Promotional Products: Developing a Strategy and Managing Follow-Through

By | November 24th, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Buying Promotional Products: Developing a Strategy and Managing Follow-Through

The decision to utilize promotional products as part of your corporate marketing and branding efforts should not be taken lightly. The incorporation of branded products into your traditional marketing mix is often regarded as more of a commitment based relationship rather than a one time distribution. In order to maximize the results of your promotional marketing, it is important to develop a strategic marketing plan outlining your planned events, marketing campaigns and the role in which you intend to integrate the usage and distribution of custom branded promotional products. The key to developing an effective marketing plan, and therefore successfully executing your plan incorporating promotional products, is to evaluate, prepare and analyze all aspects of your promotional marketing efforts. Traditionally this is done as the end of the year winds down in preparation for the start of the New Year. While you can prepare for the annual events that you traditionally participate in year after year, you should always allow a little wiggle room for events and opportunities that may unexpectedly present themselves. While the idea of creating a useful and organized marketing strategy can be overwhelming, by following a few simple steps you can develop an effective plan encompassing your distribution of promotional products and overall promotional marketing for the upcoming year.Step 1: Establish your corporate goalsThis step is incredibly important for determining your plan of action over the course of the year. You need to evaluate what the overall goal is for each occurrence of the distribution of promotional products. Are you attempting to build brand loyalty? Drive immediate sales? Or simply thank your clients and employees for their support? When you evaluate the purpose of distributing promotional products, you can directly target your audience with the appropriate gifts and events. Determining what outcome you would like to see at year’s end can help you strategically prepare and plan your marketing incorporating the usage of promotional products for the year. Step 2: Find and ask for help when you need it Asking for help can be challenging for many business professionals. But it is imperative that you seek out the appropriate sources when you run into a challenge. Successfully incorporating promotional products into your branding efforts can be a challenging process for those new to this form of marketing. Seek out information-rich sources of information and industry experts to help you develop your plan. Finding a reliable promotional products distributor can be helpful in this circumstance. They can help you realistically set a budget for purchasing customized promotional products and can help you determine what products will work best for your upcoming events. Step 3: Develop a strategic plan of attack After setting your company’s goals and educating yourself on the process of buying and distributing promotional products, it is time to create your promotional marketing strategy for the year. This is a time consuming and information-heavy process. Not only will you need to evaluate your goals, but you will also need to take into account your budgetary restrictions, your staff and your corporate branding guidelines. Enlist the help of your marketing department, your executive team and representatives from all departments. This will help you see the viewpoints of other members of your organization. By working closely with the others in your company, you can realistically plan for the purchasing of promotional products for the events and holidays of the upcoming year.  Step 4: Follow through on your commitments One of the most important things to remember when you decide to use promotional products to brand your business is that you are developing relationships with your client base and employees. To reach your overall goal at the end of the year, try to stick to the plan you set in motion. The end goal relies heavily on all the benchmark results you achieve throughout the course of the year. By adhering to your marketing strategy, you can better manage and maintain you budget and evaluate what tactics work best for your company. Keep your goals in site and your target audience at the forefront of your mind. With calculated planning, careful evaluation and the dedication to follow through with your carefully developed strategy, you can effectively incorporate promotional products into your marketing efforts.

24 11, 2009

How To Effectively Use Promotional Products

By | November 24th, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on How To Effectively Use Promotional Products

