Quoting The Bible To Boost Your Sales
March 31st, 2010

With many people celebrating important holidays this time of year including both Passover and Easter, we thought it would be wise to quote some advice from a very special book. That, of course, being the Small Business Bible. As SmallBusinessBible.org, there is a wealth of information about how small businesses can boost their sales and marketing productivity.

Clearly, there are numerous ways to do this but the best ways are those that are “strong and innovative”. When unique marketing strategies are implemented correctly, says the bible, “a small business can make more sales and run a better and stronger marketing campaign then a big budget business spending millions of dollars on promotions.”

These campaigns, insists the site, do not have to require a major financial investment. They simply insist on intellient planning. They begin with analyzing the target market of your company. This allows for your campaign to be uniquely focused by placing effort on targeting specific customers. When a company's target audience is analyzed, it greatly boosts its sales and marketing productivity as it gets to know how to suit the needs and wants of its customer base.

As we've mentioned a number of times before, making good use of modern technology is paramount in today's business world. Says the bible, “Information technology is the fastest growing medium in the world today. If use properly then this medium can be utilized to boost sales and marketing productivity in much faster pace as compare to any landmark promotional campaign.”

The site points out that the internet is a medium now used by millions of people each and every day. A strong online campaign is one of the most important ways to connect with a larger customer base. A variety of online marketing methods including banner advertisements and the bartering of ad space on partner websites are excellent promotional tools.

As mentioned earlier, developing innovative marketing schemes is what helps for companies to grow their business' reach without having to spend a lot of money. According to SmallBusinessBible.org, “The key to success in marketing in the present era is simplicity and originality. Those campaigns which have innovative concepts and the potential to capture the imagination of the customers help in boosting sales and marketing productivity.”

Many of these tips read as general, common sense pieces of advice. Nevertheless, many companies suffer at the hands of formulaic marketing strategies that often do not provide a significant return on the investment. Good promotional techniques are essential. Bad ones are a waste of money.

This is why Synergy Marketing Consultants obviously champions the concept of handing out promo items as an effective marketing strategy. An inexpensive and unique method of increasing a company's customer base, the providing of promo gifts falls directly in line with the teachings of the Small Business Bible.

Now go and enjoy your holiday. We know we will.[...]

New Blue Jays Sponsorship A Calculated Risk
March 30th, 2010

We're just one more day away from the beginning of April. For some sports fans, this time of year marks the official beginning of spring as it brings with it, the official start of the Major League Baseball season. Although known as “The Boys of Summer”, baseball players taking the field to start off another yearly quest towards the World Series seem to go hand in hand with the the warmness added to the cool spring air.

In Toronto, of course, this time of year means yet another beginning of a likely-to-be-disappointing season for the beloved (or not) Toronto Blue Jays. Having not been a serious contender since their back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993, the team has truly left Toronto baseball fans agonizing for something worthwhile to cheer about for close to two decades.

With the loss of former ace pitcher Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies in the off-season, the 2010 campaign for the Toronto Blue Jays looks even bleaker than those in previous years when the team has continually underachieved. That being said, some interesting news broke today of the Jays receiving a new sponsor. While the information may prove promising for Blue Jays fans, it also proves valuable for business owners everywhere.

According to Shi Davidi of The Canadian Press, Honda Canada struck a three-year national partnership deal with the Toronto Blue Jays today. Firstly, let's touch on what this may insinuate for championship-hungry baseball fans in T.O. As Davidi writes, “Every such agreement helps increase the spending power of general manager Alex Anthopoulos, and the fact that a company would want to buy in now suggests it feels better times - and therefore more exposure - is ahead.”

There is hope, obviously, that the team is headed in the direction towards becoming a stronger team. Especially when contending in what is considered MLB's toughest division – The American League East shared with powerhouses like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox – the Jays need the type of lucrative sponsorship that can allow for management to spend on the rebuilding process.

As far as business owners are concerned, Honda's bold move today communicates a classic example of taking a calculated risk. The objective of the massive car manufacturer is to spend a little to get a lot. By investing in a struggling franchise with the hopes of moving up, Honda is planning on getting a lot of bang for their buck once the team begins to succeed again.

As Arch Wilcox, Honda Canada's vice-president of advertising explained: “It made sense because we like the team, we much more like the management, and we like the direction the management is taking the team in...We didn't buy this at a World Series rate. We bought it based on what's happening today, what's their attendance today, what's their TV audience today, all those kinds of things. So what's that value worth? Let's buy that.”

Business owners looking to make the most of their investment dollars are smart to buy low and sell high. It's not always a move that will pan out, but if you believe in the product you are selling and in the method of advertising that will help your sales, you are more likely to be successful. Honda, of course, hopes that their bold move today will pay off for their company. And Toronto Blue Jays fans really hope it will take their team back to the top of the baseball world.[...]

Toronto Takes Worst Traffic Award
March 29th, 2010

We've talked a lot about the importance of keeping a happy staff on the Synergy Marketing Consultants Blog in the past. As a result, we do the best we can to keep things lively around the office to ensure that each member of the staff enjoys his or her day at work. Getting to and from work, on the other hand, is something we pretty much have no control over. And being that our headquarters is located in Toronto, Canada, it seems as if the commute to work is the worst in the world.

As business reporter for The Toronto Star, John Spears writes today, a study conducted for the Toronto Board of Trade discovered that it takes people in the Greater Toronto Area approximately 80 minutes to commute to and from work. This makes Toronto the worst city to commute in among 19 major cities including New York, Chicago, London and Berlin.

In fact, Toronto is even 24 minutes slower than gridlocked Los Angeles making its performance “embarrassing”, according to the study. The times calculated for the commute, by the way, incorporates those taken by both drivers and public transit users. Evidently, Canada's largest city suffers from major traffic congestion.

The country's next largest city, Montreal didn't fare that much better. At an average of 76 minutes for its citizens to get to and from work, Montreal still made out worse than New York's average of 68 minutes roundtrip. Barcelona ended up being the first place city among those studied with an average of 48 minutes for workers to commute to and from their places of employment.

The results of this study come hot on the heels of the province's delaying of a $4 billion expansion project for the transit lines in Toronto and York Region. This deal, says Carol Wilding, chief executive of the Board of Trade, “exists mostly on paper.”

