February is American Heart Month
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and February is the perfect month to run a healthy heart campaign. Businesses needn’t be in the health-care industry to run such a program. Anyone concerned with the wellbeing of its business partners, vendors and employees can launch a campaign. Healthy employees result in lower health-care premiums. Encourage everyone to get a physical and reward those who do with heart-shaped stress relievers. Use social media like Facebook to promote healthier eating and exercise. Engage clients, vendors and employees through Twitter and tweet about success stories. Contact your distributor partner, as she can help you find lots of great heart-themed promotional products.
February 2
National Groundhog Job Shadow Day
Rather than fixate on the groundhog and whether he sees his shadow today, become part of a movement that has high school students shadowing your employees to learn more about business. Students will gain valuable insight into what they’ll need for their future endeavors, and businesses become important mentors for today’s youth. Reward all participants with imprinted products like backpacks or speakers for MP3 players. Your distributor can help you set up the program.
February 6-10
International Networking Week
Since business doesn’t operate in a vacuum, you need to get out there and network. This week is the perfect time to set up and run networking events within your business community. Announce the event via social media like Twitter and Facebook. And provide imprinted products for all participants. Selections can include neoprene laptop sleeves, iPad accessories and leather portfolios. Your distributor is a valuable resource for putting the event together.
February 14
Valentine’s Day
If you love your clients, let them know … today! February 14 isn’t just for red-hot lovers. Send boxes of logoed chocolates to clients with a handwritten note expressing your appreciation for their business. Consider throwing in a bouquet of imprinted roses to complete the sentiment. Your distributor partner knows where to get all the lovey-dovey stuff for you today.
February 21
International Pancake Day
Take time today for a fun promotion. Visit clients with pancake kits that include mixes, aprons, bowls and spatulas as a way to say thanks for doing business with us. Host a pancake breakfast for all employees too. Your distributer partner can get everything for a logoed kit.
Learn to Sell Apparel Like a Pro!
I got an email the other day with “Scared Shirtless?” as the headline from a supplier in the promotional products industry.
After a quick chuckle surrounding the play on words, I found myself more than a little curious so I clicked through. I opened the email and was invited to a webinar where I could “Learn to Sell Apparel Like a Pro!” Now I’m thinking, ‘well since I get paid to sell apparel, that makes me a pro…I’d better check it out to make sure the other “pros” know what they’re talking about’. In any event, the value proposition was there, I would get FREE tips for apparel sales.
With a simple headline I was “pulled” in, I wanted to find out more, I was curious, I was engaged and I couldn’t help myself. The headline didn’t try to “push” me to buy anything…there would be plenty of time for that, an abundance of opportunities for me to buy something once they got me to the site…books, cds, mp3, videos, etc.
If the headline had just offered me “10% Off This Great CD Set To Sell More Shirts”, I would have deleted that email in about a half-a-second.
It can be argued that headlines may be more important than the content itself because if they never click through there is no chance of conversion. So the goal should always be to get them to click through, but then make sure you can deliver or they won’t be coming back.
John Zalepka
