by Kirby Hasseman
Just about every good mother and father teach their children two phrases just as soon as they can talk. Say them with me… “Please and thank you.”
Awesome. That means this blog is read by wonderful parents (or soon to be parents). But here’s the thing. As nearly any parent will tell you, we get tired of hearing “please.” “Please can I go to friend’s house?” “Can I stay up later, please?” “Please can I have just one more?” On the other hand, we never get tired of hearing “thank you.” That simple sign of appreciation is much more rare. And even if it’s not, it’s never annoying.
We appreciate the appreciation.
Our clients and prospects and employees feel the same way. As business owners, sales people, and leaders, we spend a lot of time asking people for something. We ask employees for their effort. We ask customers for their money. We ask both of them for their time. We ask…a lot. But how often do you really spend time saying “thank you?” Not just the basic “hey thanks” you say in passing or the automatic email that says “thanks for your purchase.” Those are fine…I guess. But they don’t take effort and are not really sincere.
How often do you stop by a customer’s office just to thank them for their business? How often do you pick up the phone to do the same? How often do you schedule a meeting with a person in your organization just to take the time to applaud their efforts? If you are like most of us (me included), the answer is probably “not enough.” So here are 3 ways to fix the “appreciation gap” in your business.
Just “Thanks:”
Go to your clients or your employees with a simple “thanks meeting.” If it’s a client, let them know you are only there to say “thank you for their business.” If it’s an employee schedule a quick meeting. Both will probably give you quizzical looks because they are not used to this sort of meeting. But both will appreciate it.
Send a Card
Yes…we are going old school. Take the time and send out a simple greeting card showing your appreciation. The fact is, most of the mail we get these days is a bill. This will stand out!
Appreciation Program
This is for your best clients. Most businesses have a rule that 80% of the revenue comes from 20% of the clients. This is for that 20%. Create a quarterly program where you get a simple gift for your best clients…just to say “thanks.” It’s simple and it’s easy.
And you will be saying “thank you” instead of “please.” If you want to make sure you never miss an update, please sign up for our VIP newsletter here.
Or if you want to jump right to our site in order to find a great Promo item to show your clients appreciation, you can shop here.
by Kirby Hasseman
In my experience there is an over-abundance of people that are willing to “say” they want to be successful. They will tell you that they wish they had more money or more time or a place at the beach or….you get the idea.
But there is a huge disconnect.
It’s between what people are saying they want, and what they are willing to actually do. It reminds me of my favorite quote: The greatest distance in the world is the distance between “I know” and “I do.”
Most people know what they need to do. They just don’t do it.
What about you? Do you have a goal in your life that you profess to want? Are you doing anything about it?
This is not designed to beat you up. And I don’t want you to beat yourself up either. It’s just real. And once you recognize it, you can do something about it.
So start today. Make a short list of the things you need to do in order to make your goal a reality. Now pick the first thing on the list you can do today to move you toward the goal.
Go do that.
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by Kirby Hasseman
Welcome to our awesome blog post series for Hasseman Marketing called:
“Brand-ecdotes!”
Each week we will talk to a branding all star about what makes the Promotional Product advertising media so special!
This week we talk with Dana Geiger. Dana is the Regional Relationship Manager for PPAI. She is a rock star with tons of experience and knowledge in the Promo World!
1. What is your all time favorite Promotional Product and why?
The mug. It’s not a sexy answer, I realize. But people identify with mugs. I choose a mug each morning from my overly cluttered mug cabinet that reflects my mood. I have some pretty irreverent mugs.
2. Can you name a Promo Product that you have that STILL reminds you fondly of an event, person, organization? If so, can you tell us that story?
I have a windbreaker from about 10 years ago. I know now that it is a Charles River piece that retails for about 34.99. It was given to me as an incentive prize for raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association. But it is so much more than all of that. Each dollar I raised that EARNED in pursuit of that windbreaker was another opportunity to tell people about my grandmother. As such, that windbreaker connects me to her memory. I feel happier when I wear it. And yes, I actually do wear it.