Sais Wilding as she released the report which called itself a “scorecard on prosperity”: “It was 80 per cent unfunded, and now with Thursday’s provincial budget, it’s 90 per cent unfunded.” Nevertheless, the same report still heralds Toronto as “an attractive place to live, and has succeeded in attracting residents.”

Spears writes that the city does, however, score poorly on “attracting investment, leading to questions about how easy it will be to sustain the Toronto region economy. It found that as the recession took hold of the economy, the City of Toronto suffered less than its suburban neighbours, although all lost ground.”

Needless to day, it may be advisable to leave early for work tomorrow morning. And every morning after that. Toronto, a city known for its heavy traffic, is apparently the worst in the world. [...]

Celebrate Earth Hour This Weekend
March 26th, 2010

We’re so glad that you take the time out to read our blog. However, tomorrow at 8:30p.m. Eastern Time, we hope that you aren’t on your computer at all. In fact, we’re hoping you’ll join in with the rest of the world and not use anything that requires electricity at all. Turn off the lights, the television and yes, the computer as well.

Tomorrow evening, the fourth annual Earth Hour takes place. As EarthHour.org reports, “Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating.”

Global landmarks across the world including Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and Rome’s Colosseum all have stood in complete darkness in honour of the event.

Last year, hundreds of millions of people participated in Earth Hour. As part of a pledge to supporting the planet and conserving energy, the world is once again conducting its largest global climate change initiative.

As the website explains, Earth Hour asks that “every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness.”

Of course, everyone can participate. It’s as simple as turning out the lights for an hour. This simple task is recognized as a worldwide celebration of the Earth. This year, the fourth-ever Earth Hour is expected to be the biggest one yet. We hope you’ll join us in the celebration.

Earth Hour is organized by the World Wildlife Fund. There are over 5 millions supporters in over 100 countries who believe in preventing the degradation of the Earth’s environment.

Says EarthHour.org: “Earth Hour has done a lot to raise awareness of climate change issues. But there’s more to it than switching off lights for one hour once a year. It’s all about giving people a voice on the future of our planet and working together to create a sustainable low carbon future for our planet.”[...]

Follow The Facebook Rules
March 25th, 2010

At the beginning of March, this blog visited the concept of promoting businesses online through a variety of social networking sites including Facebook and Twitter. We also discussed the many advantages of finding your company at the top of the list in Google searches. And while online promotion through these popular sites is virtually free of cost and widespread, it is important to stay clear of trouble.

And by trouble, we mean the breaching of policies posted by these respective social networking sites. Facebook is popular for cancelling accounts of users who violate their policies. As Chris Hopkins on EzineArticles.com reveals, it is important to know Facebook's policies or both your site and hard work to promote your company will disappear.

Hopkins notes that business owners who are Facebook users have made a lot of money promoting their brand to the 350 million active users of the site. However, it is through the utilization of a very effective method of doing so. That is mainly through fan pages, says Hopkins.

By creating a fan page for your business, it helps you to avoid the perception that you are only on Facebook to market and sell. As Hopkins elaborates: “Remember Facebook is a social hub and both Facebook policy and site users frown upon marketers who invade the site with a sell, sell,sell mentality. Success on the social networks is about playing the game Harass people with product marketing and you will find it difficult to make meaningful relationships of trust with others.”

Hopkins offers up four simple steps for entrepreneurs to follow when they are on Facebook. The first is to join Facebook and invite all of your friends and associates to be your friend on the site. This helps for you to create a network that will be updated with information every time you post photos, videos or any pertinent information you wish to share.

The second step is to develop the aforementioned fan page. As Hopkins advises: “This is of paramount importance if you wish to promote your business without risking getting shut down. The trick to success with Facebook is to promote your business opportunity through your fan page.” This page allows business owners to also post links to their websites that will help in the direct marketing of their companies, inevitably turning into an increase of sales.

The third step is to join Facebook Groups. When you subscribe to a group, it allows you to post on the group wall. Post your business information on both your fan page and the to your groups' pages with links to your fan page. Be careful not to “over post” though.

Finally, set up your own group. Hopkins notes that doing so helps you to create a platform to market your brand. It allows for unlimited friends to promote to, in part by sending mass e-mails as often as you wish.

Use Facebook to promote your business. But do so wisely. You wouldn't wanted to get booted off of the site when it works so well in giving your business the widespread attention it needs to succeed.[...]

The Pen Is Mightier Than The Card
March 24th, 2010

Everyone uses pens, right? Regardless of how popular the internet has become...and the internet is very popular, people still use pens to write, believe it or not. Sure, you can set up a blog...just as we have...and type to your heart's content. But somehow, some way, that ever-required lightweight writing utensil will be required at some point for writing.

Of course, we advocate the use of so many of our nifty promo gifts. They have been helping business owners increase the success of their companies for many years. But the pen just so happens to be one of our most practical promotional items. Think about the impact it will have when each and every time someone you know goes to jot something down, they happen to reach for a pen with your company name and logo on it.

It can't be escaped. Pens are useful, light and easy to store. We write lists, memos, notes and letters on a regular basis even with the excessive use of computers in this day and age. Why not consider a pen as a start up promotional item for your business? They are relatively inexpensive and easy to carry around.

Often, our clients tell us that they go to trade shows with a box of several hundred pens. Fairly convenient to carry around, this box is empty within a short period of time. Why? When most business owners are handing out business cards, our clients' companies thrive on providing of something just a little bit different.

Cards get thrown into a pocket – and sometimes get lost in the wash! Cards get chucked into a wallet – only to get crushed and bent up with the rest of the items stuck in there. Cards get lost. Cards get misplaced. Cards get put into a pile of a bunch of other cards.

Pens get used. They are needed. They are often asked for. You know the old saying, “you can never find a pen when you need one”? Well, put a stop to that notion and ensure that every single one of your employees and your customers owns a pen that you supplied.

Ensure that the pen has your company name, logo and contact information on it. Not only will your generosity not be forgotten, but your business will be remembered each and every time the recipient of your gift needs to write something down. It's truly not far-fetched to believe that something so simple can provide such a massive impact.

Don't be surprised if your phone starts ringing off the hook. Word will get around as long as your pens are circulating. Many of our clients have proven that the simple practice of handing out personalized pens can go a long way. Call us up and order your promo pens today.[...]

