by Kirby Hasseman
No matter what business you are in, you need to promote yourself if you want to succeed. As Henry Ford famously said, “A man who stops advertising to save money is like a man who stops a clock to save time.” We all need to let our prospects and customers know that we are here to serve them. But you can still do that responsibly. There is a growing number of products in the marketing space that have an eco-friendly component. That way you can promote your business…and do good while you are doing it.
Skylar Hasseman helped us find our favorite pieces of branded merchandise that are eco-friendly. Let’s take a look!
Koozie® Collapsible Eco Can Kooler
This is a staple of the branded merchandise world. Check out this product if you want to make parties more eco-friendly…one beverage at a time! Click here to learn more.
Wood Bottle Opener
Portable and pretty, this custom engraved wooden bottle opener is ready to travel. Its slim 7″ profile makes carrying it in a pocket or purse a breeze, while the metal jaw easily pries open drinks. Perfect for breweries, executives, barbecues, and more. Oh…and did we mention you can get one? Click here to learn more.
Eco-Friendly Reusable Stainless-Steel Straw In An Anodized Travel Container With Carabiner Clip And Cleaning Brush
You are contributing to the 8 million tons of global plastic waste (yearly) every time you order a drink that comes with a straw. And do you know how many straws Americans use in a single day? About 500 million! In view of the staggering figures, it’s easy to figure out how big of an impact we can make just by making small changes to our habits and actions. Click here to learn more.
Budget Balm
This Budget Balm provides promotional value without breaking the bank. It is made using petroleum, mineral oil, coconut oil, paraffin wax, and ozokerite wax. It’s also Vegan and Made in the USA. There is a lot to love about it and you can find more information here.
Next Level – Eco Heavyweight Tee
You want a really cool t-shirt to promote your brand…but you want to feel good about it. Right? This might be your answer. This t-shirt from Next Level is made of approximately 4 recycled RPET bottles per shirt. Learn more here.
And friends…this is just the beginning. If you want to create a promotion that not only creates attention for your brand but also does some good in the world…we can help. If you want to order one of these awesome products right away…click here to make it happen!
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by Kirby Hasseman
The New Year is an exciting time. It can mean new goals, new budgets, and a clean slate for you and your organization. When it comes to the branded merchandise world, it usually means it’s time to check out new products. And while this year there have been fewer new product rollouts (can you say supply chain?), there are still some new ideas to consider. So at Hasseman Marketing, we are here to help. Over the past couple of weeks, we have attended several trade shows (you can see a video about the big show here) in order to scope out just a few of the best and brightest. Here is a list of 5 Hot New Branded Merch ideas for 2022.
Sync Truly Wireless Earbuds and Bluetooth® Speaker Set
It’s a Bluetooth speaker! It’s your wireless earbuds! And it’s a carrying case…all in one! If you have a workforce or client base that loves tech, then this is a wonderful option for you. You and your team can clip this to your backpack and be ready to travel with tunes at all times. Click here to learn more.
Desk QI
The Desk Qi is a tabletop charging hub and stationery holder, featuring up to 10W of fast wireless charging (powered by type-c), and 2 additional USB-A ports for your electronic devices. Showcase your brand or message up to a full-color imprint with this must-have at-home or office tech item! Click here to learn more.
LAPGEAR Lap Desk with Device Ledge and Cushion Back
Most of us have set up amazing home offices and what do we do? We work from our couch! Whether you’re collating spreadsheets or indulging in a full-season binge of your favorite show, this Lap Desk is there for you. The 17″ x 13.2” work surface is made from durable, high-impact polystyrene and accommodates up to 15.6-inch laptops. Thanks to the reinforced carrying handle and compact size, you can take this desk with you wherever you go. This is the “tech” item that is not really tech. Click here to learn more!
Stress Pop Flyer
Want something decidedly less “tech” and more “touch?” We have you covered here. This stress pop flyer is fun for kids or seniors (think improving circulation) and everyone in between. This is a product that helps your brand to get back to fun. Click here to learn more.
McStreamy – microphone and light ring
Look good, sound good, upgrade your virtual meeting game with the McStreamy kit. The bright 10″ ring light will keep you well lit and the studio-quality mic will make sure your audience hears every word. This is the perfect gift for your virtual team or your content team. And with this item…you can order just one! Click here to learn more!
Those are just 5 of the Hot New Branded Merch ideas we saw over the past few weeks! Now let’s talk about how we can help you create marketing that is “hot” this year. Please reach out to your HMC rep and set up a time to chat about your needs. Don’t have a rep? No worries. Click here to book a time to chat!
Oh…and make sure you never miss an update. You can become an HMC VIP here.
by Kirby Hasseman
As we approach the New Year, it’s a great time for organizations to take a hard look at their marketing. Do you love your brand? How do you feel about your website? This is why we created HMC Marketing Pyramid. It’s a simple tool that helps you look at your organization and decide where to start. The Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce is one organization that will be starting the new year with a new website.
Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce Website Is Live
We are excited to announce and share that the
Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce is starting the new year with a new website to better serve the Coshocton County community and its members.
We were honored to be asked to create this new website and want to thank Amy and the Coshocton Chamber for allowing us to build and maintain their new website. The task was simple. The goal was to create a more modern site that will make it easier for residents, visitors, and tourists in Coshocton County to find and connect with local businesses. Additionally, we wanted to build the website so that businesses and organizations can join, pay, renew membership, and update their profiles.
With the automation built into the website, the chamber can now accept new members 24/7, maintain an up-to-date
directory of members, and free up time for staff to do more direct service and less administrative tasks. Are you a member of the Coshocton Chamber (or do you want to be)? Make sure you bookmark the member directory and use it to find your next service, restaurant, or entertainment venue in and around Coshocton. If your business isn’t listed,
join today. And thank you so much to the Coshocton Chamber for letting us help you on this project!
Yes…Hasseman Marketing Does Websites
by Kirby Hasseman
It’s funny. So many of us said something like, “If we can just get through 2020, everything will be okay.” And of course, as we look back at the tumultuous year that was 2021, we understand that watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve is not a solution. 2020 was a tough year, to be sure. There were plenty of lessons to learn. We actually wrote a blog about a few of those lessons here. So to put a bow on 2021, we wanted to do our Hasseman Marketing Year In Review…through our content!
The Supply Chain Challenges
You are probably tired of hearing about challenges with the supply chain. I get it. We have been talking about them since back in April. We even wrote this blog back in July saying that organizations should order their holiday gifts then. This is not an “I told you so” moment. It’s just an acknowledgment that the challenges are real. And the lesson here is that these challenges will not “fix themselves” on December 25th. If you are responsible for purchasing branded merchandise in 2022, you will see the same challenges. Here are the 6 things we said you could do to help…it will be important that you stick to that plan moving forward.
It’s Time To Invest
No, I am not talking about throwing money at crypto. This is about investing in you and your organization. One simple way to invest if you is to read (or listen to books). Here are my 10 favorite books I read in 2021. Dig in there. If none of those tickle your fancy, we created a list of 29 game-changing business books as well. And what about investing in your marketing? That is what we do, after all! So we created the HMC Marketing Pyramid. It’s a tool that will help you decide where you need to invest your marketing dollars (and efforts) first.
Finally, we want to help you with your goals for 2022. So we have created this FREE course on how to create goals that help you move the needle in your business and your life. Sign up here and we will email you the course at no charge.
New Team Members
Another theme I see when I look back at 2021 is the addition of new team members and services. Katlyn took a promotion, Skylar joined the team and we even welcomed Dustin Haywood back! These new additions allow us to offer new and better services and continues to make HMC a fun place to work! Our most recent addition, Briar (helping to keep the print room rocking) is keeping that tradition rolling!
2021 has certainly been a year of change. And isn’t that what they say the one constant of life is? Through all of that, we want to continue to provide you with value. Whether we are writing about how to market without Facebook, or even how our Haters Help Us, the goal is to help lift you and your organization up! So thank you for taking this journey with us! We are excited to work with you and we can’t wait to see what 2022 has to offer.
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by Kirby Hasseman
Over the course of the past 18 to 24 months, most people’s lives have been changed. Some people have been totally upended, while others have been blessed to have come through the pandemic with just a few scratches. But either way, most of us have had the chance to look at our lives…and decide if we want to re-imagine them. This was not the time to put our head in the sand and “just wait it out.” It was the time to invest in ourselves.
One of the best ways to invest in yourself is by reading (or listening) to books.
I have talked quite a bit about game-changing books on this blog. Here is a list of 29 that I think everyone should check out. So what books have had my attention in 2021? Here are 10 of my favorite books from 2021.
Get Different
When Mike Michaelowicz writes a book, I line up to read it. I am almost never disappointed. This time Mike talks about why using “best practices” is a terrible way to stand out in a crowded marketplace. You can get your copy here.
The High 5 Habit
Mel Robbins has a way of speaking directly to my soul. Her latest book High 5 Habit highlights a concept so simple that it feels silly. But listen to this book and you will realize it’s not. I say “listen to this book” because Mel has a great delivery. She is very real…and I loved it.
Peak Mind
I have been a slow adopter of meditation. I still struggle to practice every day. In her book Peak Mind, author Amishi P. Jha shows the science and studies to help you understand why it’s a must. If we want to succeed in today’s world (and certainly tomorrow’s), we are going to need a Peak Mind.
Premonition
In a word…wow. As I mentioned at the beginning, we have all lived through a crazy time for the last 18 to 24 months. Premonition by Michael Lewis tells the story of the pandemic from behind the scenes. It opened my eyes to some of the challenges we have with public health, but also why some of the solutions can work…and not work. Really liked this one.
