Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Marketing for an identified target audience

In the information age, a message can be relayed in millions of ways. Advertising and promoting is only effective if the people receiving the message have a stake in the product or service. Because of this, it's important to carefully consider promotion options before committing to a marketing strategy and launching an advertising campaign.Who and how
Forbes contributor John Hall breaks the process down into three components for consideration. To begin, he suggests looking at the intended

Small Business Marketing Blog

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Prepare for patriotic holidays

America's impressive gross domestic product makes it the richest country in the world, monetarily speaking. However, it's equally rich in history and patriotism. As the days get a bit longer and hopefully warmer, it's time to consider how to best acknowledge the upcoming patriotic holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day and Independence Day. America-themed promotional products are a great way to share nationalism and pride with customers and employees.Memorial Day 2014 is May

Small Business Marketing Blog

Friday, April 25, 2014

Celebrate your mother May 11

Mother's Day is an idea that has been around since the 17th century, designed to honor and celebrate mothers and all that they represent. According to mothersdaycelebration.com, it is currently celebrated in over 40 countries worldwide. Mother's Day was declared an official holiday in the United States by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914, when it was determined that the second Sunday in May would be the day to appreciate and spoil moms.It's a time to reminisce on

Small Business Marketing Blog

Celebrate your mother May 11

Mother's Day is an idea that has been around since the 17th century, designed to honor and celebrate mothers and all that they represent. According to mothersdaycelebration.com, it is currently celebrated in over 40 countries worldwide. Mother's Day was declared an official holiday in the United States by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914, when it was determined that the second Sunday in May would be the day to appreciate and spoil moms.It's a time to reminisce on

Small Business Marketing Blog

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Administrative Professionals' Day 2014

As the work force expanded during and following World War II, secretaries became an essential part of the growing economy. Though traditionally thought of as a job for women during the transition from de facto homemaker, the profession has evolved in title, responsibilities and gender diversity. April 23 is Administrative Professionals' Day 2014, an excellent opportunity to surprise administrative employees with personalized business gifts and present opportunities to expand their

Small Business Marketing Blog

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Administrative Professionals' Day 2014

As the work force expanded during and following World War II, secretaries became an essential part of the growing economy. Though traditionally thought of as a job for women during the transition from de facto homemaker, the profession has evolved in title, responsibilities and diversity. April 23 is Administrative Professionals' Day 2014, an excellent opportunity to surprise administrative employees with personalized business gifts.The history
National Secretaries Week, the precursor to

Small Business Marketing Blog

Friday, April 18, 2014

Spring cleaning: Fostering a more productive workspace

Along with warm weather, picnic lunches and outdoor activities, the spring season brings along the perfect time to tidy up around the office. Businesses should take advantage of the new season by cleaning not only their physical spaces, but their digital operations as well.Organizing company operations can help improve productivity among employees, as it can provide a cleaner workspace, easier access to documents and more space for workers to conduct their operations.Break out the window

Small Business Marketing Blog

April: Stress Awareness Month

Stress Awareness Month offers an excellent opportunity to discuss stress in the workplace and encourage employees to practice destressing techniques. The Health Resource Network has sponsored Stress Awareness Month since 1992 in an effort to create a national conversation about the effects of stress. The goal is to spread information about why stress is dangerous and how to cope with it. The organization also wants to change misconceptions about stress that are ingrained in

Small Business Marketing Blog

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Ways to ensure your company is #trending

Maintaining an active presence on social media is key to any company's survival. Whether you're sending pictures on Instagram or tweeting updates on Twitter, taking advantage of these social sites can help businesses deliver virtual coupons, send company updates and digitally communicate with consumers. There are several ways to ensure your social presence is at the top of its game, but one of the easiest ways to maximize your reach is by mastering the hashtag.Some of the most popular

Small Business Marketing Blog

Designing an office environment for maximum productivity

Based on the assumption of a 40-hour work week, employees spend nearly 25 percent of a given year at the office. As a result, the appearance and atmosphere of an office is key for employee happiness and retention."Equipment and decor can influence productivity and mood, and the floor plan can facilitate the flow of energy and ideas," contributor Jerry Jao wrote in Forbes.Even if operating on a tight budget, it's important to allocate enough resources to establish a comfortable