Canadian Paralympians Set Records Of Their Own
March 23rd, 2010

This past Sunday evening, the incredible sporting event that was the Paralympic Winter Games drew to a close. And just as the more heralded Canadian athletes of the Winter Olympic Games did, our Canadian Paralympians set amazing records on home soil giving the nation a whole lot more to be proud of.

As Daniel Girard wrote in The Toronto Star, the first ever Paralympic Games to be held in Canada ended with the host country earning an awesome 19 medals. This is the most ever achieved by Canadian athletes at these Games. Providing a well-deserved spotlight for athletes with disabilities, this event showcased individuals who obliterate the entire concept of being disabled by achieving such wondrous results.

Of Canada’s 19 medals, ten were gold, setting yet another record. When it was all said and done, Canada finished third in the medal standings behind only Germany and Russia. In Turin, Italy four years ago, Canada placed sixth overall.

One of Canada’s heroes this time around was alpine skier Lauren Woolstencroft. The closing ceremony flag bearer for Canada, Woolstencroft was born missing both of her legs below the knee and her left arm below the elbow. A situation that would stop most people from achieving their dreams, the 28-year-old Vancouver native’s disability didn’t stop her from winning an astonishing five gold medals. Only the third Canadian Paralympian to ever do that, it is the most gold medals won of any woman in one Winter Paralympic Games.

Said Blair McIntosh, Canada's chef de mission of Woolstencroft: "The accomplishments of Lauren during these Paralympics will be relived by Canadians for many years to come. She has set a new standard for Winter Paralympic athletes and has joined an elite group of historic Canadians in sport."

Paralympians are outstanding examples of how people can overcome personal hardships. Where most individuals would quit, these amazing athletes defeat the odds. The Paralympic Games, of course, feature the blind, amputees and paraplegics. It doesn’t matter to these athletes though. Each of them battling for medals, Paralympians show what it means to win.

As John Furlong, chief executive officer of VANOC, and organizer of both the Olympics and Paralympics describes it: "When you come to an event like this and you stand back for a moment and allow yourself to think about what you're looking at, if you're not inspired, it's not possible to inspire you.”

Cross-country skier Brian McKeever, was just one of the few Canadians who were truly inspiring these Games. Winning Canada’s first gold medal this year in the one-kilometre sprint, McKeever only has 10 per cent of his vision and all of it is peripheral. He ended up winning three medals at this year’s Paralympics.

Synergy Marketing Consultants would like to congratulate all Canadian Paralympians for doing the entire nation proud. Your achievements are truly inspiring.

[...]

More Canadians Using Internet Over Television
March 22nd, 2010

We have spent a lot of time on the Synergy Marketing Consultants Blog discussing the ever-growing importance of ensuring that internet presence is paramount in the minds of business owners everywhere. This very website is a shining example of how creating online traffic helps to bring about more business. Studies are showing that more and more people are spending more time online than ever before.

In fact, earlier today, 680News.com reported that “Canadians are spending more time online than they are in front of their television sets.” Marking the first-time that internet usage has jumped ahead of TV watching, 680News describes the findings of a new survey by the Ipsos Reid polling firm.

People are still watching TV, says the report, but are doing so more often on their computers. If business owners are still not convinced that the internet is the place to be to promote their companies after hearing of this news, it is likely nothing will convince them!

Associate Vice President of Ipsos Reid, Mark Laver had this to say about the phenomenon: “We're not necessarily watching less television. We're watching television in a different form in a different medium. Some of that increase in Internet usage is coming from people watching shows online.”

The survey revealed that on average, Canadians are spending over 18 hours a week online in comparison to 16.9 hours watching television. Internet usage has jumped up from last year's finding of Canadians spending 14.9 hours a week online. Meanwhile, usage of other media sources such as newspapers, radio and magazines have remained pretty much the same.

Industry watchers note that the cost of watching television is rising as a result of cable and satellite companies jacking up monthly service costs. As a result, more and more Canadians are going to the internet to locate free feeds of their favourite shows.

Said Laver: “If you're not a big television watcher, can you justify paying $30 a month, $50 a month, $80 a month for television when you watch one show a night, one show a week? The reality is that show might be available online. There are people who are going to say, 'I don't need cable.'”

In addition, 680News notes that today's younger generation is growing to be more attached to their computers than their television sets. They easily spend more time online than those over 55 years of age. Nevertheless, the use of computers is becoming increasingly important for people of all ages. It is an easy go-to source for both information and entertainment.

As Laver points out about the internet, “It's a lifeline, a tether for your life. You're using it a lot more frequently than a lot of other things right now.”[...]

Toronto Sets Record Temperatures
March 19th, 2010

It’s one thing for Toronto to experience a winter that allows for you to count on one hand the number of major snowfalls that took place. It’s another thing for Torontonians to be out and about in the city wearing shorts and t-shirts in the middle of March! Today, Toronto set unprecedented highs in temperature as the thermometer read levels as high as 19 degrees celcius in the afternoon.

For the first time in months, although much sooner than expected, members of the Synergy Marketing Consultants staff were taking their breaks and lunch times in the great outdoors. Employees all across the city were pretty much doing the exact same thing. And why not? How could not enjoy summer weather when the official start of spring hasn’t even come yet?

According to 680News.com, today’s temperatures “smashed a 24-year-old” record. The 19 degrees recording today beat out a previous record of 14.2 degrees celcius back in 1986. Last year at this time, the high in Toronto was a measly four degrees.

The site reports that this coming weekend, the city should expect its temperatures to return to a more normal range in and around the nine degrees mark. Still, Torontonians are reveling in the fact that unlike most of the rest of Canada, the end of winter seems official.

For anyone who is not yet convinced, the high temperature recorded today is not the only record set by Toronto. As The Toronto Star reported on its website earlier today, “today also marks the first time in recorded history that Toronto has gotten this far into the month of March without a trace of snowfall.”

As well, the previous three days just fell shy of beating previous records. The past twenty-one days have all recorded temperatures that are about 5 degrees warmer than the 6 degrees average that generally comes at this time of the year.

Senior climatologist at Environment Canada, Dave Philips regards this year’s winter as “probably one of the shortest winters on record. It’s like nature said, ‘I’m just going to nicely package winter into only three months, not six months’.”

Even though cooler temperatures are ahead, it is a sure bet that Toronto residents will be going all out to enjoy what is likely to be considered the first spring weekend of the year. And why not celebrate it? Who knows when the city’s winter will be this short again?[...]

