by Kirby Hasseman
It’s time for the 10th episode of the He Said/She Said Podcast with Hasseman Marketing! This podcast is designed to give an inside look at being married and being entrepreneurs and the projects we are working on and the challenges we are facing! We talk about business, family, community and more. So listen in and let us know what you think!
On this episode we talk about…
Trending Topic
This week Kirby and Amy talk Tariffs. While this may not seem like a fun topic (it’s not) it is important. They talk about how the Tariffs will affect your marketing budget and how to work around them. We even reference this post about 5 cool promotional products that are Made in the USA.
Weekly Whirlwind
This week in the Weekly Whirlwind, Amy talks about graduation season and trying to finish up with the Ohio Historic Tax Credit project. Kirby takes the time to realize how important each member of the Hasseman Marketing team is. When people take time off, it changes the dynamic of the office.
Question From The Audience
This week Kirby and Amy answer this question: “If you could go back and give yourself advice as a wedding present, what advice would you give?” It gets a little deep! You just have to listen for yourself.
Lesson In Life
The goal of the lesson in life is just to provide a bit more value on the podcast. The message this week is simple…don’t wait. Don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait for the perfect time. If you have a goal, go after it.
Shout Outs
Each week we want to give a shout out to an organization or an individual doing good work. This week Kirby gives his shout out to the Coshocton County Beacon. This weekly newspaper does a great job of highlighting the good that is going on in the community. It’s refreshing. Amy talks about the Coshocton and River View Baccalaureate ceremony this past weekend. It was a great event with multiple organizations working together. Also the speaker, Todd Gongwer (author of Lead…For God’s Sake) was terrific!
So that’s a wrap! We will be back…and we will continue to improve. Any feedback will be welcome as we try to provide you value! If you want to subscribe you can do that where you normally get podcasts…or you can head here to follow on Soundcloud.
Thanks so much for listening! If you have any topics you want Kirby and Amy to cover, please comment and let us know! Oh…and if you like this content, check out this page where you can find all of the content we create!
by Kirby Hasseman
A couple of years ago, I wrote the book “Fan of Happy” as a way to communicate life lessons for my daughters. The lessons developed into a book that I am proud to share. But since the book was published, I continue to grow and evolve. I continue to learn. And so I have come across some new lessons I would like to share with my daughters…and you. So here are a few new “lessons for my daughters.”
It Might Be a Sign
When you are chasing a new goal or a new dream, it will be hard. Anyone that tells you differently is selling something. So often today, we are filled with memes and platitudes that tell us that “when we find the right path” things will get easy. Or you have heard “when you find what you love you will never work another day in your life.”
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those are not true.
When you are doing something new, or creating a new path, there will be challenges. You will be stretched. This is not, as some would have you believe, a sign that you should stop. It’s not a sign that you are not supposed to chase that dream. As a matter of fact, it can be the opposite. It is often a sign you are on the right track.
For example, when you go to the gym (or workout in any way), you are pushing your body out of its comfort zone. You break down your muscle, so it can rebuild itself…stronger. The next day (and particularly two days later) you are sore. But you don’t view that discomfort as a sign that you are not on the right path. It’s a sign you are doing the right thing! Discomfort is a part of the journey. Embrace it as a sign you need to keep pushing.
Jealousy versus Admiration
When you see someone else having some level of success in life, especially if that success comes in the form of something you want, it’s natural to be a bit jealous. They have what you want. You are working hard to chase a dream, and it seems like it’s coming easy to them. They are ahead of you on the path. It’s natural to ask “why not me?”
It’s also incredibly unproductive.
When faced with a situation like this, re-direct your focus from jealousy to admiration. Jealousy is a negative emotion that shuts down your creative brain. Admiration still shows you the gap between what you want, and what you have. But that change gives your brain the space to not only admire them, but learn from them. What are they doing that you are not? Who do they know? What training have they done? What can you learn from them.
When you admire someone, you can learn from them.
Start Your Day with Gratitude
You cannot be negative and grateful at the same time. Though I have said that before, I learned a new trick this year that helps me frame my day in the first 60 seconds. When I am feeling overwhelmed with life, my first thoughts of the day have to do with what happened yesterday. What did I mess up? Why did they say that to me? Or I might think about the things I am dreading coming up today.
