by Kirby Hasseman
So you want your business to stand out? You want to rise above the noise? Of course you do! Here are some ways to make it happen…fast. (Oh, and if you want a list of exercises to help it happen faster, click here). Better before bigger: The founder of a fast food chain that has one of the healthiest profit-loss statements in the industry would often tell his team, “When we become better, our customers will insist we become bigger.” If you are reading this, it’s safe to assume you already understand that the quality of the experience leads to the quantity of business you’ll get from referrals. People will share with others about their experience with you. What are you arming them with to say? Utilizing an employee appreciation program that rewards a team member when they are caught doing great work with a tangible gift is just one way to lead your team to deliver a higher quality experience.
Know what they’ll experience before they show up: We all reach the point that we stop seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling and noticing things in the environments we spend every day in. When I first moved to Virginia Beach, the jet noise was very distracting. Now? I barely notice it. Find someone you know (and your team doesn’t) that cares more about your success than your feelings. Have them drop by at random as a customer. Within 24 hours meet with them to get their honest and detailed observations of their experience. Don’t justify away anything they say. Listen and respond with, “thanks for sharing that” for each new thing they share. Then give them a really nice thank you gift and let them know that while you asked them to keep their visit secret before they came, they are free to tell everyone they know that you asked them to do this. It will demonstrate you care for your customers. Share a picture on your social media of you giving them the thank you gift with your logo prominently on it. Then, have a form that people can fill out to “apply” to be a secret shopper. Ask them to opt-in to your email list and instantly see a spike in your list. And, you’ve probably heard, the money is in the list.
Say “thanks for being here” in a unique way: Here is where having a promotional programs consultant pays for itself over and over for years to come. If you are a restaurant, send your customers away with a customized thank you card with a recipe on it. Are you a coffee shop? How about saying thanks with the offer to take a free set of absorbent car coasters. Have a hotel? Why not encourage your guest to keep a monogramed robe, bath or beach towel? Fishing business? How about a hat designed to get cooler when wet helping your fishermen to say comfortable and cool.
Do for one what you wish you could do for all: There are limitless opportunities here! Again, talk with a promotional product consultant with the gift for bright ideas and you’ll see a return that will put your competition to shame. At random (on whatever frequency you decide) go a bit mad and give the experience to someone unexpectedly. When a customer arrives let them know you want to say thank you and give them their entire stay at your hotel for free. Plus, make arrangements for a limo to take them to a restaurant to eat one night. Have a personal concierge available via text or call 24/7 for their every need. Or, after someone eats at your restaurant, let them know the meal is on you and give them a gift card to cover their next trip. Then, simply include a small thank you card and say something like, “we are never to busy to take care of your family friends.” The key to success here? Celebrate THEM on your social media. Avoid the “hey look at what WE did.” Instead say, “Hey, meet the River family. After randomly surprising them by telling them their experience was FREE, they had this to say…..” With the proper social media strategy in place you’ll generate more response than you can imagine. Include some awesome SWAG with your logo on it and you’ll have a fan for life. One last idea here. Work with your promotional program consultant and discover a unique item and randomly surprise everyone in your establishment at one point with the freebie. Include the hashtag, “”#BestofVirginiaBeach on it to plant the idea they should use the hashtag on their social media. Within hours thousands of people will see your brand with the hashtag “Best of Virginia Beach” associated with it.
Engage with people where they are: You train your staff to be friendly when they are face to face with a customer I’m sure. However, what most brands fail to realize is when people engage you on social media, they feel the same as if they were literally face to face. Utilize a marketing firm to create, implement and maintain a social media strategy that will bring in more business and more money. Randomly select someone who leaves a review on Yelp, TripAdvisor and/or Facebook and say something like; “We so appreciate your feedback we’ve selected you at random to give you this gift.” Then, give them something unique that connects to your brand. With over 1 million promotional products out there, utilize a professional to help discover the bright idea that will help you achieve your business growth goals. 
Want to take your Tourism business to the “Next level?” You need your team to grow with you and your business. Sign up here and we will send you our guide with 4 activities to help you get your staff to think like an owner (for Free!).
by Kirby Hasseman
If you are working to plan a Mud Run Obstacle Race (or any other running race for that matter) you want to create one that is awesome! The fact is, there are a LOT of races out there. So how do you create an event that creates raving fans that come back year after year?
It’s about creating an awesome experience. You need to be different. Here are some ways to create a Mud Run that stands out from the crowd…and creates an impact that lasts! Good Tech T-shirts: It seems that every race has an event t-shirt…and that’s great. But is it a shirt worth wearing? If you create the cheapest shirt possible, that will be your return. That doesn’t, however, mean you have to break the bank. You can create a nicer shirt (and a cool design is huge too) that runners will actually want to wear! This is something you can market in advance, and will bring people back next year. The Gildan 42000 is a great performance shirt that won’t break the bank! It also has a softer feel than most tech shirts and is not “clingy” to the body. We do it every year for a local mud run, and the runners love it. 