Cross-Promotion Creates Prominence
March 18th, 2010

Most would-be business owners find it difficult to begin their businesses simply because they just don't have enough money to get them started. For some, even after their companies have been established, they notice that they have a tough timing keeping afloat as overhead costs, employee salaries and advertisements begin eating away at their cash flows.

Kay Marks of EzineArticles.com explains a simple enough suggestion that can help business owners with such a dilemma. “Cross promotion,” writes Marks, “is when two groups (usually businesses) advertise together. Each group pools their money together to slash advertising budgets or helps promote the other group...Both groups benefit and are possibly bolstered by their affiliation with each other.”

This is an advisable marketing strategy as it essentially costs nothing. Of course, one's good word and agreement to do for the other company what he or she expects to be done in return is all that is needed. Marks notes that the first step to ensuring proper cross-promotion tactics are put into place is to find an appropriate partner.

There are two options that Marks suggests that you use when approaching this task. The first is to do some research to find out what other businesses your customers may shop at. The second is to discover what businesses have products that may compliment yours. Once either of these paths are found, it is important to decide on what company is the best fit to work with your own.

“Think about what companies you would be proud to be associated with,” writes Marks, “You also want to pick a partner whose resources and reputation are equal to yours.”

She also advises that you evaluate your shared customers: “Determine what portion of your target market likes to shop at your partner's business and vice versa. These are the people you want to advertise the most.”

Consider factors such as what attributes your product and your partner's product are likeable and how they can be enhanced by being associated with each other. Also consider the demographics of your client base to make sure that you are reaching your target market.

Another important step is to “decide on a test-run cross-promotion event or sale.” This will test the business relationship to ensure that it works. A good way to do this is to hold sales at the same time as your partner with each including incentives to shop at the other place.

Lastly, don't forget to evaluate the partnership by truly determining how things went. As Marks advises, “If it didn't work, try to figure out why it didn't and if there's any way to correct the mistake next time.” And if it did work, congratulations! You are on you way to securing more business for your company at next to no cost.[...]

Join In On The Excitement
March 17th, 2010

Synergy Marketing Consultants is staffed with a lively bunch. It's no secret – and our blog has made note of this before – that we like to have a good time around our office. It's important for us to enjoy our jobs so we do the best we can to be energetic and vivacious each and every day.

Please do not mistake our enthusiasm for arrogance or pushiness. We simply take great pride in our products in addition to our customer service. We, of course, more than recommend that you give us a call to discuss some of the many great promotional gifts that we have to offer your company. We can guarantee, at the very least, that it will be an entertaining phone call.

Last year, ScienceDaily.com posted an article discussing the many benefits that a company can reap when it keeps its staff happy. Basing the articles on the findings of Thomas Wright, the Jon Wefald Leadership Chair in Business Administration and professor of management at K-State, the piece unveils that employees who experience “high levels of psychological well-being and job satisfaction...perform better and are less likely to leave their job.”

As Wright himself puts it: “The benefits of a psychologically well work force are quite consequential to employers, especially so in our highly troubled economic environment...Simply put, psychologically well employees are better performers. Since higher employee performance is inextricably tied to an organization's bottom line, employee well-being can play a key role in establishing a competitive advantage.”

Of course, by contrast, excessive negativity in the workplace can be detrimental to the business. Positive reinforcements, insists Wright, generally lead to positive emotions which help and enhance the employee perception of his or her work. When an employee feels valued and appreciated, it generally means that the work contributed is of top-notch value.

Wright's studies have also concluded that psychological health is excellent for one's personal development as well. As ScienceDaily.com reveals: “Employees with high well-being tend to be superior decision makers, demonstrate better interpersonal behaviors and receive higher pay, he said. His recent research also indicates that psychologically well individuals are more likely to demonstrate better cardiovascular health.”

A strong sense of self-confidence also allows individuals to feel better equipped in supporting their fellow employees. The organization is bound to benefit as its staff will perform at a high level during its state of positive perspectives towards self-worth and value to the company.

So please don't blame us for seeming over excited or happy when we are on the phone talking to you. We are so confident in our business and in each other that we can't help but share the excitement with you.[...]

Couple Confidence With Your Promo Gift
March 16th, 2010

Quite often, our staff here at Synergy Marketing Consultants is questioned about the true value of supplying both customers and employees with promotional gifts. How will this truly be a benefit to me? How many of these can I really give away? How do I know this will result in my business turning a profit?

Good questions, all of them. And as much as we are fully aware that the distribution of promo gifts has and will continue to work wonders for the business owners who make use of this practice, we can only encourage hesitant entrepreneurs to give it a try. Experience is the best teacher, as is often said.

Many of our clients, upon first hearing about our products, question whether or not they can put the gifts to good use. One brave attempt later, these same clients are calling us back wondering why they hadn't ordered more of their favourite promo items to begin with.

The first key to ensuring that you are making a good decision by ordering up promotional items that bear your company's name, logo and contact information is confidence. We have researched a ton of different online literature from various industry professionals who all agree that unless you truly believe in your company, there is no way to convince others of doing the same.

Once you exhibit that much-needed confidence in the products and/or services that you have to offer, the rest will come easy. Your promo gift, essentially, will become a reminder of the outstanding representation of your company that you gave its recipient. More effective than the everyday business card, your gift will be kept by the person who receives it. If the gift was coupled with a good impression, chances are that you will be hearing from this prospective client in the future.

Another key factor in good utilization of the promo gifts is to place yourself at significant events. Attend trade shows and conferences and never be a stranger at other social functions and get-togethers where people in your industry may be present. Always keeping in mind that you have a business to run will be of great value to you even when you are attending your own leisurely social gatherings.

It doesn't take much to carry a few pens with you. Sometimes the often-asked question of “So what do you do?” is answered by a mudane, one sentence response. In your case, it can present the perfect opportunity to make an excellent impression – in part, because you were gracious enough to deliver a useful gift to the question-asker.

We often champion the practice of being different, innovative and ideally ahead of your competition. Stay focused on your goals, exhibit confidence in your brand and hand out as many promo gifts as you can. Soon, you will be reaping the benefits of a chance you took on ordering the right product to spread the good word about your business. [...]

Canada Wins First Paralympic Gold
March 15th, 2010

A fantastic story has come out of Vancouver, British Columbia today as the Paralympic Games are in full swing. As reported last week on the Synergy Marketing Consultants Blog, the Paralympic Games are most certainly something to be celebrated. Incredible athletes, who completely destroy the term “disability”, showcase their amazing athletic skills at this event, which is generally overshadowed by the Olympic Games.