Either way, I am not living in the present.
When the alarm goes off and my mind begins to race, my new practice is to take just one minute to think about the things in my life that I am grateful for. It’s a simple exercise that takes me out of an immediate state of stress. It also reminds me, on a day when I need to work hard, why I am working hard in the first place!
If you are interested in more lessons like this, you can check out my book Fan of Happy on Amazon here. Oh, and if you want to make sure you never miss an update, sign up to become a VIP here.
by Kirby Hasseman
Yesterday on this blog, we talked about the affect that Tariffs will have on your marketing budget. They will have this affect because a high percentage of promotional products are imported from China. With that being said, there are some great promotional items that are made domestically, that can still wow your customers and prospects. So, here are 5 great promotional products that are Made in the USA.
5 Made in the USA Promotional Products
16 oz Tervis Tumbler
This classic double walled Tervis Tumbler is not only a hit in retail, it is made in the USA. These amazing drinkware pieces are almost impossible to break, and are a great branding piece that will used over and over again. Check that item out here.
Sticky Notecubes
And speaking of long lasting, how about these 3 x 3 adhesive cubes? These amazing promotional pieces not only give you a great imprint space to tell your story, they tend to last forever. And since they are adhesive, each sheet is seen again and again and again. There are plenty of sizes and shapes and price points. Check out one here.
Lip Balm
Just in case you are thinking that you can only get higher priced items, think again. One of the best bang for your bucks in marketing comes in the form of Lip Balm! This item has a great price point and the perceived value is great! As a matter of fact, 40% of your customers are probably addicted to Lip Balm. What a great marketing piece to have your brand image wrapped around every day. Check out this option (with SPF) here.
T-Shirt
Believe it or not, you can get a quality made t-shirt in the United States. So if you want to avoid changes in pricing on your apparel, or you just want to promote “all USA made, you can do that with a quality t-shirt. From cotton to fabric to sewing, this t-shirt is put together here in the US.
Sunscreen
As summer (finally) starts to show up in most of the United States, now is a great time to think about sunscreen as a promotional items. For outdoor company events, golf outings, and so much more, sunscreen is the perfect promo piece (regardless of where it’s made). You can learn more about this item here.
There are plenty of other great options to create an amazing promotional campaign and avoid the tariff issue. Just talk to your Account Executive for more ideas. And if you need someone to be “your person” you can head to our About Us page and pick one! Or just email us here and we will take care of you.
One Final Thought on Tariffs
Although this is a big issue for our industry, I do want to say one thing to put your mind at ease. If you are working with a good promotional consultant, this should not be a huge issue for you and your company, long term. When you meet with your representative, it’s simply about budget setting. As you discuss the project with them, just make sure they (or we) know your budget constraints. It’s the job of the Promotional Professional to keep you in between the lines.
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by Kirby Hasseman
One of the most talked about topics in the last few months in the promotional products world has been Tariffs. It’s been talked about because it can and WILL affect your marketing.
Our goal at Hasseman Marketing is to keep you up to date with what you need to know…so let’s dig into what this means for you and your marketing budget moving forward.
Previously, I wrote a blog post about how tariffs will affect your marketing. You can find that post Here.
Just as a reminder, at my most recent visit to the PPAI Expo in January, tariffs were the talk of the show. When it comes to branded merchandise, a huge percentage of the items that are sold in the industry are imported from China. I mentioned in the previous blog post that the “pricing could change.”
And that price IS changing.
David Nicholson from PCNA (one of the largest suppliers in the Promo industry) released a statement on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Currently, this is what we know.
- Tariffs on the existing $200 Billion of Chinese imports will increase from 10% to 25% effective June 1st (for shipments made prior to May 10th).
- The 25% tariff impacts the product categories originally included in the 10% tariff regulations that were enacted last September. The major categories relevant to our industry are: Bags and Stationery products, and portions of Drinkware, Technology and other Accessory categories.
- The US Trade Representative announced Monday that the US has begun the formal process to expand the 25% tariff to all other imports from China (i.e. those currently not subject to tariffs).
