by Kirby Hasseman
I love to go to educational events. Whether in or out of my own industry, I enjoy digging in and getting new ideas…and getting inspired. So this week, when the Commonsku gang put on their 2nd Annual SkuCamp event, I was in my element!
Skucamp was a 2 day intensive event designed to entertain and inspire entrepreneurs in the Promotional Products business. I know the goal was to provide great education and networking opportunities. I know their goal was to have a packed house, with a cool vibe and an awesome environment. That’s every event’s goal, right? But the culture of people around this event might be it’s real special sauce.
The Commonsku team has created a sandbox where some amazing industry pros want to come and play. But what did I learn? The answer is…a lot.
Here are just a few key takeaways from #Skucamp2018.
There is no “one way” to do it
There are many people doing really cool things in our industry that gathered at Skucamp. But it was amazing how different each business and business approach is. Some people were super focused on e-commerce. Some business owners had no interest in that. Some businesses were diverse and some were niche. There is not one formula that leads you to success.
Vulnerability is cool
You never learn anything (or at least anything good) when you think you know everything. Skucamp was a place where a lot of really smart people admitted that they didn’t know everything. It wasn’t a weakness. It was a strength.
You Grow By Saying No
You don’t have to be for everyone. I talked about that here. Opening speaker Mike Michaelwicz talked about this in his opening talk. He discussed the idea that you don’t need to be for everyone…in fact that might be a bad thing!
Bring A Big Idea
I love this concept from speaker Caryn Kopp. She had a great session about getting the door open to companies and opportunities you wanted. But this simple idea really resonated with me. If you are meeting with a client, bring one BIG idea that could be huge for them and you. Are you doing that consistently? When I asked myself that honest question, the answer was “no.”
Nice People Finish First
In a world where we are under a constant barrage of negative, it was a wonderful reminder that good people are out there doing amazing things. One of my biggest takeaways was just that…good people are doing great. You don’t have to be a jerk. You might not be perfect (I know I am not). But you can be a good person and grow an amazing business.
Finally, it was a true privilege to get the opportunity to speak with my buddy Bill Petrie about the power and importance of Content Marketing. Thanks to the gang at Commonsku for having us…and thanks to Bill for making me look better than I deserve.
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by Kirby Hasseman
I love what we do. Whether you call it Promo, SWAG, Premiums, Branded Merchandise, you name it.
We do marketing. We do fun.
And with each month, some of the best and the brightest minds are continually coming up with new and cooler products that all of us can put branded messages on. I just love it.
As I have said before (and I will say again) Promotional Products affect human behavior. If you want to drive people to a website, to work safer, to come to an event or to donate to a cause…the best organizations use Promo because it works. But what do I use on a regular basis? After all, I am in the industry! So what do I find myself using each week?
Though it changes, and I will update this list at some point…here are a few items I find myself using every week!
Clip It Vent Mount:You can find more details here.
12 oz Urban Peak 3 in 1 Insulator: this will be appreciated.
Stay Organized Journal: We did these as a team and I did not expect to like them as much as I do! It’s a great size and it has a great look. And let’s face it, no one ever throws away a journal. So as I use it each day to take notes (including ideas about this blog), I think this is a home run.
Twist Erase Mechanical Pencil: Check it out here.
Mission Pack Backpack: When it comes to backpacks, I know there are a lot of options. But this one just seems to suit me. I love the shape, color and functionality of this bag. I use it for my daily trip to and from the office. And I have even used it on longer, cross country trips as well. Oh…and have I mentioned you can do as few as one with your logo? Well…that’s pretty cool. Get more information here. So those are just 5 Promotional Products that I am using all the time.
Want more ideas that can excite you and your team? Shop here now. Oh…and make sure you never miss an update by signing up for our VIP newsletter here.
by Kirby Hasseman
The Delivering Marketing Joy Podcast is back! Our goal here is to attack 2018 with a vengeance! The Delivering Marketing Joy Podcast will provide some inspiration, motivation and education to make it happen! Consider this your 10 minute “kick in the pants” to get your week started off right!