Nevertheless, as The Toronto Star's Daniel Gigard reports today, Canadian skier Brian McKeever has given Canada something to be proud of yet again. Today, McKeever became the first Canadian to win gold at the Paralympics on home soil. Not only was his victory in the 20-kilometre race an outstanding acheivement, but it is that much more astounding considering that McKeever is, indeed, blind.

With his older brother Robin as his guide, McKeever finished at a time of 50:14.70 which was an amazing 40.9 seconds ahead of the silver medalist, Nikolay Polukhin of Russia. A Canmore, Alberta native, McKeever approached the finish line at Whistler Paralympic Park to be greeted by a large crowd of fans. They were, however, instructed by games officials to keep silent so that the competitors could listen to their guides.

At present, Canada sits third in the medal standings with six: two golds, three silvers and a bronze. Russia, it seems, has taken the Paralympic Games by storm with 15 medals and counting – six of them gold.

While McKeever's gold medal win is an awesome acheivement, TSN.ca – The Sports Network's website - reminds us that Canadian Colette Bourgonje won the first medal of any colour for Canada at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games today. In the women's sitting 10km cross country ski race, Bourgonje took the silver medal in a time of 31 minutes, 49.8 seconds.

Even though Bourgonje was leading the race at the first interval, she fell just short of Belarus' Liudmila Vauchok at the 3.3 kilometre mark. Vauchok took the gold by finishing in a time of 30:52.9. Ukraine's Olena Iurkovska took the bronze medal.

Said Bourgonje after the race: “Wow - I'm shocked and I can't believe it. I don't think it has sunk in yet. I am still racing because I wanted to compete at a Paralympics in Canada and I'm just so proud to have done this in front of Canadians. I share this medal with all of Canada.”

For those who may never have heard of Bourgonje, she is a phenomenal athlete. At an incredible 48 years of age, she has won medals in both the summer and winter Paralympic Games. She, at one time, competed in cross country running until she became paralyzed following a car accident. Evidently for her, both age and adversity mean nothing. As she said, “attitude is everything. I live by that every day and I think that came through today.”

Just as the nation was throughout the Winter Olympics, Canada has every right to be very proud today as our Paralympic athletes define how to overcome hardships and prove themselves as champions.[...]

Word Of Mouth Gets Around
March 12th, 2010

In yesterday's blog, we revisited the notion that word-of-mouth advertising is among the strongest and most effective types of promotion that a company can utilize. We discussed a number of methods that word-of-mouth can work for your business, paying special attention to the fact that a business owner must exhibit a strong sense of confidence and pride in his or her brand.

Today, we meet again with this concept, however as Shirley Lichti points out in a February 21, 2001 article for The Record, there are a number of strategies that entrepreneurs can put in place to develop their word-of-mouth advertising so that it is especially effective.

She writes that “although word-of-mouth is an extremely effective tool, few people know how to develop it. The best word-of-mouth advertising programs happen by design, not by chance. Word-of-mouth can be managed.”

Lichti offers up a number of tips that can assist business owners with their strategies in using word-of-mouth. The first is to ensure that you are offering a memorable service.

Says Lichti: “Word-of-mouth does not happen overnight. It ultimately depends on the quality of your customer service. This is rarely based on one thing you do. Rather it is the result of hundreds of little things you consistently do a little bit better than your competition. Things like exceeding customer expectations and delivering on your promises.”

“Be positive” is another of Lichti's tips that echoes that of Susan Ward from About.com in the article we reviewed yesterday. Lichti insists that you train your employees to never say anything negative about the company. Don't badmouth the competition either, she suggests. This will help further promote positive aspects of your company that can and will be far-reaching.

She also recommends that you talk to your customers. By doing so, you are planting “word-of-mouth seeds”. Of course, always thanking your customers when they express their satisfaction with your goods and services will be very beneficial to the future of your business. Satisfied and loyal customers will not only continue to bring you business but they will surely spread the word about how much you appreciate them, prompting more customers to add themselves to your client base.

Offering incentive programs is another way that Lichti believes will increase word-of-mouth advertising for your business. “Some organizations use incentive programs to generate referrals,” she writes, “Tactics such as paying cash for referrals may work. However, too often they smack of a bribe in exchange for a list of names of your friends.”

Instead, she suggests that you offer free samples. Now where have you heard something like that before? Promo gift anyone? [...]

Good Word Of Mouth Starts With You
March 11th, 2010

It has often been said that word of mouth promotion is the best kind of advertising there is. When people are talking about your company, it means there is interest in your products or services. Not only is this type of advertising free, but it is very valuable. Promotional gifts often lead to great amounts of word of mouth advertising as they provide the perfect conversation starters.

“Where did you get that?” is one of the most popular questions the recipients of promo gifts get. Having a promo item with your company's name and logo on it always adds that extra bit of prestige to your brand. It shows that your company is making a concerted effort to advance the awareness about its name. This, of course, only leads to more and more people talking about you.

Susan Ward of About.com notes that good word of mouth promotion starts with you – the business owner. It is important that you maintain a healthy view of yourself, your professional prowess within your industry and your company's image. If you're not proud of your own accomplishments, how will others be impressed by them? In fact, you should learn to brag about yourself, insists Ward.

She writes: “Too often we defeat our self promotion efforts by assuming that other people won't be interested in what we do, or by childhood notions that it's not polite to brag about ourselves and our accomplishments. But we need to brag about ourselves. We need to tell others what we do well and what we're proud of; that's what self promotion is.”

It is important, obviously, to know exactly what to brag about. Making up stories or embellishing the truth is no way to impress others. But highlighting your strengths and spreading the word about your accomplishments helps to shape the perception that others have of you. Ward insists that you list your achievements and figure out a way to spread the news.

Ward asks: “What is it that you're proud of? Have you won an award? Gained a new skill or accreditation? Done some valuable work for the community? Think back over the past two years and make a list of the accomplishments you're proud of. These are what you're going to let other people know about.”

Don't downplay yourself, she insists. In fact, self-denigration is actually quite a popular trait among business owners. Playing off important accomplishments or failing to see your success as a great feat can often give others the idea that you do not see yourself or your business as all that important, even if your objective was to be humble.