One of the most tried and true tools of marketing and advertising is the use of promotional products. From inexpensive pens to t-shirts, promotional products are a great way to get your name into the hands of potential customers. When planning your approach to promotional marketing, it is important to develop a marketing strategy to correctly utilize promotional products and maximize results. Choosing a Promotional Products DistributorBefore choosing a promotional product, first you need to choose a distributor. With hundreds of distributors to choose from, it’s important to identify the right fit for your needs. One of the most important things to remember is to avoid companies that just want to push you a promotional product. Commissioned sales representatives are often simply out to make a sale – your purchase equals their paycheck! When you purchase promotional products from a promotional company that uses a team approach, you’ll find they are more interested in helping you find the promotional product that truly fits your needs, not just the promotional product that will give them higher commission checks.After choosing your distributor, make sure that they understand your brand and needs. Don’t be afraid to tell them exactly what you’re looking for or to ask for help. A good promotional product specialist is never afraid to research promotional products and ideas to find the right fit for your needs. From brainstorming to price negotiations, a dedicated account management team is your best source for finding unique promotional products at the best price.Developing a Long-Term Strategy for Use of Promotional ProductsYou should always keep in mind that the use of promotional products is most beneficial when paired with a long-term promotional marketing strategy. Although you may only use a promotional product once, when that product is paired with subsequent marketing efforts and future promotions, you leave a longer-lasting impression on your clients. When designing your promotional marketing strategy, first look at your brand and corporate image. Which promotional products are most appropriate to convey your identity? Is there a certain image or feel you want to present to the recipients of your promotional product? This is a great time to address your specific needs and plans with your account team. With access to a nearly unlimited number of promotional products, they can help you choose the perfect promotional product for your needs. Identifying Your Target DemographicNext you will need to identify your target audience and demographics. It’s important to evaluate who the recipients of your promotional product will be. For example, at a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Georgia State University needed to develop a full marketing strategy for the week-long festivities. They needed banners, print collateral and promotional products to distribute to students. To fit their target demographic, their marketing campaign included imprinted GumPaks™, molded chocolates and print collateral to distribute around campus. Georgia State’s end decision to choose candy for their promotional products was perfect for their target demographic of students. By analyzing your end recipients and finding a promotional product that will be useful to them, you maximize exposure of your brand and corporate initiatives.Usage of Your Promotional ProductLastly, what do you plan to use your promotional products for? The individual promotional product you choose should be based on the several factors already discussed along with the type of event or promotion. The event will almost always determine your budget and type of promotional product. A promotional product for a tradeshow is usually something that draws attention to your booth, thereby drawing attention to your name and services. Using a fun, eye-catching promotional product such as a light-up yo-yo will be entertaining for recipients, and the promotional product will likely stay in their possession for months to come. While a yo-yo might work great for a tradeshow, a more upscale promotional product would be better for a potential million-dollar client. A leather brief bag, digital photo frame or large holiday gift basket would be a more appropriate promotional product for a client at that level. Your choice of promotional product will vary greatly depending on the situation and your target audience.Developing a strategy to effectively utilize your promotional products is the best way to maximize your return. Promotional products are a budget friendly way to get thousands of advertising exposures. By following these tips when developing your strategy, you will effectively use your promotional products to grow your brand.

24 11, 2009

Unlimited Promotional Product Ideas With Die Casting

By | November 24th, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Unlimited Promotional Product Ideas With Die Casting

Die Casting for Promotional Products

Die Casting is a process where a mold is cut with the shape of the product you wish to produce. The mold consists of 2 halves. The one half forms the outside of the part, which you normally see, the show surface. This is called the cavity. The second half forms the inside of the part, the backside of the part. This is called the core. There is a gap between the cavity and the core that creates the part.

The mold can be produced in two different ways.

The first method is that a replicated model of the shape you want to mold is created. This shape is the same form as your finished product. This form is then used as a duplicator to cut metal away from a solid block to create each half of the mold. A separate model must be made for each half. The mold is then created in reverse to the part that is being produced.

The second method is that the mold halves are CNC cut using a CAD model. CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control and is used on automated machines to follow a pre-defined path to cut a shape. The CAD model can be produced in a few ways. CAD stands for Computer Aided Design.

One way to produce a CAD model is using 3D (3 dimensional) CAD software. A CAD Designer would design a virtual model of your part on the computer.

Another way would be to produce a part in CAD by using an actual sample of an existing part measured using a CMM and importing the data. CMM stands for coordinate measuring machine. These types of machines measure objects in 3D. The information that they generate can then be used in a CAD software program to construct a part.

3D Scanning can also be used for a process called Reverse Engineering. These scanners work with optics or lasers. They scan an actual part and produce an exact virtual replica within computer software. This CAD model can then be used to produce a mold.

Once the part is produced it can be painted, decals applied and assembled with other parts. Die cast parts are very durable. The are generally produced in aluminum or zinc. A big advantage of this method is that if you can think of a shape, you can make it.

23 11, 2009

Going Green the Imprinted Promotional Products Way

By | November 23rd, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Going Green the Imprinted Promotional Products Way

Using eco-friendly green promotional products and renewable energy sources reduces greenhouse emissions that have a negative impact on our planet.

Using solar; water and shake powered products such as Solar Flashlights helps keep batteries out of our landfills. Annually, nearly 3 Billion batteries are used and then thrown away by American households. Using biodegradable products reduces landfill build up.