Small Business Marketing Blog

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Focus on existing customers to raise sales margins

The desire to add customers and increase market share is undeniable. On the surface, it seems to be the most logical approach to increase profits. However, according to Forbes, building relationships with current clients is important.Addition and subtraction of clients
Gaining customers is more expensive than maintaining a business agreement with a familiar customer. According to the source, losing a client and simultaneously signing a new contract can still bring profit margins down

Small Business Marketing Blog

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Embrace Reach As High As You Can Day

Each day offers the chance to work toward personal and professional goals. With Reach as High As You Can Day, April 14, just behind us it's a great time to plan or evaluate achievable goals.Setting and succeeding
When reaching for the stars, a clearly defined objective pinpoints the specific ball of light to shoot for. Determine what can be attained and outline the steps that will bring results. Setting smaller goals and assigning due dates for them can make the ultimate

Small Business Marketing Blog

Friday, April 11, 2014

How to throw an Easter-themed party for employees

Easter is a defining holiday of springtime that ushers in thoughts of blossoming flowers and children running through the yard hunting for Easter eggs. However, celebrations aren't just for kids. The Easter season is a great time to remind employees how valuable they are with a themed party and personalized business gifts.Decorations
A common decorative theme for springtime events, especially Easter, is a pastel color palette. Start by dressing up the party space with balloons,

Small Business Marketing Blog

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Taking advantage of the latest social network updates

Social networks are integral for connecting companies to their consumers, whether they're sharing the latest updates from their business or offering digital coupons to distribute promotional products. As more people adopt these social media sites in their every day activities, the formats change to meet the rising need of their users.Companies can take advantage of the many apps, features and settings afforded by the websites, but learning how to navigate new updates is essential for

Small Business Marketing Blog

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Promoting National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month kicks off in April. Organizations that wish to celebrate this occasion have a number of potential activities in which they can participate, ranging from hosting their own companywide poetry contest to volunteering in the community to promote literacy.Companies that wish to take part in service projects should consider venturing to organizations that serve children in the community. For example, visiting local schools or working with nonprofits are great ways

Small Business Marketing Blog

Promoting National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month kicks off in April. Organizations that wish to celebrate this occasion have a number of potential activities in which they can participate, ranging from hosting their own companywide poetry contest to volunteering in the community to promote literacy.Companies that wish to take part in service projects should consider venturing to organizations that serve children in the community. For example, visiting local schools or working with nonprofits are great ways

Small Business Marketing Blog

Promoting National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month kicks off in April. Organizations that wish to celebrate this occasion have a number of potential activities in which they can participate, ranging from hosting their own companywide poetry contest to volunteering in the community to promote literacy.Companies that wish to take part in service projects should consider venturing to organizations that serve children in the community. For example, visiting local schools or working with nonprofits are great ways

Small Business Marketing Blog

Friday, April 4, 2014

Using Vine as a marketing tool

Although it only launched a little over a year ago, the social network Vine has seen a great amount of success among consumers and companies alike. The mobile app started as a simple way for users to share 6-second videos with their friends, but it quickly exploded into one of the most popular applications for marketers to reach potential buyers.While the site does not reach nearly as many users as its parent network, Twitter, it has significantly gained in popularity. In just eight

Small Business Marketing Blog

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Place fitness first at the office

The American Heart Association recently named April 2 as National Walking Day, asking Americans around the country to celebrate by dedicating a small portion of their day to walking. Promoting physical fitness among employees is essential for creating a healthy office environment, whether managers are heading down the street for lunch or asking them to opt for the stairs instead of the elevator. Participating in holidays that encourage employees to walk is a great way to promote healthy

Small Business Marketing Blog

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Understanding inbound marketing

The traditional marketing process follows a simple formula to attract, convert, sell to and retain consumers. This simple four-step process encompasses a wide variety of selling tactics, from sending direct mail to using word-of-mouth to spread awareness for a brand. While the process has remained generally unchanged for decades, the impact the Internet has had on the marketing world cannot be denied. Companies that primarily use the Web to try and reach consumers practice inbound marketing, a

Small Business Marketing Blog