“Many people are their own worst enemy,” says Ward, “They belittle their accomplishments when others notice and praise them...Don't denigrate yourself by being self-depreciating. Practice accepting praise sincerely without adding excuses or qualifications.”

Good word of mouth promotion of your business starts with you. Someone's got to be initially impressed by what you offer. If it isn't you, then who is it? Start the ball rolling and get people talking. It takes effort, but not a lot of money. With greater recognition, more money will come your way.[...]

Time To Support Our Paralympic Athletes
March 10th, 2010

By now, the excitement of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games that blasted throughout the entire nation of Canada is beginning to wear off...but not by much. Still very proud of the nation's accomplishments at the Games hosted by Vancouver, British Columbia, many Canadians still speak boastfully about the record-setting 14 gold medals won by Canadian athletes last month.

Arguably the most memorable and most important gold medal was the very last one snapped up at the Games. Thanks to an electrifying overtime goal in the men's hockey final by Nova Scotia's Sidney Crosby, the Canadian men's hockey team brought the entire nation to its feet screaming in joyous triumph. The gold medal and subsequent singing of “O Canada” to cap off the Olympics was the perfect ending to the event.

So much so, that Synergy Marketing Consultants is elated to announce that we are currently offering business owners a limited edition plaque commemorating Crosby's golden goal and Team Canada's amazing victory over the United States' men's hockey team in the tournament final. To get one before they run out, call us up at 1-877-748-9884 right away to speak to one of our representatives. This commemorative plaque is not available through orders on our website.

As much as we remain proud of our Canadian Olympians, however, QMI Agency's Robin Anderson reminds us on The Toronto Sun's website today, that the Paralympic Games begin in just a few short days. It is his hope that Canada can maintain its pride and energetic momentum displayed throughout the Olympics and carry it into their support of the Canadian athletes participating in these lesser-observed Games.

He notes that these athletes do not request sympathy for their disabilities but instead humbly ask for support and admiration for their abilities in each of their respective sports. There are so many reasons to admire them, writes Anderson, as they are capable of doing what so many of us are not. Ironic, right?

Asks Anderson: “Think it is tough to play hockey? Try doing it on a sled, having to use your arms not only to propel yourself but to carry and shoot as well. Think slalom looks difficult? Try hurtling yourself down that same hill at incredible speed – without the benefit of arms or legs.”

We are reminded that the Paralympic athletes are extremely talented in spite of their supposed shortcomings. They, of course, have overcome great adversity in order to rise above their hardships. This, insists Anderson, is deserving of a medal in itself.

It's time to cheer again Canada. The excitement isn't over. In some ways, it's just beginning. We now have both the opportunity and the duty of supporting our athletes and fellow Canadians as they battle through adversity and prove that there is no such thing as “I can't”.

As Anderson reminds us, “If you've ever watched these amazing athletes, you quickly learn that those two words don't even enter into their vocabularies.” So Canada, we ask you to join us in cheering on our Paralympic athletes in the hope that we will be all unified in the singing of our national anthem many more times over the next couple of weeks. Once again...Go Canada![...]

Google Can Be Great Revisited
March 9th, 2010

In yesterday’s blog, we discussed a number of tips provided by Derek Gehl, who is Entrepreneur.com’s “E-Business” columnist. He is also the CEO of the Internet Marketing Center which is an online firm that helps people begin their own internet businesses. Gehl offers up a wealth of information on utilizing the popular search engine, Google to help promote your business and get it to the top of the lists for online users researching your industry.

In today’s blog, we continue to offer a few more of Gehl’s helpful suggestions from his August 2005 article. Have you heard of AdSense? Gehl explains that this is one of two advertising avenues that are offered by Google. Essentially, these are third party ads that your website hosts allowing you to make money each and every time that someone clicks on the ad and moves off your site.

Now, of course, it is not necessarily a good idea to direct traffic away from your site. But ensuring that you are compensated each time that you do isn’t such a bad thing. Gehl informs readers about one of the smartest ways to utilize AdSense.

He writes: “Google matches the ads to your site by finding similarities in the keywords of each. The good news is, you can set a filter to prevent your competitors' ads from appearing on your website, and you can customize the appearance of the ads so their background color is the same as your site's, making them look more like informative content than sales pitches.”

The amount that your company can earn utilizing AdSense depends on how much the advertisers are paying Google for the keywords and how many visitors click on the ads on your site. The better you optimize this feature, the more lucrative it can be for you.

The second of the two advertising opportunities is AdWords. These are ads for your business that Google places on other sites for you. One of the greatest aspects of this feature is that you control how much the ads cost. Each time your ad is clicked, you pay that amount. This can range anywhere between five cents and one hundred dollars. You may also set a daily budget so that your cut-off amount is not exceeded.

As Gehl explains: “Google uses the keywords you chose to help them place your ads on sites that have content relevant to yours, so you can be assured the traffic you're paying for is highly targeted. AdWords reach 80 percent of internet users, and you can define their target region and language.”

These two advertising opportunities are both relatively inexpensive ways of ensuring a greater presence for your business on the internet. They help to provide a good gauge on what people think about your products and/or services. If you find that you are not generating enough traffic to your sites, it will indicate that you may need to readjust your marketing strategy and create new ads.[...]

Google Can Be Great
March 8th, 2010

As always, we welcome you to another amazing week of the Synergy Marketing Consultants Blog. Your readership helps for us to continue to prove that the internet is a fabulous way to promote your business in a very inexpensive way. Last week, this blog touched on the popular social networking sites that are out there like Facebook and Twitter. We commented on the success that many business owners have had promoting their companies on these sites.

Well, of course, there are a number of other sites out there that allow you to increase the reach of your business. One of the most obvious is the ever-popular Google search engine.

As put by Derek Gehl from his August 2005 post on Entrepreneur.com, “If you're not already advertising with Google, it's time to get cracking! With more than 81.9 million unique visitors each month, Google.com is a huge source of potential traffic for your business.”

As Gehl explains, “Google has a wide variety of services, tools, labs and advertising avenues that every online entrepreneur should know about--yet many people are unaware that Google is much more than 'just' a search engine.”

Gehl outlines a number of ways in which companies can utilize Google to help with their promotional strategies. Firstly, he stresses the importance of getting your website ranked. This way, your potential customers will be directed to your website whenver they type in something of relevance to your industry in their search engines.

