by Kirby Hasseman
One of the best pieces of advice I got when I first got in the promotional industry is simple. “The cost of a promotional item is not determined at the point of purchase. It is determined at the point of usage.” To translate into simple terms, it means “you get what you pay for.”
The cost of any item matters. Regardless of what you are going to purchase, whether it’s a car, a refrigerator, or a branded t-shirt, you have a budget. It’s important to stay smart about your money. And this blog is not about trying you to spend more. I cannot tell you how many times I have told a client, “You can do that. But if it was my money I would not!”
That being said, I would like to make the case that there are times when spending a little more makes a huge difference for your brand. It’s the difference between the item being in your client’s kitchen or the landfill. It might determine whether your logo is in the closet or at Goodwill.
ButterSoft T-shirts
One of the places I think it makes the most sense to upgrade is on t-shirts. Yes, we can all still get you the “promotional t-shirt.” These are the cheap, scratchy, ill-fitting shirts that our industry was known for for years. And there is (probably) still a place for them. But would YOU wear them? The answer is simple…not if you don’t have to! So why would your clients? If you want your clients to want to rep your brand, give them a shirt they get excited about. Yes, it costs more. Yes, it’s worth it. When we did our first “soft” shirt, we never looked back. Now people tell us that our shirts are their favorite shirts to wear. THAT is what you want your customers to say to you.
Premium Beach Towels
Studies tell you that the average lifespan of a beach towel is 7 years. At my house, I think that is low. A nice beach towel is not a cheap branded item…but it’s worth it. Not only do your customers, employees, and prospects keep them for years, but they tend to use them on a fun occasions. That means your brand is being tied (with a quality feel) to some good times in the person’s life. That, my friends, is a good place for your brand to be.
Vacuum Sealed Tumblers
If you want to reach just about everyone with a branded item, drinkware is a great space to live in. You don’t have to worry about gender, sizes, or many other factors. Everyone drinks something. But don’t go cheap…not if you want someone to use your drinkware! This does NOT mean you need to buy a branded Yeti product. You shouldn’t and here’s why. But there are some great Vacuum Sealed Tumblers in the promo world that are amazing. These are the branded drinkware items you targets will use over and over again.
Custom Calendars
Calendars continue to be a very cost-effective way to reach customers every day of the year. But the trend is that stock calendars slip. But if you want to buck that trend and get in front of clients all year around, think custom. When you create a cool custom calendar, you get your “who, what where” message on the wall of the client…and it goes even deeper. Essentially you hand your brochure on walls all over. Yes, custom is a bit more expensive…but in most cases it’s very worth it.
Personalization
If you want to make sure someone keeps one of your branded premium promotional items, put their name on it. It’s as simple as that. There is nothing we humans like to hear or see as much as our own name. It’s music to our ears. When you have the chance, add personalization to your branded merchandise and you will expand your impact. Yep…it costs more. And yes, it’s worth it.
Here’s the thing, there is still a space for less expensive promotional items. We get it. But if you want to have more impact for your brand (you do right?), and create less crap in a landfill, think about doing better SWAG.
It’s true in every area of life. You get what you pay for.
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by Kirby Hasseman
While I love to read and listen to books, the explosion of podcasts have made it easier to listen to new and interesting voices every day. This growth in content is not only great for entertainment purposes, it’s also a new way to continue to grow personally and professionally. And while I listen to many podcasts here and there, the ones I am most committed to are on my phone. I have subscribed.
This list is occasionally updated, but these are the podcasts I listen to on my phone…right now.
Akimbo by Seth Godin
In the Akimbo podcast, marketing legend and thought leader Seth Godin takes on a topic and digs deep. He is thoughtful and edited. I like this one because it is so well researched and thoughtful…like Seth Godin himself. He takes on everything from our political system to our education system…and everything in between. Here is just one episode about why you should write a book…and yes it inspired me to write another!
Ed Mylett Max Out
Ed Mylett is every where right now and you can find this content on Youtube and other forms too. But I love this in a podcast form. Ed is thoughtful, positive, and inspirational and I think he has become a better interviewer as well. Sometimes he gives his own take on success and growth, but often he interviews a diverse list of guests including this most recent interview with WWE Superstar Seth Rollins.
GaryVee Audio Experience
It should come as no surprise that I listen to Gary Vaynerchuk! I talk about him all of the time! His podcast can be overwhelming as they post new content every day. Sometimes it strikes me and sometimes I pass by. But that’s actually kind of cool to me. Often I come across something that I needed to hear right then…and it re-ignites me in a powerful way.
PromoCorner
In the Promo Industry, you really need to subscribe to PromoCorner! Yes, it houses the unScripted podcast with Bill Petrie and I (and I give 7 Lessons I have learned from that here). But in addition the Industry Insider podcast comes out on that channel too. Good stuff.
