Five Fantastic Eco Friendly Promotional Products That Will Catch Your Market's Interest

By Alex Subotich

If you are looking to catch your target market's attention, then you might want to consider handing out some interesting promotional items. Why? Well, everyone loves to get some freebies and special perks - and most probably, your audience will too!
Fortunately, there are many types of items that you can use to boost your marketing campaigns. You can opt for traditional products such as pens, custom USBs, calculators and many other items - or you can choose to give out eco friendly promotional products to get on the "green" side of things.
Eco Friendly Promotional Products: Why Going "Green" Just Might Work
Alright - it's not a secret that the world is currently suffering pollution problems. As it is, citizens should start showing concern for the environment, by doing simple acts that can somehow minimize the risks of this problem - and turn things from bad to good.
By following this route, you (as a business owner) can actually give out that message that you too, are concerned with the environment. By doing so, you'll be able to show to your target market that you do care - and ultimately, gain greater support from people.
Start your "green" campaign by handing out eco friendly promotional products. Eco lovers will surely love this move and of course, your potential clients will as well. The key here is to do a bit of research to find the right options - and everything will fall into place.
Here are some additional reasons as to why these types of products just might work:

• These products are recyclable and biodegradable - which means they won't contribute to the world's pollution problems.
• Depending on your product's design and style, they can actually catch the attention of all sectors of your market.
• By handing out such products, you are spreading goodwill about your company and business, which can further result to greater brand recognition and respect.

Promotional Products That Will Benefit the Environment (and Your Business)
Let's now discuss some top-of-the-line eco friendly promotional products that you can use to market your business more effectively. Here they are:

1. Biodegradable BPA-Free Sport Bottle - both sports and eco lovers will be impressed with this promotional item, as it is handy, aesthetically pleasing and usable as well. Unlike other sport bottles, this product is BPA-free, which means it is safe for long use - and it won't negatively affect the environment as well. Accordingly, it can be an excellent giveaway for trade shows, customer loyalty rewards or for marketing your company to your target market.
2. Cork Mouse Pad - this product aims to relate with the technology age that we are living in now. With this eco friendly promotional product, users are able to smoothly glide their PC mouse - without any hitches whatsoever. On the marketing side, businesses can easily place their business logo or name on its flat surface, thereby resulting to more effective indirect marketing campaigns, and brand recognition as well.
3. Environmentally Friendly Golf Kits - this product aims to offer users with a greener alternative when playing golf. Its golf tees are made of Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), which is an environment-friendly component, as well as bio plastic - which is a biodegradable and compostable material that again, won't destroy the environment. Just print your company name or logo on the pouch - and everything is set.
4. Matte Laminated Non-Woven Vintage Big Grocery Tote - people need to do their groceries. Being so, this product can be a perfect alternative for businesses who want to be as visible as possible. All you need to do is to pick the right design or message, and people are bound to see it.
5. Eco Garden Kit - what could be greener than gardening, right? Promote your business by encouraging your potential customers to practice their green thumbs. They will surely appreciate it - and your company will benefit from it as well.

The Three Stages Of Brand Development

By Katherine Bouglai

The first stage is called defining your brand identity. This stage is all about getting to know who you are and what you can bring to the table with your unique abilities. This is probably the most important stage of your brand development because if you don't know your unique abilities, you can't possibly know whom you can serve or what problems you can solve for others. People choose to work with you because there is something special they see in you that they believe can help them with their issues. Most of us don't know what that special thing is until we are told. Knowing it however can really help you in defining your brand identity. Also, knowing who you are and the value you bring to others will not only boost your confidence, but also give you meaning and reignite your passion for what you do. This is what makes your brand powerful.
The second stage of your brand development is how you express yourself when you show up with you authentic brand identity. This is where we design your logo, choose your color scheme that aligns with your brand and choose the words to formulate your marketing message, such as your tagline, your business name and your elevator speech. This is how other people learn about you and the character of your business. This is the irresistible part of your brand.
The third stage of your brand development is your reputation. This is not something that I or any other brand designer can do for you. All we can do is give you a few tips on how to create it easier and faster for yourself, especially if you are first starting out in your business. This work is entirely done by you through working with your clients, providing your excellent services and really delivering what you say you were going to deliver. And for most businesses, if not all of them, this stage is a continuous work in progress. I know for me it is. This is what makes your brand authentic.
As you can see, all of these three stages are extremely important in your brand development and if you are missing at least one of them, or if at least one of them is underdeveloped, then your business will suffer. Your clients will have hard time finding you and people will be reluctant to buy from you. When you get to the point where all 3 stages are well developed, your business will prosper.

Katherine Bouglai has been coaching entrepreneurs and building their brands for over 5 years. With her degree in computer graphics as well as her certification and experience of an empowerment coach, she is very passionate about designing powerful, authentic and irresistible brands for other entrepreneurs.