Imagine being one of the first restaurants to pop up when someone types in “great places to eat”. Gehl explains how this can be achieved: “To show up in the first page or two of results, you'll need to optimize your website to achieve the highest ranking possible. You may already be aware that you need to spend some time getting the right keywords on your website and increasing your 'link popularity.'”

Gehl reveals that Google genreally only looks at the first block of text it encounters on your your website and uses it display on search result pages. So, to catch the eye of potential customers, it makes sense to have your first paragraph be as interesting as possible. He also suggests that it be about 300 words in length including a number of “keywords”.

If you have done your best to optimize your site, Google will research your webpages. However, it isn't possible to know exactly when they will “crawl” your pages and how much of each page they will index. Gehl advises that you submit your site to Google Sitemaps in order to increase the likelihood of your entire site being “spidered”.

He explains: “After submitting your site, Google creates and stores an XML file that allows for instant updates and indexing whenever your site's content changes. This is like having your own data cable running from your computer directly to Google!”

We'll continue to visit this topic in tomorrow's blog.[...]

Go Green
March 5th, 2010

We often discuss the many ways in which businesses can gain greater success through a variety of key business practices. There are a lot of things that business owners can do, however, that not only benefit themselves but the entire environment around them. Literally.

Do you consider your business to be eco-friendly? We're happy to say that we have a number of clients who have made great use of some of our products made from recycled material who imprint the phrase “Always Thinking About The Environment” on them.

But both our clients and our own office, alike, can partake in other actions to assist the environment at large. Susan Ward of About.com offers up a number of different ways in which you can make your business more environmentally friendly. These relatively easy and inexpensive tips can help you do the world a huge favour. You, in turn, will benefit as well.

Firstly, Ward suggests that you should turn off all equipment when it's not being used. How often to we leave our computers on overnight for the simple sake of not having to turn them back on in the morning? Says Ward, shutting down equipment can “reduce the energy used by 25 percent; turning off the computers at the end of the day can save an additional 50 percent.”

Of course, this will save you on your electricity bill as well. Secondly, Ward encourages you to communicate through e-mail as often as possible. No paper means no waste. Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not print these e-mails. A lot of materials will be saved as a result.

She continues by advising businesses to reduce fax-related paper waste “by using a fax-modem and by using a fax cover sheet only when necessary. Fax-modems allow documents to be sent directly from a computer, without requiring a printed hard copy.” Also, if printing documents is absolutely necessary, save paper by always double-siding your printouts.

Outside of equipment and material usage, it is important to have proper upkeep of the office facilities. The restroom is a place where saving the environment can be made easy. “Do not leave taps dripping,” offers Ward, “always close them tightly after use (as) one drop wasted per second wastes 10,000 litres per year.”

Paper used in the restrooms should be manufactued with as much recycled contents as possible, insists Ward. As well, it's a good idea to choose suppliers who take back their packaging for reuse.

Finally, Ward believes that refurbishing your old furniture instead of buying new will not only be less expensive for your company but will be better for the environment as well. Many people look very favourably upon eco-friendly businesses. Therefore, the benefits to “going green” are numerous. [...]

Free Giveaways Can Produce Profits
March 4th, 2010

So McDonald's has decided to go ahead give out free coffee without any purchase required for the first two weeks of March. It's pretty hard to compete with free isn't it? Some may wonder how the billion-dollar fast food restaurant can profit from this. Others are probably thinking that McDonald's is so rich, it could give out all the free coffee in the world and still turn a profit.

While that idea may be true, McDonald's is clearly aware of the advantages of a free promotion. This is the same restaurant that continues to be a leader in the fast food industry regardless of the mountains of evidence out there proving that its food is harmful. That being said, the restaurant is surely aware that giving out free coffee will do for them exactly what they want. And that is to bring more people into their restaurants.

Chances are, those who show up for the free coffee will likely decide to purchase something from the menu. Now, as everyone knows, McDonald's is a major company. So how can smaller business owners make use of the same type of promotional strategy? Is there something that your business can offer for free that will bring more customers into your store?

Now we know where you think we are going with this. And yes, it does go without saying that one of our amazing promotional items will make a very useful marketing tool for your company. There is no question about it. Free can't be beat. People love receiving gifts. But what will keep them coming back?

Stoney deGeyter of SearchEngineGuide.com recognizes the value in giving away “free stuff”. In his article, “Make Money Giving Things Away For Free”, he discusses a number of ways that this apparent act of generosity can become very lucrative. Noting that the internet provides many things for free – blogging platforms among them – he admits that he once wondered how anyone made money anymore.

“But free works,” writes deGeyter, citing an experience at Costco to prove his point of view, “every now and then I take a walk through Costco on a weekend. Inevitably they have all the sampling booths set up for you to sample their food. It's not a free meal, but it is a free taste. And its enough to make some people want to buy the full package.”

Another way that giving away something for “free” can work for companies is through the concept of covering costs. Free shipping for first-time customers is an example deGeyter provides that helps for businesses to secure more clients use their services.He writes: “Many online stores offer 'free shipping' for first time buyers, or better yet, on all orders. You often see offers of 'get a free X when you purchase Y.'”

It all about incentives, says deGeyter, but it is important to know how much to give away for free. A good business owner knows that there must be a solid balance between giving things away and ensuring that his or her client base sees value in the product or service being offered. There must be a creation of desire to make a purchase, or else the business can't possibly succeed.

“We live in a society that loves to get things for free. But the good business person knows that if you gave everything away for free then there are little opportunities to make money--or live for that matter,” says deGeyter. So be smart about your giveaways...and enjoy that coffee.[...]

Facebook Also Ideal For Promoting Businesses
March 3rd, 2010

Yesterday, we blogged about how the increasingly-popular networking site, Twitter.com has helped business owners advertise their companies to a large customer base virtually for free. Well, if you have heard of Twitter, then you must know of Facebook.

It seems nearly impossible to find anyone without a Facebook profile these days. Having taken over such other sites as MySpace in popularity, Facebook is an online source for connecting with friends on a regular basis by sharing messages and pictures just as freely as speaking to someone in person.

Although, of course, Facebook does not provide the face-to-face communication suggested by its namesake, it has become one of the top methods by which people of all ages keep in touch these days. In 2007, Susie Cheel posted an article entitled, “How To Market And Promote Your Business Via Facebook” on AbundanceHighway.com.