GREEN FACTS:

According to the Container Recycling Institute, Americans used 4 billion pounds of plastic in the form of bottles in 2002. The main culprit is “use once & toss” water and beverage bottles. It takes a plastic water bottle 700 years before it starts to decompose. Why not “Go Green”…use a reusable Polycarbonate Sport Bottle.

The average American family of four tosses out approx. 1,500 plastic bags a year. Each one can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. Most of these bags are not biodegrading; the plastic slowly breaks down into smaller components until it leaches into the soil or water. Paper bags are biodegradable but the energy, chemicals, trees and water consumed to recycle them is a drain on the environment. Why not “Go Green”…use reusable non-woven bags, organic cotton bags, and natural jute bags for everyday use as you grocery shop or go to a business tradeshow.

Since there are lots of ways to be Eco-Responsible and use “Green Products” and it is not always clear what makes one approach better than the next, listed below are qualities and questions to help inform you on what makes a product eco-friendly.

Recycled – materials destined for disposal are reclaimed and converted into new products such as Polycarbonate Water Bottles, Non-Woven Bags and Reusable Grocery Bags.

Bioplastic – what percent of a product is made from a renewable resource so you won’t be mislead.

Organic – what percentage is organic so you will not have to guess

Natural – knowing when a product is made from materials and exactly what the ingredients are.

Reusable – what products were created with intent to be used in place of a disposable item.

Creating innovative “Green Products” for the future will be important by finding new ways of utilizing recycled materials that can corporately impact your business as well. Many corporations are taking up the call of being responsible by requesting eco-friendly products and giving them away as marketing tools to let you know they are being responsible when it comes to promoting there company and taking-up the call of making sound environmental choices.

If we combine all of our individual and corporate efforts, together we can make a difference to our World today and more importantly we can make a difference to our future!

23 11, 2009

Promotional Products For The Business

By | November 23rd, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Promotional Products For The Business

In an industry where exposure is important, promotional products are ways to get the word out there about your business. As soon as you inform what kind of services you offer and products your provide, promotional marketing will prove to be a businessman’s best friend.
Promotional product is a way of promotional marketing. The promotional advertising on internet sites have proven to be quite beneficial for the businessman because more and more people are aware of the services they can receive from the company.
Popular promotional products for the benefit of a business are as follows:
1. T Shirt Printing
Imagine the exposure your business will get with random people wearing shirts displaying your company’s logo. If you work on the design hard enough, they might even wear it when they’re out in public which means more exposure for you.
2. Water Bottles
Surprisingly, these have become promotional products as well. If you think that it’s just gyms and sports clubs doing this, think again. Nowadays, even corporations rely on plugging their businesses by asking promotional product manufacturers to have their company’s logo imprinted on these drinking containers.
3. Temporary Tattoos
Some corporations hold events where they hire a tattoo artist who puts the company logos on the guests’ arms, wrist, shoulders or other visible parts of their bodies. It may only be temporary but at least these people know about the company. In fact, they can say they wore the company!
4. Stickers and Labels
Just like tattoo, companies invest in stickers and labels for people to spread the word about their business. Rather, stick the word about the business.
5. Mouse Pads
Darth Vader and Bart Simpson should not be the only ones gracing on mouse pads. Your company logo can do the same. At least with this promotional product, you will be sure that people get to see your company logo whenever they use their computers.
6. Coffee Mugs
Imagine your company logo greeting your target customer every morning as he sips coffee.
Now that’s a smart move.
7. Pens and Pencils
Clearly the most popular promotional product businesses and companies resort to. Pens and pencils bearing company logos are everywhere simply because this is the most accessible. Hey, everybody uses pens and pencils.
8. Refrigerator Magnets
Just like coffee mugs, refrigerator magnets bearing the logo of the company will surely greet the target market a very good morning indeed. It will also greet the target market a very good evening when he grabs a midnight snack.
9. Advertising Balloons
During company fairs, businessmen invest on a budget that will allow them to afford advertising balloons. Clearly, this is more expensive than the promotional product items that were mentioned earlier mainly because this one is gigantic in size. The minute it flies up in the air, people near that radius will see the company logo and know the business.
10. Clocks and Watches
This is also slightly more expensive than the other paragraphs because inputting the logo on these items mean more care considering that this will be placed on clocks and watches. It will take the promotional product manufacturer a harder time in achieving this feat as opposed to putting the logo on mugs, pens or pencils.