SkuCast
The SkuCast podcast is the official podcast of Commonsku. While this company and this podcast is targeted at the Promo Industry, I don’t think it only provides value there. If you are a marketer or an entrepreneur (or both) you will likely find interesting takeaways from this one. I really loved the recent episode about the 5 C’s of Creativity. Bobby Lehew and Mark Graham spent some time digging into what creativity is and how to define and manifest it. Loved this one.
So those are the podcasts that are currently on my phone. What podcasts am I missing? What is the next great thing I should subscribe to? Let me know. Oh…and if you want to listen to He Said She Said (the official podcast of Hasseman Marketing), just check back to our blog page each week. Amy and I take on a ton of different topics. Listen in and let us know what you think!
by Kirby Hasseman
For over 3 years, Bill Petrie and I have been sharing our opinions on the marketing, branding and promotional products world on the unScripted podcast. Every Friday, Bill and I connect through the magic of technology, and discuss trending topics in our world. We call it unScripted, quite simply, because neither of us knows what the other is going to bring up so you get an honest, unedited view of our opinions and takes on industry topics.
I am proud of the podcast for several reasons. We have been recognized with awards (humble brag). We have received kind words from our peers. And hey, it’s been fun! But the journey has taught me quite a bit as well. So, if you are interested in starting a podcast or any other kind of content, here are some lessons I have learned from doing the unScripted podcast with Bill Petrie.
Consistency is King
One of the things I am probably most proud of is that we push play each week. As I write this, it will be week 162 of the unScripted podcast. That means we have put out a podcast for 162 weeks in a row. It’s a commitment. But it’s that consistency that has not only built an audience but has helped Bill and I grow. We got better at podcasting. We got better at choosing topics. It’s just like exercise. It’s about stretching and working those muscles that make you stronger.
Have Someone Who Pushes You
I am a believer in consistency. But we would have never made it through this many episodes without Bill driving me. It’s so powerful to have someone who helps to keep you on track. Bill has been an incredible teacher, coach and friend through this and I appreciate it. If you want to try something big, and crazy and hard (and you should), it’s great to have someone who pushes you and lifts you up. Thanks Bill.
Be Authentic and Transparent
I almost did not add this one because it’s almost cliche at this point. But if you want to create something long term, it’s nearly impossible to be someone you are not. Sooner or later, your real opinions will come through anyway! So be willing to put yourself out there.
Have the Courage of your Convictions
Some of the most interesting discussions we have had on the podcast (and then after) have been when Bill or I said something that upset people. While that is certainly NOT our goal, we do want to create discussion and thought. Whenever this happens, Bill and I both take the time to be introspective about our statements. Do we really think that way? If not, I think both of us are willing to say “Nah…I was wrong.” On the other hand, if we still feel strongly about something, I think that’s important too. Despite the reactive culture we have right now, I think we need to stand up for what we think as well. Trust me when I say, sometimes that is easier said than done.
Lift The Other Person Up
Partnerships of any kind can be hard. With that in mind, remember if you start something like this that “you are in the service industry.” It is really important that neither Bill nor I worry too much about credit. That is easier said than done! We all have healthy egos…and we all want recognition. But if you want a partnership to last remember that it should not matter who gets the credit.
Continue to Try New Things
If you create something that requires consistency, there is the chance you can get in a rut. That’s why it’s so important to be willing to try new things. Be willing to experiment with your format. Be willing to try new things and fail in order to find new things that work. If you don’t…it’s easy to get stale.
Keep Going
And that leads nicely to my final lesson…keep going. If it gets stale, or you get tired, it’s super tempting to think “maybe now is the time to quit.” And while it’s important to keep evaluating (in all things) I would recommend to keep pushing on. Most of the time that is the voice of comfort in your head. It’s easier to quit than to persevere. Most of the time, however, you are glad when you keep moving forward…even if it’s just for one more day.
Those are my lessons from the unScripted podcast. Again, thanks to Bill for helping me keep this train rolling! If you have questions about content marketing, please feel free to reach out to me. And if you want make sure you never miss a piece of content head to our blog page.
by Kirby Hasseman
If you have followed Hasseman Marketing, or this website, you might know that I have written a blog for quite some time. Then last year, I created challenged myself to write a blog post every day. I did that for over 6 months. It was a rewarding, powerful and tiring experience! After taking a break from the daily blogging, as you might expect, I fell out of a rhythm. I certainly still write a blog…occasionally. But (as of late last week) I decided to get back to writing on a more consistent basis.
I have several goals with this exercise.
First, I want to get the voices out of my head! I am kidding (for the most part) but I do find the writing process cathartic. It makes me feel good to push something good out in the world in the morning. It’s a bit of therapy for me.
Second, I do truly want to provide you some value. Generally, I write about a few different topics. I focus my time on personal development, sales & marketing and entrepreneurship. These are things that I am super passionate about. I find that I have inspiration everywhere for these topics and I hope they resonate with many of you.
Oh…and to set the table, I have decided I will not write every single day. The weekend will be “my days off” from posting. The goal is to go for August…and see how I am keeping up!