3. What is the current product you use all the time?
A silicone tech wallet. I have been through many of them (I am tough on phones). I travel fairly frequently and often find myself wanting to carry as few items as possible. The tech wallet makes this easy. I always know where to find my room key, my ID, and a credit card.
4. What is an idea/product that you think organizations UNDER use?
I think many companies underestimate how products they choose reflect upon their brand. Without sounding critical, I think many companies are lazy about the products they and more importantly, are even lazier with the messaging they put on those products. A well thought-out, clever product and message choice will not only reinforce a brand subconsciously set the company apart from others almost guaranteeing a future partnership with the consumer.
5. What do you think is the best thing about Promotional Products as an advertising media?
Promotional products are not only the most effective form of advertising, they are also the most ingratiating. Not only can marketers convey a message that lasts, but their audience will thank them for doing it. The rumors are true, they work!
And…that’s another awesome edition of Brand-ecdotes! Thanks to Dana Geiger for taking the time to jump in!
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by Kirby Hasseman
The names in this blog have been changed to avoid calling anyone out! 🙂 My wife and I are creatures of habit when it comes to lunch. We like to go to the same couple of places in in town. So often, the people that work there know our order. This is really true of a specific fast food burger joint in Coshocton. They do a tremendous job and know “just how we like it.” As I walk to the counter, the lady will greet me with a grin and say, “Your usual?” They do a great job of making us feel special each time we go in. My wife often orders something similar too. Her “regular” order comes in a box and is available only with regular fries. When this option first came out, Amy asked if she could switch it out for curly fries…but the team there was not allowed. This particular meal only came with regular fries. Ok. But here’s the cool thing. Often, the ladies will deliver the meal with a “surprise” for my wife. They will sneak in the curly fries, “just for her.” It not only makes her happy, but it inevitably makes her feel special too. And what did that cost? Exactly nothing. Recently though, they brought out her meal with an apology. “Sorry. We had to bring the regular fries. The boss is here.” Now THAT is funny. So the employees, who are rock stars, when left to their own device are willing to go above and beyond to delight the customer. But when the boss is in town, they have to stop. That is SO interesting to me. How many of us are doing that to our employees? As leaders, we sometimes set up policies and procedures to ensure that the lowest common denominator doesn’t ruin the guest experience. But how many times are those rules keeping your rock stars from improving it? Just some “food” for thought. If you want to make sure you never miss an update, make sure to sign up for our VIP newsletter here! Oh…and if you just want to shop for some sweet promo, click here.
by Kirby Hasseman
I am always amused when people seem annoyed the celebrities are making money on Instagram and other social media platforms. You hear people scoff when they are told about the large sums of money that they make for taking a picture holding a product. “That’s ridiculous,” they say. They just can’t believe that influencer marketing is worth that much on social. But it is. People work hard to create and maintain an audience on social media. And when they get it, they have the ability to really impact sales on a product, a cause, or an organization. And I am not just talking about the Kardashians! I had a cool experience recently with a person who I believe is a great influencer in the marketing space, Jeff Haden. Jeff is a ghostwriter, a speaker, the author of the Motivation Myth (which I really liked) and a LinkedIn Influencer. He has also been gracious enough to be a guest on Delivering Marketing Joy (watch here). But what does he have to do with this? Well recently I posted about my book Fan of Happy on LinkedIn. I pointed out that it might be a good graduation gift. It was a shameless plug. But Jeff, who was kind enough to look at the book before I published it, was the very first person to comment on the post. He left a kind and thoughtful comment about the book and recommended it. It was a huge compliment to me. Then, because of Jeff’s influence, the post took off. An average post on LinkedIn might have 1000 views. Sure I have some with more and some with less. But that’s an average. What did this one get? 
Now I think it’s important to note that Jeff did not share it. He simply made a thoughtful comment and moved on with this day. But by just doing that, he exposed me to a huge new audience…and for that I am grateful. So the next time you doubt the power of an influencer, think again. Oh…and thanks Jeff! Make sure you never miss an update, sign up for our VIP newsletter here. And if you want to shop for some great Promo, click here!