22 11, 2009

Your Promotional Products Distribution Options

By | November 22nd, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Your Promotional Products Distribution Options

Now that you’ve chosen your products, ordered it and received it promptly, what’s the next step? The proper distribution of your products spells the success or the utter failure of your promotional products marketing plan. When developing the strategy for the distribution, you should take into consideration its costs over the cost of your promotional product. Even if it does come in a bit higher, try to limit it to an amount that would still ensure you get a considerable ROI.

Here are some ways to send out your message:

1. Make it a mailer – The easiest method of distribution is to send your promotional product via snail mail. You must exercise caution when choosing this distribution option. Make sure you calculate all the risks. Especially during the holidays, take into consideration the delays that may occur as a result of increased mail traffic. Give yourself ample time to prepare, order and send out the promotional item. One very important factor to consider when sending items via mail: you must know the exact and current address of your clients. This method of distribution is ideal for customers with whom you’ve already established business relationships. Smaller items like pens, pocket calculators or custom notepads can easily be distributed by mail at minimal cost.

2. An exciting event yields exceptional results. Make a blast out of your promotional giveaway day, set up a luau or be in costume. Whatever your gimmick, an event organized specifically for the distribution makes the promotional product even more memorable.

3. Trade shows, conventions and seminars. The classic distribution venue, these events always draw out the greed for something free. Participants will have no qualms about taking your giveaway from you, so this is the perfect opportunity to give out something unique. When choosing your promotional item, try to envision what other exhibitors are going to be giving away and think of something that will stand out from the rest.

4. An inviting offer. Here’s a creative idea to get them to come to you: send out an announcement that you’re giving away a special gift to the first few customers. Even without letting them know what that gift is, you’ll soon see people lining up for your freebie.

5. Employee appreciation days. Set aside a day to show your employees just how much you really care. Using promotional products to boost employee morale results in company loyalty and a possibility of making promoters out of your own employees.

22 11, 2009

Use a Promotional Product to Increase Your Customer Base

By | November 22nd, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Use a Promotional Product to Increase Your Customer Base

Advertising can be incredibly expensive for businesses. Many businesses have collapsed due to the steep prices associated with visual and print media. There are other options available to businesses who want to advertise without suffering a negative financial impact. Companies have found that the use of a promotional product can help increase sales without costing them a lot of money. They are able to get the business name out without greatly increasing their advertising budget.
When looking for a promotional product to help increase sales, businesses must make sure that the item looks professional. A cheaply made product will not help the company. Instead, they need to go with a company who uses quality materials to make all of their products. Customers appreciate quality, and if they receive a quality item from a business as a marketing tool, they are going to assume that the business offers quality service as well.
Speed is another important factor for businesses to be mindful of before ordering a promotional product. Certain companies take an excessive amount of time to make and distribute the items, while others are quite fast. In order to get the advertising in place, businesses need to go with a company that can get the items to them quickly. Companies vary in production time from days to months, and that needs to be researched before committing with a certain company.
Selection is also very important. A business should have an extensive amount of items to choose from so they are able to find the item that best represents the business. Businesses can then choose items from fun to functional, depending on what they want the item to represent. A large selection also allows businesses to tailor the items to a certain event. That means they can give items away at trade shows or company functions, as well as give them to employees.
Price also matters quite a bit. A promotional product is meant to be an affordable way to advertise. If companies spend too much money on the process, they are missing the main point. Just as speed and quality vary from company to company, price does as well. Prices range from affordable to incredibly expensive, and customers need to realize where a business stands before giving that company business.
The abilities of the company also matter. If a company has design capabilities, they can help consumers create a high quality product that looks great. However, if the company does not help with the design at all, that can cause a problem for those who are not artistically gifted.
My Logo Imprinted is a company that has all of the above mentioned qualities and more. They use quality materials in all of their products, get their items through production within days, and offer affordable pricing. They also offer an extensive amount of items that rivals other businesses. They have a design team that can help customers design their products. The design team can also completely design the items for their customers.