In the article, she reveals that when she was new to Facebook, she didn't use it much but soon discovered that once one's profile is set up, it is relatively easy to communicate with others frequently. It, of course, also allows for your reach to literally become global as you may join “networks” to stay in touch with people from anywhere in the world.

She writes: “You can choose how much or how little information you wish your friends and networks to see. You can also change your region: today I moved my region from Australia to one of my favorite cities, San Francisco. This gives you more scope to broaden your networks. You can change your region twice every 60 days.”

The various networks that one can create and be a part of on Facebook are based on such categories as workplace, region, highschool or college. Joining a network, Cheel advises, allows you to discover the people who work, live and study around you.

Facebook also allows you to share as much or as little information with others as you'd like. It offers you the option of deciding exactly which people you would like to share your information with. There are controls in place that allow you to block certain people from viewing your profile, if necessary.

So how does all of this help you promote your business? Cheel writes that on Facebook, “You can promote and sell your products, or promote some of your affiliate products that are relevant to your group.” She notes that one of her friends, in fact, promoted and sold her book and DVD using Facebook through the purchase of online flyers found on the social networking site.

Facebook is also ideal for advertising events that you are running or even attending. As with all types of promotion, the more people you can reach, the better. Facebook can help to give your company that well needed exposure at next to no cost. [...]

Tweeting Helps Businesses Take Off
March 2nd, 2010

It's become part of our language over the past year. In 2010, it's practically the norm to use it. Meanwhile, there are still people who are still not quite sure exactly what “Twitter” is. With so many people across the world “tweeting” on their computers and cell phones, it's a wonder that anyone actually speaks in person anymore.

Best selling author of Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged, Michael Stelzner doesn't think that this is necessarily a bad thing though. Not if you are a business owner, that is.

Today, Twitter is being rampantly used by entrepreneurs everywhere to advertise their businesses with just a few short key strokes. Stelzner admits that, at first, he didn't quite understand the instant messaging service and why it was so popular. But soon enough, he became amazed at how much access we was able to receive to high profile individuals who could help his business.

In his article “How To Use Twitter To Grow Your Business” from CopyBlogger.com, Stelzner reveals how business professionals use Twitter to increase the success of their companies. Referring to Twitter.com as “micro-blogging platform”, Stelzner acknowledges that it is one of the most popular and fastest rising communication tools in the world today.

He writes that between 5 and 10 thousand new people join Twitter everyday. It is believed that there are up to 5 million users of the free service at present. Using Twitter is quite a simple process. It allows you to post updates, or “tweets”, which are up to 140 characters long, as often as you wish.

When you are “followed” by someone, he or she may read your tweets just as you may read those written by people that you follow. As Stelzner puts it, “it’s a constant stream of communication.”

Zappos.com CEO, Tony Hsieh has found that Twitter has become an incredibly cost-effective and simple method of growing his client base. Says Hsieh: “We’ve found that Twitter has been a great way for us to connect on a more personal level with our employees and customers. We use it to help build our brand, not drive direct sales...In the long term, Twitter helps drive repeat customers and word of mouth, but we’re not looking to it as a way of driving immediate sales.”

Evidently, Twitter is a great way to see what customers are saying about your products and services. It allows for instant communication which, of course, can translate into increased sales. One of its greatest benefits is the fact that when a website address is typed out as a “tweet”, it serves as a direct link to that website. Entrepreneurs find this to be an excellent way to direct traffic to specific promotions, deals and giveaways online.

Other business owners prefer to “follow” than “tweet”, finding the practice a rewarding way of developing new business relationships. As Stelzner explains, “Cindy King, an international sales specialist, saw a huge boost in business inquires by implementing a strategic Twitter plan.”

Said King: “Following the right people on Twitter was key. There are some people very gifted at building relationships on Twitter. As I followed these online community builders, I realized that some of them are also excellent direct response copywriters. They get their Twitter followers to take action.”

Logging on to Twitter literally takes seconds. It is free to use and is clearly very effective as it is only growing in popularity. Business owners who take advantage of this service are sure to keep up with the rest of the pack in today's marketplace. Keeping pace, of course, is the best way to set yourself up for taking over the lead in your industry. So get tweeting![...]

Canada Is Golden
March 1st, 2010

If you're a Canadian, chances are you woke up this morning with a huge smile on your face. For the past couple of weeks, the Synergy Marketing Consultants Blog has visited topics surrounding the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada's performance at this incredible event.

Coming off of its last time hosting the Winter Olympics in 1988 in Calgary, Albera, the nation had huge expectations. Securing just a measly five medals that year with no golds at all, Canada was determined to have its best showing ever. And our Canadian Olympians most certainly did not disappoint. Of course, not all events went perfectly for our athletes. Speed skating favourite Jeremy Wotherspoon, for example, missed the podium.

But at the close of the 2010 Winter Games, the host nation of Canada sat atop the gold medal mountain with a record 14. That is the most gold medals of any country in the history of the Winter Olympics. And the Games could not have been capped off any better!

Without exaggeration, nearly the entire nation tuned in to see the final medal of the Olympics handed out. That, of course, being for men's hockey, as the gold medal game featured arch rivals Canada and the United States. An intensely thrilling game, Canada took a 2-1 lead into the third period only to have the U.S. score in the dying seconds to take the game into overtime.

And as the world knows by now, 22-year old native of Nova Scotia and captain of the current Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby came through with the golden goal. Up there as one of the most important goals in the nation's history, Crosby and the rest of Canada's men's hockey team brought the nation its record-setting 14th gold medal, capping off an amazing Winter Games.

What good time it is to be Canadian! Huge parties erupted all over the country in celebration of Team Canada's victory on ice, in addition to the overall acheivements of the country's athletes.

Today, in fact, we learned of yet another Canadian victory. Laura Payton of the QMI Agency reported on The Toronto Sun's website that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is owed a case of Molson Canadian beer by United States President, Barack Obama. The two had bet a case of beer on the outcome of the Olympic men's hockey final. You would think the president would know better than to do that!

As Payton explains, “If the U.S. had won, Harper would have owed Obama a case of Yuengling beer.” Both beer brands are symbolic of the cultures of the respective countries. All we can say is “drink up Prime Minister” and congratulations to all of the Canadian athletes who competed at this year's Winter Games.

Be proud Canada. We have proven to the world our championship qualities. They are, indeed, golden. [...]