Get a Tailored Brand Identity With a Custom Logo Design

By Henry Brown Joseph

To be successful in the market you need to have a properly working, totally functional website with a custom logo design. Having a custom logo design for your business means having a custom brand identity. If you're not on the internet with your business website you're late, but then they say that it's never too late, so get in touch with a design company and get your website developed and designed professionally.
The design of your website matters a lot, and businesses are not just limited to websites now; there are various other tools that are used such as blogs and mini blogs, and having a social media presence all over the World Wide Web, and you need a custom logo design for all these things be it a blog for your business, your Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn groups, you just need to have a custom brand identity!
So show your customers and viewers on the web that you care for your brand and your identity matters to you the most. Give a makeover to your brands on the internet and make them visually enticing and appealing to mass audiences. This might just get you not only brand awareness but also some sales and enhance your revenues.
Keep your logos according to the trends being followed on the internet. Big fonts screaming colors or funny shadows circling your logo won't work best for you if you are dealing with apparels. So make sure to get in touch with a design agency that thoroughly understands your business category and then makes a customized brand identity for your business or company.
Branding on the internet is enhancing day by day, the brand designers have to follow so many different trends to stay on the internet and grow and survive in the competition. Get your customers to be on your side or choose you amongst others when it comes to taking sides with a unique brand appearance and a customized design. Designers have experiment and make smart decisions for smart clients. Don't get an untidy logo design for your brand that is unexplained and adds as a cluster of visual flotsam on your website or blogs. Don't try to make your logo into a pack of information, where you stick in the tag line, the brand name, and the brand colors all in an image and call it a logo. Just get something designed that is easy on the eyes, creative and easy to be remembered.

The Case for Great Customer Support

By Frank Butler

We're an IT support outfit but you can feel free to insert your line of business here because at the end of the day every company that wants to generate repeatable sales has to deal with customer service. Yes (long pause) - business sure would be so much easier if it wasn't for the bloody customers, wouldn't it?
For some companies, crazy good customer service defines who they are. Everything they do is measured against the "Prime Directive" of knock your socks off service. It is their core competency, their unique differentiator if you will. And it's a great definer - no one ever failed providing exemplary service. You might go extinct providing the best Edsel repair service on the planet but at least it isn't because of how you're treating your customers.
For other companies, barely adequate service was never intended to be part of the deal anyway, but in many cases, at least you know that going in. They may have a core competency but it certainly isn't blow you away service. And still others crow on about how much they care when everybody knows its shameless lip service. Surprise, surprise, you're the worst company in Canada.
So for those of you still reading, this is what I have come to learn about crazy good customer service: either you've got it or you don't. Just saying it or wishing it was true doesn't make it that way. Are you listening big phone and cable companies (along with the airlines)?
So whether you are Nordstorms with their crazy good service or you bake ridiculous pies or you provide killer IT support, great customer service isn't something you just turn on or off. It starts with a commitment at the very top. A culture that percolates down through the organization. Problem is, if it isn't in your corporate core values, if you're just saying it because you think that's what they want to hear and if you say it enough times maybe you'll bludgeon them into believing it, if it isn't in your DNA - it just won't come off as authentic. You might be successful but usually only if you have the market cornered and if that ever changes, you'll be left with a hollow promise on which you built your company and everyone will know it. Good luck with that.

4 Tips for Outstanding Business Card Design

By Kara Jensen

In business, first impressions are everything. Whether you're at a trade show or networking event, your business card is often the first piece of collateral you share with prospective customers. A business card can be included in a presentation folder or business correspondence. It can also serve as camera-ready art in local business publications. Even in the digital age, they serve a unique and often valuable purpose.
So it's crucially important that your business card clearly identifies you and your business, looks visually appealing and stands out from the competition. Here are suggestions for making all this happen on a 3.5 x 2 inch-sized piece of high gloss card stock.
Use type that's clutter-free. Considering the limited available space, design experts advise not having more than two font types. Though it's tempting to use flowery or elaborate fonts in an effort to differentiate yourself from everyone else, resist the impulse. Fussy type is often difficult to read and gives an impression of clutter. (There are still many readable, professional-looking fonts to choose from.) One more thing: font sizes must be large enough to be easily seen by people with varying degrees of eyesight.
Include all essential information. By "essential," we primarily mean contact information:
• Your name and title (if appropriate)
• Your company name
• Website address
• Email address
• Telephone number
Another essential element-particularly if what you make or offer isn't immediately clear by the name of your business-is a one-line slogan. This can be a phrase or a complete sentence, as long as it accurately describes your business and it's memorable.
Add your logo. A professionally designed logo is a key part of your brand and should always be included. If you're in the process of having a logo created, make sure it's scalable for use on all of your marketing materials, from business card to letterhead and website.
Use colors that please the eye. Remember, the idea is to have an appealing business card, not one that overwhelms the person you're handing it to. Keeping within a limit of 3-4 colors at most, use them as part of the text or logo or other background graphic elements. A photograph can be an excellent use of color (as long as the photo makes you look both attractive and professional). If your business offers a service of some kind, a photo is a great way to make an instant connection with potential customers.