Today on the podcast we take a look at the recent Online 18 from Dale Denham. Dale recognizes his list of 18 Online Influencers (you can find the list here). This time on the Podcast I take a look at some lessons you can learn from the folks on this list…and how you can apply them.
Once again, special thanks to Dale Denham for putting together this list. It’s great for discussion…and pushes me to do more (and better) work. And congrats to my buddy Bill Petrie for being Numero Uno on the list this year! Awesome stuff. As always, make sure you never miss an update. We are posting new content every day. So sign up here for our VIP newsletter to make sure you get the best of the best!
by Kirby Hasseman
You would think the relationship between Politics and Promotional Products would be amazing. Whenever I think of the quintessential politician, it’s hard to get past them shaking hands and kissing babies without thinking of them handing out buttons to wear, notepads to write on or pens to write with! It feels like Politics and Promo are the perfect pair. But alas, that is not always the case.
The hypocrisy is always strange to me.
Usually it happens after an election cycle…or at the beginning of a budget cycle. A politician, looking for a “quick fix” to a budget challenge tries to find a place where they make a “big cut.” This is when the Politician turns on Promo. They make a declaration that their government will no longer spend money on non-essential items like Promotional Products.
This is just ONE example: Iowa Senator proposes cut on State Promo Spending. The promotional products were not “non-essential” when they were seeking to be elected, of course. At that point they were valuable election material! And that’s the thing. They ARE valuable campaign material. One of the things we know about (well done) Promotional Products is that they affect human behavior. If you want people to work safer, Promo can help. Do you want people to go to your website? Great news, an amazing Promo item will remind them. If you want them to vote for you, it works as well. (And if you want a legendary Beatle to jump up and down in excitement, a cheap t-shirt will work).
As a side note, as you live through an election cycle, most other forms of media make you frustrated with the process. TV ads, radio spots and Newspaper campaigns spread vitriol and hate. A well-done Promo campaign can help you celebrate your candidate…and keep you engaged in the process. But I digress.
The fact is, Politicians (and other leaders) should work to use the Promo that got them elected, to try and affect human behavior now that they are in office. Let’s face it. Some cool SWAG that brings your constituents some joy make us trust you more…not less.
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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
We have all been there. You have an event or promotion coming up, and someone in your organization runs up to you frantically and says “We need something to hand out!”
It’s the last minute! So you scramble to find the number of people that are going to attend (hopefully) and a budget and find things that fit in that box. You get “something” that fills the need, but frankly, does not delight. As Dr. Phil would say, “How’s that workin for ya?”
So how do you create a Promotional campaign that makes a real impact? How do you create the campaign that has your customers talking and keeps them coming back for more? The answer is “better questions.” When you are starting your discussions, you need to think deeper. Of course you want to know the budget. Yes you need to understand that number of prospects and customers you want to reach. And yes it would be super helpful to know the logo, the number of colors, and the messaging. These are all good…but they are basic.
Here are 5 questions to consider if you want to take your Promo to Pro Level.
How do you want your customers/prospects to feel?
I absolutely love this question. It really makes you consider the impact you are trying to make. Do you want customers to feel appreciated? Do you want them to be shocked? Do you want them to laugh? By getting introspective on this question you have a real opportunity to consider what premium will be the perfect item to get inside that emotion.
What action do you want your customers to take?
Studies will tell you that adding Promotional Premiums to a campaign increases the chances that a prospect or customer will take action. So what do you want them to do? Does this item or items increase the chance (in your mind) that it will happen?
What is the overall theme of the event?
This can be basic, but I am amazed at how many people ignore the theme of an event. It can give you a place to jump off from when it comes to creative. Or you can create a theme of your own! What do you want customers to remember?
Who EXACTLY are you trying to reach?
Dig in here and be specific. Maybe you don’t want to reach everyone at the event. If not, maybe you should create a VIP gift that you only give to legitimate prospects. Either way, do it on purpose.
Where do you envision your customers using the item?
I find this is a great way to narrow down what is a perfect item. If you want to reach an audience that sits at a desk all day, then picture what they see all day. What would make their life easier or more fulfilled. Do that. These are just a few important questions that you need to ask yourself before creating a campaign or purchasing any item. They don’t take long to consider and they will make a huge difference in your next event!
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