With the goal of providing value in those areas in mind, let me start with a few posts that have most resonated in the past in each of those areas.
I Am Not For Everyone (Personal Development)
Ever create something quickly without a lot of thought? Sometimes inspiration just roles out and you get out of the way. This was the case for this blog. I needed to get a post done quickly, and this is what I wrote. I talked about the fact that “I am not for everyone.” This can be a very hard thing for many of us to accept. But it can also be very freeing. This post was one of the most read of 2018…check it out here.
20 Great Questions To Ask (Sales & Marketing)
This was another post that I had no idea would have the impact it did. The fact is, in sales and marketing, we need to ask better questions. We hear all of the time about “story telling” and that is really important. But in order to know what story to tell, you need to first ask the right questions. Here is a list to get you started.
10 Must Read Books for Entrepreneurs
I have had the opportunity to read quite a few books over the past few years. And though this list is certainly not exhaustive, it’s a great list to start with if you are thinking of starting a business. The best of the best continue to learn every day. So if you know of a book that I should read, please let me know too!
So I am getting Back To The Blog. Here we go. If you want to make sure you never miss, you can check out out blog page. We have all kinds of content there. And as always, you can sign up to be a VIP here.
by Kirby Hasseman
Every year for over 10 years, Hasseman Marketing has created an “End User” trade show and have invited our customers. It’s evolved and grown over the years and we are quite proud of it. This year’s event will be Thursday October 10th from Noon to 5pm at Coshocton County’s Lake Park!
It started as a “Customer Appreciation Show” and it still has those elements. But we have expanded it and now call it our annual Trade Show (you can register here). This year the theme is “Christmas in October! Why? Because it’s a Trade Show build for our customers and prospects.
But why should you come? We want this event to be fun AND add a ton of value. Here are a few reasons why we think you should attend.
Incredible Product Access: We invite some of our top (and favorite) supplier reps to showcase their lines at the show. I like to say “There is no way I could fit all of this in my trunk.” You get to see and touch and feel the product and see what it’s really like. We all know that many products look the same online or in a catalog. But when you get them up close you can really see a difference. This is the perfect place to make sure your brand materials are on point.
Idea Generation: As you walk around and see the latest and greatest in Promo, you will come up with some great ideas for upcoming projects. The reality is, the show is at a great time of year for year end gifts for your team or customers. But some of our best customers come every year and start to plan their marketing for the next year and beyond.
Great SWAG: Nobody leaves empty handed! We put on a fun event where (with the help of our suppliers) we invest in putting some really cool SWAG in your hands. In addition, we build the event around a theme so you can see how we use a bunch of different items around a theme!
Additional Services: You may think you know all that we do at Hasseman Marketing, but we find that most people discover some new ways to promote their organization! By having all of the ideas in one place, it can be very illuminating!
Tasty Food: You have to eat right? We have food and drinks as well. Each year we get compliments about the tasty treats and we know this year will be no different. The event this year is on Thursday October 10 from Noon to 5pm at the Lake Park Pavilion (in Coshocton). Our goal is to create an event that provides value and fun…and you never want to miss.
So if you want to join us (and you do), please feel free to to RSVP here. We are actually going to build in some extra value for those that RSVP!
Make sure you never miss an update by signing up for our VIP newsletter here. Oh…and as always, we have all of our content here on our blog page…check it out!
by Kirby Hasseman
So far this spring and summer, Coshocton County has been completely overwhelmed by rain. What seemed like a wet spring, led to a night where the local town of West Lafayette reportedly got nearly 7 inches of rain in a few short hours. The already wet ground gave the water no place to go and the devastation was difficult to see. Areas that had never seen standing water in generations, were flooded. Basements were full of water and foundation walls collapsed.
In addition to the devastation in homes around the area, acres of farmland spent time underwater as well. As a matter of fact, some weeks later, some areas are still seeing the affects of this rain. It leaves many people in our area talking about the long term effects of the season to farmers. Many have not had the chance to plant their seeds.
There will be nothing to harvest this year.
I am reminded of this as I look at our summer sales season. For many organizations, July is a tough month for sales. The sales team will talk about the fact that July is the month of vacations. They will say that “no one wants to talk about xyz in July!” And let’s face it, often the sales team wants to take time off then as well! This combination of reasons leads to a continually disappointing summer selling season.
And though those factors certainly play a role, I don’t think they are the real reason that sales lag in the summer. It all comes back to a lack of seeds to harvest. My hypothesis is, for the last few months (for lots of reasons) fewer and fewer seeds were planted. It was probably a little at a time. There was not a giant flood in the sales team. That’s why it was hard to notice. But little by little, fewer calls here made.
That is why there is less to harvest today.
As much as we would love to imagine it, business rarely just falls from the sky. These opportunities are harvested after months and months of work. They come from the seeds that were planted.
The bad news is, you can’t just go in and harvest today if you have not planted the seeds. The good news is, you can get out in the fields and start planting.
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