Oh…and we can help with the design too. 🙂 Drawcord Backpack: Most of the time, you have lots of things to put together in a “race packet” for your runners. You have bibs, pins, flyers, shirts and more…and you need a place to put them. Often race directors opt for a cheap plastic bag. That’s fine, but a bag like this will delight runners and give you advertising space for next year too. 
Finisher’s Medal: Typically for Mud Run’s everyone that finishes gets a medal. When it comes to medals, Go Big or Go Home! A 3″ or larger medal will really stand out and the runners will love them. Also, make sure to go with a custom wide ribbon with the race name and year on them. They will definitely remember this medal and come back the following year to add another to their collection. 
Silicone Bands: If your race is a competitive one, you will need a way to dock runners if they cannot complete an obstacle. This is pretty common among OCR races. These 1inch wide Silicone Bands are great inexpensive options that look nice but won’t break the bank. And, if a runner manages to keep theirs the entire race, they make great souvenirs/badges or honor for the racer.
The Fandana: This is definitely different. The Fandana is a fun product that is perfect for the fitness enthusiast. You can wear it at the event as a bandana, scrunchy, beanie face mask and more. Something like this can really be a fun addition to an event. 
Event Tent: If you plan on doing this event more than one year, this is a great purchase for the long term! This 10 x 10 event tent can be perfect for registration or even drinks and bananas. Either way, you have a great looking piece that keeps the branding of the event going all the way through! 
There are MANY more great ideas that can help you stand out…these are just a few. But remember to think about how you want your event to feel from start to finish…and you will create an event that is sure to finish strong! If you want to make sure you are not missing anything, we can help there too! Here is a complete 5K Planning Checklist! It’s Free…so check it out and make sure you are not leaving anything on the table! 
by Kirby Hasseman
If you are working to plan a 5k race (or any other running race for that matter) you want to create one that is awesome! The fact is, there are a LOT of races out there. So how do you create an event that creates raving fans that come back year after year? TIP: Make sure you don’t forget anything!! Click Here to get our FREE 5k Planning Checklist.
It’s about creating an awesome experience. You need to be different. Here are some ways to create a 5k that stands out from the crowd…and creates an impact that lasts! Good T-shirts: It seems that every race has an event t-shirt…and that’s great. But is it a shirt worth wearing? If you create the cheapest shirt possible, that will be your return. That doesn’t, however, mean you have to break the bank. You can create a nicer shirt (and a cool design is huge too) that runners will actually want to wear! This is something you can market in advance, and will bring people back next year. The Gildan 42000 is a great performance shirt that won’t break the bank! Oh…and we can help with the design too. 🙂 Drawcord Backpack: Most of the time, you have lots of things to put together in a “race packet” for your runners. You have numbers, pins, flyers, shirts and more…and you need a place to put them. Often race directors opt for a cheap plastic bag. That’s fine, but a bag like this will delight runners and give you advertising space for next year too. Race SOCKS: Yes you read that right! Want to have a race that stands out? How about full color sublimated socks for the event? These socks are sure to make an impression at the event and after. 
Chill Towel: On a hot day, there is nothing your runners will love more (other than gatorade) than a way to cool down. This chill towel is the perfect solution. You get the towel wet and it stays cool for hours. Great to give to attendees just as they finish the race as a final way to delight. They will love them. 
The Fandana: This is definitely different. The Fandana is a fun product that is perfect for the fitness enthusiast. You can wear it at the event as a bandana, scrunchy, beanie and more. Something like this can really be a fun addition to an event. Event Tent: If you plan on doing this event more than one year, this is a great purchase for the long term! This 10 x 10 event tent can be perfect for registration or even drinks and bananas. Either way, you have a great looking piece that keeps the branding of the event going all the way through! There are MANY more great ideas that can help you stand out…these are just a few. But remember to think about how you want your event to feel from start to finish…and you will create an event that is sure to finish strong! If you want to make sure you are not missing anything, we can help there too! Here is a complete 5K Planning Checklist! It’s Free…so check it out and make sure you are not leaving anything on the table! 
Want to keep up all the time? Make sure to join our VIP List! Our VIP’s get an email with the latest content…and other special offers as well. Join here.
by Kirby Hasseman
As an entrepreneur, it’s hard to stay on top of it all. We get it. You are working to balance sales, employees, payroll, accounts payable, marketing and much, much more! In addition, if you are like a lot of business owners, you want to be on the cutting edge when you can. It makes you look more professional and in touch.
But it’s hard to make the time to do it all!
So at Hasseman Marketing we did some of the homework for you on Promo! Here the 6 promo items you need to know about right now!
16 oz Persona Tower Travel Mug
We have all seen the cheap tumblers in the promo industry. They are fine, but they don’t really do the job of keeping coffee hot. What does that mean? It means your customers won’t really use them, so your marketing dollars are wasted. The Persona will become your clients favorite coffee mug. It keeps coffee hot for over 5 hours…so when you are on the road you want this mug! This is the mug that will give you marketing impact when you give the gift…and for all the miles down the road! These tremendous tumblers are on special for $13.89 (setup $55) right now.