21 11, 2009

Market your brand with the best promotional product

By | November 21st, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Market your brand with the best promotional product

In today’s competitive market it’s become very difficult to make our brand visible and the best way to do so is by the use of promotional products. We can create a good business rapport with our clientele too by distributing promotional products. The main idea behind this is the fact that if our company’s logo is visible it will stay as a constant reminder to all our clients and associates. Most organizations use it as a brand building methodology too. These promotional products are used as business gifts and are given free to their business associates or their target customers. These business gifts stay in sight of the customers and play are constant reminders to them about the company. Moreover, everyone loves freebies and hence these products create a good impression of the company or brand concerned.To take these business gifts a step further, companies get their brand name imprinted on these gifts. Some of the most common imprinted promotional gifts are pens, mugs, bags, laptop bags, key rings, coasters, t-shirts, calendars etc. Imprinting pens or key rings are a very cost effective and excellent way of building brand awareness. A few thousand pens that are imprinted will not cost you much but will give your brand a wide reach and coverage. Similarly, fancy bags or key rings that are imprinted will surely be used by your receiver and is the cheapest way to promote our business. These imprinted promotional gifts not only help in reminding our clients of our company but also work towards creating a positive brand image which in turn helps us to develop our business. It’s extremely important that the business gifts used by us be of good quality as these play brand ambassadors to us. Some businesses use promotional products to give away to their employees too as a way of showing them their appreciation and gratitude. These are sometimes given away to specific employees for some work well done or to all employees on some seasonal occasion.Personalized promotional products and imprinted promotional gifts are these days all available in a reasonable price over the internet these days. There are a whole lot of sites who cater to you cheap but good quality gifts to save your time of having to search them. These sites let you have a look at the product before you buy them. You can further personalize these products by adding your companies’ logo, address or anything that you’d want to.

21 11, 2009

Sourcing your Promotional Products Using Promotional Products

By | November 21st, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Sourcing your Promotional Products Using Promotional Products

Not many companies interested in sourcing promotional products have their own in-house team of buyers with the time or experience to travel the world to find the most unusual and cost-effective products.

According to research*, exhibitions, trade magazines and the internet rank highly for finding new and innovative products. However, the main routes are going direct to the manufacturer or through a sales promotion agency.

The research team concluded that buyers would increasingly prefer sourcing promotional products through agencies, especially those which also offered design and added value consultancy services.

When sourcing promotional products it is important to remember that a quality brand demands quality merchandise as anything less will risk devaluing the brand. Yet it is equally important to note that the quality of service can make or break a campaign – there is little point in sourcing the most amazing items if they arrive a day too late, or are the wrong colour!

If placing a large order or a particularly complicated one it is essential to select a supplier who has the relevant experience and expertise. It is also advisable to request actual production samples for approval rather than relying on mock-ups, and therefore extra time should be factored into the total schedule to allow for this.

21 11, 2009

Some Earth-friendly Promotional Product Ideas

By | November 21st, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Some Earth-friendly Promotional Product Ideas

Most businesses use promotional products to advertise their businesses, especially at conventions and trade shows. However, it is important for many people to be environmentally friendly. While many promotional products are not, there are choices that you can pick in order to promote your business while still keeping nature in mind. Using environmentally friendly promotional products will help you and your business do your part to save the world.

First, consider the product from which the promotional products are made. Plastics are common, although products can also be made out of paper, wood, ceramic, and a variety of other materials. Before ordering, call the company to find out their policy about using these products. Where the plastics recycled? Can be they recycled easily? Keep in mind that recycling plastics can usually be done, but some communities limit the categories of plastics that can be recycled. 1-5 are usually your best bets. In any case, paper products can also be recycled.

Learn about how the products will be shipped to you as well. Larger products will undoubtedly take more space, and therefore require larger shipping boxes and more packaging material. Of course, you can work with your promotional products company to discuss shipping options in order to cut costs and be more environmentally friendly. Sometimes, smaller boxes are possible. If the order is shipped together, you may also be able to cut back on packaging. You can even discuss the use of recycled newspaper or other environmentally friendly packing options with your promotional products company. It never hurts to ask, right?

Remember, if the product is useful, it is better for the environment. Why? Well, if a product is useful, there is less of a chance that people will throw it away. Unfortunately, many people do not recycle, meaning that your promotional products have a good chance of ending up in a landfill. Instead, useful products will be continually used in the home. Mugs, cups, umbrellas, pens, letter openers, and Frisbees are all good examples of promotional items that are less likely to find their way to the trashcan.

You can also provide promotional that promote not only your business, but also saving the environment. A great example of such a product is the tote bag. Tote bags can be used in place of paper or plastic bags at the grocery store in order to cut down on their consumption. However, you can also attractively print your name or logo on the side of a tote bag in order to advertise your business. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

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