Cumulative Advantage
Why do some people succeed and others struggle? For some, they have an early advantage that they lean into. It’s their Cumulative Advantage. In this book, Mark talks about what that is, and how to create it even if you don’t begin with the headstart of privilege.
Promised Land
Let’s not get political here. I just wanted to learn some “behind the scenes” from the man in the White House. This one was interesting (and yes, political) and too long (and this is Part 1). But it does give insight into Obama’s vision for the country, and where he felt he did well…and where he failed. I thought it was totally worth my time. Find Promised Land here.
12 Months To $1 Million
Have you ever wanted to start a business selling items on Amazon? In the book 12 Months to $1 Million, you can learn how from someone who has done it more than once. Ryan Daniel Moran talks about how to find the perfect niche, create the right product, and then how to scale it up with new products. I have recommended this one to several people looking to start a business.
Soundtracks
We all have a voice playing on repeat in our heads…it’s our own. In his latest book Soundtracks, Jon Acuff talks about why that voice can really be our worst enemy if we allow it. And he gives real tactics to take your own voice back over (in a good way). This was probably one of my favorite books of the year…totally recommend this one.
Greenlights
I was a fan of Matthew McConaughey before this book. But the book Greenlights takes it up a notch for sure. McConaughey gives you incredible detail into his life and insights that I found powerful. I found this book to be fun, insightful, and surprising. And for me, the audiobook was the way to go for this. McConaughey narrates it himself and his gift as a performer shines through in the audio.
Think Like A Monk
The final book on my list is Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty. Shetty tells the story of how he became a monk, and why he left. His insights into training the mind were great. I really enjoyed him explaining why we all need to have more “T.I.M.E.” in our morning if we want to have a more productive day.
So that is my list of 10 of my favorite books from 2021…so far. I have a few more I hope to finish (including the new Will Smith memoir) soon. If you want to keep learning and growing, how about one more book to consider? You can get the ebook version of my book “The Give First Economy” here. I would love for you to it check out…and share it with your team! Oh…and feel free to sign up for our weekly VIP newsletter here.
by Kirby Hasseman
If you are a marketer or an entrepreneur, you likely have more than a few challenges. But one of them is most likely, where to spend your time and resources. There is finite time and money, and you want to make sure you are doing the thing that will bring you the most return. Mike Michaelowicz turned me onto this idea in his book “Fix This Next.” Mike created a “Business Priority Pyramid” so that entrepreneurs can decide what is the right thing for them to be working on each day. I found this to be a powerful tool in order to make sure my efforts are going in the right direction.
But I find this to be a challenge for marketers too! There are so many marketing options to spend your time and resources on, it can be tough to know what to work on next. In addition, it seems like every day, a shiny new marketing tool comes out. As marketing professionals, we want to stay on top of the latest trends. But you don’t want to spend all of your time distracted by the newest toy…and lose out on the foundation.
That is why we created our HMC Marketing Pyramid
The concept is simple. We have created our HMC Marketing Pyramid as a worksheet for marketers. We have created levels so that you know where you are on your marketing journey. It also helps you prioritize what you need to work on next (or budget to work on soon). As you go through the pyramid, you want to check each box where you feel you are strong (or at least comfortable) where you are. After you go through the whole checklist, go to the lowest part of the pyramid where there is an unchecked box. That is where you need to start! You need to have a strong foundation if you want a pyramid that is going to last.
Rookie Level
If you love sports metaphors, you are going to dig this. If not, think of this as the foundation of your marketing plan. You might be starting a new venture, or you want to get back to basics. You start at the Rookie Level. At that level, you want to make sure you are happy with your logo, basic branding, website, and more. If you leave something un-checked here, no problem. It just shows you that it’s time to work on that to move your marketing efforts to the next level.
Starter Level
And speaking of the next level, now you are a starter! At this level, you have mastered the basics and you want to begin to be more intentional and more consistent. This is when you “up your game” on communication and letting your best customers know you love your fans.
All-Star Level
All-stars take it to the next level, and that is exactly what this ranking means. Once you have completed all of the tasks at Rooke and Starter, you can take bigger swings. Sure you have social media pages, but do you have a plan? Have you made the transition from rented media to owned media? I talk about what that means here. This is what happens at the All-Star level.
Hall of Fame
Marketers and entrepreneurs at the Hall of Fame level are truly building brands. They have custom events to showcase their services and to connect with their tribe. Many also feature custom apparel that their customers actually pay to wear! Now THAT is a brand!
So where do you land on the HMC Marketing Pyramid? This is a jumping-off tool to help you plan what should be next for marketing your organization. Let us know if you want to meet with one of our Hasseman Marketing reps to go over the pyramid…and plan the next steps!
And in case you missed it, feel free to sign up for our FREE 5 Day Marketing Course. We would love to help you get your marketing back on track!