- This represents an additional $300+ billion of imports from China and would cover a large majority of product categories sold in our industry. The public hearing and comment period end June 24th – so the expanded range of tariff categories would not be imposed until after that date.
As I said, we at Hasseman Marketing want to be a great source of information for you and your team. Whether it be a great idea for posting on social media, tips on video or the trends and news of the day, we want to be a resource.
So what does this mean to you?
It means, quite likely, the price of promotional merchandise that you purchase will be rising. Now is a good time to start thinking about the items you are using to promote your brand. Here are a couple of questions to consider.
- Are you completely happy with the items you have been using? If the answer is yes, then the price increase might be acceptable.
- Can we look at new options that could better fit into the budget moving forward?
- Are there domestically made products that might fit our needs? We are going to be creating a list of some cool products that are made in the U.S. for you and your organization to consider. Be on the look out soon!
If you have more questions, please feel free to reach out to us and we can discuss it! Make sure you never miss an update! Sign up to become a VIP here.
by Kirby Hasseman
It’s time for the 8th episode of the He Said/She Said Podcast with Hasseman Marketing! This podcast is designed to give an inside look at being married and being entrepreneurs and the projects we are working on and the challenges we are facing! We talk about business, family, community and more. So listen in and let us know what you think!
On this episode we talk about…
Trending Topic
This week Kirby and Amy talk about the month of May. When it comes to running a business and having a family, they find that May is a tough time of year. There are some many activities going on and wrapping up, it’s difficult to make it to everything. They talk about what they do when they feel like they are disappointing people.
Weekly Whirlwind
This leads nicely into the whirlwind this week. May also brings graduation parties, an Open House for HMC and more. But Kirby and Amy discuss how sometimes, that is exactly what you need to get projects done. The house always gets cleaned when company is coming over, right?
Lesson In Life
The goal of the lesson in life is just to provide a bit more value on the podcast. This time Kirby and Amy talk about what to do when you are dreading a project. We all have times when a project is overwhelming. How do you tackle it? Who is better at this? Find out on the podcast!
Shout Outs
Each week we want to give a shout out to an organization or an individual doing good work. This week Kirby gives his shout out to teachers! It’s a tough time of year to keep the attention of students. Thanks for keeping up the good fight teachers. And Amy’s shout out this week is to the Imagination Library. This great program, started by Dolly Parton, gives out books to kids from 0-5. Coshocton County United Way is celebrating giving out their 100,000 book! Seriously cool stuff.
So that’s a wrap! We will be back…and we will continue to improve. Any feedback will be welcome as we try to provide you value! If you want to subscribe you can do that where you normally get podcasts…or you can head here to follow on Soundcloud.
Thanks so much for listening! If you have any topics you want Kirby and Amy to cover, please comment and let us know! Oh…and if you like this content, check out this page where you can find all of the content we create!
by Kirby Hasseman
Podcasting has become an amazing and popular way to communicate your message and build your brand. It’s easy to get started. And, when done right, it is an extremely personal way to communicate to your audience. They really get to know you and your point of view. So how do you get started podcasting? Today we will cover some basics…and what has worked for me.
I started podcasting nearly 3 years ago. Though I have done podcasts on my own, I have found the most success with other people. I enjoy the interaction and it helps to keep me accountable to be consistent.
Promo UpFront Podcast
For years, I have recorded a podcast with my buddy Bill Petrie every week. First it was called unScripted and can be found here. For the last several months, we have shifted a bit. It’s called the Promo UpFront podcast. You can find that one here!
We talk about topics in the marketing and branding world and release the podcast every Friday. The unScripted podcast is designed to give our honest, unedited opinion on the topics that are relevant at the moment. What I love about this podcast is that it truly is off the cuff. I don’t know what Bill is going to bring up and he is in the dark about my topics. It’s fun. And the audience seems to respond to this authenticity as well. We have won a few awards for the podcast, and that is rewarding. But it’s a fun and fairly easy way to create conversation and to build our brand.