The Wedge Mobile Device Stand
The fact is, some of the most valuable marketing space today is around your mobile device. Want your client’s attention? Be near their phone! This high quality phone stand offers a great full color decoration and even a screen cleaner on the bottom. Want to tell a story? Want to drive traffic to a website? Just want to have VERY valuable ad space on your clients desk? This fits the bill. These are in the current HMC flyer for $6.45 (setup $80).
Economy Retractor
Once you get one of these you will be surprised how often you can use it! The Retractor is a great item for trade shows or events. You will also find that you can use it in your office, networking events or even sales calls! These are an extremely affordable way to “silently sell” new services or add on products. With the right design, these can be a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal.
Clip It Vent Mount
Have we mentioned the power of marketing around the phone? This is not only a perfect tool for that, but also helps with safety. The clip it vent mount holds your phone so that it is always within arms reach. It is functional and easy. In addition, it keeps your logo (or message) in front of your clients all the time they are in the car. This is one of our favorite new products in the industry! You can get these in the latest HMC flyer for $2.75 (setup $50).
The Juicebox
Want to be a hero in someone’s eyes? Give them a charger when their phone is about to die! You may have seen some of these on the market in the past, but the Juicebox is a nice phone charger (will charge your phone 2.5 times) and it comes in a FUN package! If you want to grab attention and keep it…this item is perfect. And think outside of the (juice)box. These are awesome for trade shows, golf outings, traveling…anytime someone will need their phone and cannot plug in! Oh…and did we mention this marketing piece revolves around their phone! 🙂
365 Performance Pique Polo
You want your team to look like a team, but you don’t want to spend a fortune. Sound familiar? Here is a low cost performance golf shirt for under $17 (with embroidery)! Lots of colors and sizes. This makes outfitting the team a lot easier.
So there you have it! These are 6 items that are sure to keep your name on the lips of your customers and prospects. Now get back out there and keep up the hustle!
Hasseman Marketing is a full service Marketing firm that specializes in promotional products (known as SWAG), video production, graphic design, social media management and more. We Deliver Marketing Joy! If you want 3 awesome tips to Super Charge your SWAG, fill out the form to get the free report below! It’s time to take your promotions to the next level.
by Kirby Hasseman
If you are planning an event (or planning to attend one) you want to go where speakers resonate. You want speakers that entertain, inspire and educate. We get it. So we compiled this quick list of some of the best speakers we have seen over the last 2 years. This list is NOT comprehensive (there are lots of great speakers out there) but it’s a fun start! Kirby Hasseman: Forgive us for the shameless plug, but it’s true! Kirby has been in demand lately as a speaker! He has given talks on Marketing, the Give First Economy and Building a Business “on Purpose” and more. He has even just written a new book called “Fan of Happy.” If you want to laugh and cry, find out about Kirby speaking here. Bill Petrie: Bill is a rock star when it comes to providing value to an audience. As CEO of Brandivate, Bill works with companies from around the country to help them raise their game through differentiation, process improvement and even social media. He brings this experience with him to the stage. Real stories. Real takeaways. Learn more about Bill Petrie here. Paul Keiweit: There was not a dry eye in the house at a recent SkuCon event where Paul was a featured speaker. Paul gives real talk about the ups and downs of life and business…and how to succeed. In addition, Paul is just a really great guy! Learn more about Paul speaking here. Jason Lucash: Speaking of SkuCon, Jason was another speaker at that event and he brought down the house. Jason is funny, irreverent and relevant and a true entrepreneur. He does a great job telling the “entrepreneur journey” through his own eyes. Combine that with the fact that he is a “Shark Tank Survivor” and a business builder and you have a home run. Learn more about him here. Dave Ramsey: Dave is a ball of energy and a true teacher and leader. Though he is probably most well known for his Financial Freedom program and his syndicated radio show, he Entre-Leadership talk is valuable for any entrepreneur or business owner. If you want to have a better company and be a better leader, it’s worth listening to Dave Ramsey. Jon Acuff: Of all the speakers we have seen over the past several years, Jon Acuff has been the most pleasant surprise. We knew he was a great writer (Start, Do Over, and more), but wow! Combine his message with funny delivery and you have a rock star on the stage. If you are speaking to entrepreneurs or employees that need to find their mojo, Jon can dazzle. Learn more here. Seth Godin: Let’s keep this simple. Seth Godin is one of the most influential people in marketing in the last 20 years. If you can afford him and he will agree, you should hire him. Go! Gary Vaynerchuk: Brash, unapologetic and real. Gary Vaynerchuk (or GaryVee) is a business builder, best selling author and host of the Ask GaryVee show. He has become the simple of the “hustle” entrepreneur. In addition, Gary changes his talk to his audience and loves Q & A sessons. He really brings it. Learn more about hiring him here. Let’s face it. Most of these folks do not need our endorsement. But it does make for fun discussion. Who have we left off? Let us know! Want to keep up all the time? Make sure to join our VIP List! Our VIP’s get an email with the latest content…and other special offers as well. Join here.