He Said She Said Podcast
More recently, my wife Amy and I have started a weekly podcast called He Said She Said. Because of our diverse interests, people are often curious about what we are doing. We thought this might be a way to give people a “behind the scenes” look. Amy and I talk about a “trending topic” each week and give people insight into what we are working on. We also try to provide a lesson of some kind and we give a weekly “shout out” to someone we are inspired by. It’s a fun new podcast and you can find it on our Soundcloud channel or just simply come to our blog each and every week.
Delivering Marketing Joy
Delivering Marketing Joy is the “OG” of content for me. Each week I interview a different leader in the business and marketing space. DMJ started as a web show, and it still is and can be found here on PromoCorner. But as it went on, people asked for me to provide them a podcast version of the show! I obliged and you can find that here on Soundcloud!
So those are our current podcasts…so how do you get started? Let’s dig into that.
Equipment
One thing that hangs people up on podcasting is the idea that you need a ton of equipment to get started. You don’t. Sure, the better the equipment, the better the sound. The better the sound, the better it is for your listener. That is true. But don’t let that stop you from just getting started. Your laptop has a microphone built in. That’s not the best, but it records! If you want a better microphone but do not want to break the bank, the one I recommend is the Blue Snowball USB microphone. It plugs right into your computer and gives really good sound. There are always ways to upgrade. Now that I have been at it a bit longer, I use this Yeti Blue Snowball and I love it. But to get you off the ground, this is a great start!
Recording Platform
While there are plenty of options when it comes to the platform you use to record your podcast, I use Zoom. It’s become ubiquitous, so nearly everyone you want to interview will know how to log in and use it. In addition, I find that the overall quality of video and audio is solid. You can even break the video and audio tracks apart if you want.
Editing Software
The other concern I hear from people who are interested in starting a podcast is, “will I need new software to get started?” The answer is “yes” and “no.” You will (most likely) need something to edit your audio file. But the level of editing will vary greatly depending on the kind of podcast. If you are doing something like our unScripted podcast, we pride ourselves on the fact that editing is minimal. If you do a quick google search you can find all kinds of audio editing software. But I like to keep it simple. We have Final Cut X, so that is what we use. I have talked to many people who can get started by using iMovie or Moviemaker to get their podcasts off the ground. Again…keep it simple. Get started and you will learn what works and where you need to upgrade.
Hosting
Once you have recorded your podcast, and then edited it into a finished product, you will need to host it somewhere. In other words, where will you upload it so someone can find it and listen. Again, there are lots of options. The one I use the most is Soundcloud. We upload most of our content there and then we have set up rss feeds to send the podcast to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and other places where most people listen. The other app that I kind of like is Anchor. What I like about that format is, they make it easy to record directly to your phone and upload directly from there. Although that won’t create podcasts that are nearly as produced, it does get rid of some of the production hurdles that stop so many people.
Point of View
Beyond the equipment, I think it’s even more important to establish what you are going to talk about. Do you have a topic where you are a true expert? Are you in an industry where you can help people? Do you want to highlight your community? Whatever your topic is going to be, I think it’s important to have a clear direction. No one wants to listen to someone drone on with no coherent thought. Think out what you want to cover. In addition, have an opinion. You don’t need to be a “shock jock.” But so many people are afraid to say anything that might be perceived as controversial. So…they say nothing at all.
Length
There is no set answer to how long a podcast should be. That’s the beauty of podcasting. People listen to it as they have time. Think about how you listen to them. You might be in the office, or in the car, or you might be working out. I generally am a fan of brevity…especially when starting out. You don’t want to make something longer just for the sake of it. Say what you need to say…then stop talking.
Getting Started
The biggest lesson I would like to share with you is, you need to get started. So many of us wait until the mythical time when everything is perfect. We don’t want to start until we have everything figured out. That time will never come. In addition, the way you “figure it out” is by starting. You create a podcast. You listen (and you might even cringe a bit). Then you adjust and get better. Rinse and repeat.
If I can help you or answer any questions on how to get started, please email me here. I am happy to help. I can’t wait to hear about your podcast…and your journey along the way.
P.S. As a cool side note, I was invited to be a part of the 100th Episode of the Your Living Brand podcast. You can listen to that here.
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