These days, if you’re not using social media, you’re practically out of touch with the world. This is something we’ve blogged about before, and chances are, we’ll be blogging about it again. Why? Because social networking websites cannot be underestimated. They continue to grow exponentially with millions and millions of users setting up Facebook and Twitter accounts every day.

You don’t have to look very hard to see just how much of an impact Facebook has had on society. In 2010, the global interest in this online phenomena was exemplified through the release of the film, The Social Network. Chronicling the Harvard days of the site’s creator, Mark Zuckerberg, the film does a lot to show how rapid the growth of social media has been since its inception.

Twitter is also making its mark as quite the powerhouse in pop culture. This past weekend’s NBA All-Star festivities were proof of that. Each year, one of the highlights of the pro basketball All-Star weekend is the slam dunk contest. Usually voted upon by expert judges, and in recent years, the fans at home via text messaging, this year the contest was decided by tweets!

So how is your company utilizing Facebook and Twitter? It can’t be denied that the global impact of these two sites is beyond huge at this point. It’s one thing to simply have your profiles set up. But it’s entirely another thing altogether to properly use them. Take it from us, we’re still not experts at it!

But one thing we do is make sure that we update our Facebook and Twitter profiles each day with our blogs. Keep in mind that to best use social media to your advantage, it’s important not to simply view them as modes of advertising. Think of your profiles as ways to connect with the general public.

That means many of your posts and tweets should be comments about current events or other topics that you think may be of interest to the rest of the world. Consider what you think would make for an interesting conversation and tweet about that. The key is to get people to respond to you.

The more interesting the things you have to say, the more people will respond and follow you online. That will lead to inquiries about who you are and what company you represent. Facebook and Twitter provide ideal – not to mention, free – ways to network with a potentially massive audience.

If you haven’t jumped online to set up your Facebook and Twitter accounts yet, there’s no reason to wait any longer. Consider that most people view these sites on their smartphones. So when you update your pages, you are literally putting yourself in the palms of people’s hands everywhere!

You know what they say about first impressions, right? Sometimes, all you need to advertise your business is a quick and friendly conversation that leaves a person with a good impression of you. The operative word today is “quick”. That is because there will be many times that you may bump into someone who can significantly help your business even though you only have a short time to speak to that person.

Take, for example, an elevator meeting. Depending on the floor you or the other person may be going to, this interaction only allows for a few seconds to make a good impression. This is why it’s important to get a handle on what is known as “elevator speech”. Also known as the “elevator pitch”, this type of conversation may help deliver an impressive depiction of your company.

On BusinessBalls.com, it is explained that in many instances – they don’t just have to be on an elevator, of course – you will be forced to be concise and charming at the same time. It’s important that when trying to make a connection with a potential client or business partner, you must listen as much as you speak, so as to not appear rude or self-centred. You also don’t want to bore your listener. The website explains that there are four important steps to proper “elevator speech”.

YOUR NAME. Simple enough, right? Be sure to look the other person in the eye, smile and have confidence when declaring who you are. You want to make sure that you sound sincere and passionate in order to make a strong first impression. Of course, this must be followed up by taking the second step.

YOUR BUSINESS NAME. In your very audible, clear and proud voice, declare who you work for and what type of industry you are involved in. BusinessBalls.com advises that you do not ask the other person if he or she has heard of you. Simply inform the person using the type of enthusiasm that conveys that you do great things at your company.

YOUR BASE AND COVER. Explain where you are based and what locations your company covers. It is important to make this information relevant to the situation you are in, says the site. For example, if you are at a global gathering, it doesn’t help much to say you only cover a tiny village. Or by contrast, if you are at a town meeting, it doesn’t do you much good to say you have global coverage. Make your information appropriate to the setting.

YOUR SPECIALTY. Be sure to be different. Stand out from your competition and explain what is special about what you offer. Once again, as BusinessBalls.com points out, “be meaningful for the event or situation or group, and as far as you can guess, be meaningful for the contact. Express what you offer in terms of positive outcomes for those you help or supply, rather than focusing on technical details from your own viewpoint.”

Don’t forget to discuss the special benefits and qualities that you have. Again, being proud and positive are key ingredients to making an impactful under 30-second speech. Show that you have ambition and that you are seeking to network and grow as a company. Following these steps will help you to have some of the best short first-time meetings you’ve ever had.

At Synergy Marketing Consultants Inc., we strive to provide the best possible customer service in our industry. We know that if we are not making a true connection with our customers, then our products will not do them the type of justice that we know they can. As always, we insist that our clients select the products that best suit the needs and wants of their client bases. But that’s not what makes great customer service.

We believe that there are a number of important traits to adapt into your sales approach. These traits will help your company not only to generate profits but gain an ever-growing customer base that will remain loyal to your brand for years to come. It’s about making connections. And today, we’d like to share a few ideas about what traits we think will help you make the strongest ones.

Listening. It’s all about listening to the needs and wants of our customers first. To know what will help their businesses, we need to know what will help them. Sometimes, that’s just a listening ear. What are your client’s biggest concerns and how can you address them? Are they working within a budget? Are they unsure of what marketing route to take? Listen to find the correct answers to these and other questions.

Encouraging. Sometimes, a client needs a push in the right direction with a bit of motivation and positive reinforcement. It may not be what they asked for, but good customer service entails an ability to pick up on a person’s mood. Often, business owners are skeptical about moving forward with a promotional campaign for fear that it won’t work. Do what you can to view things more positively.

Understanding. This is a trait that is too often overlooked. Sometimes, companies simply strive to make sales. But when you show empathy towards a customer’s concerns, you develop a relationship that is stronger than those of the simple seller/buyer variety. Show that you care. Show that you understand. This will allow you to better help those who support your business.

Energetic. It’s important to be excited about your product. If you don’t believe in it, who will? Convey that energy when you speak to your customers whether it is face-to-face or over the phone. Synergy, quite frankly, employs some of the most energetic and enthusiastic sales people in the world! And we’re proud of it. We stand behind our products 100%. How could we not?

We’d love for you to give us a call at 1-877-748-9884 so that we may inform you about the ways in which our great promo products can re-energize your business. But even more importantly, we’d love the opportunity to display the traits we mentioned so that we may develop a working relationship that brings success to both your business and our own, well into the future.

In yesterday’s blog, we reminded business owners that with the spring season beginning about a month from now, it was time to start thinking about how to prepare for it. Getting your store ready for the new season means implementing new marketing strategies now. Get your customers excited about spring by getting them excited about your store!

On MoreBusiness.com, a list of tips encourages business owners to hand out promotional gifts and start winter closeout sales to start the excitement. There are, of course, a number of other ways to generate more sales by creating that special buzz about the spring. Let’s take a look at that list in further depth, shall we?

Enter To Win Contests. Why not start a contest at your place of business? Perhaps you could bundle some of your products as a prize that you can give out on the first day of spring. Maybe you can create a joint venture with another business to come up with an even bigger jackpot. As the site puts it, “the bigger, the prize the better”.

Your in-store contest is the perfect thing to promote on your website and social media pages. Don’t forget that your Facebook and Twitter pages should always be updated with the goings-on of your store. That way, more customers will become informed about your contest and hopefully visit your place of business in order to enter into it.

Spring Into Shape. According to MoreBusiness.com, “so many people gain unwanted pounds during the winter months. As a result, they determine that losing weight is a must for the new season. Helping customers get in shape for the spring is a great way to boost your business.”

So why not begin a spring promotion that may offer up solutions on how people can get in shape and stay healthy. Can your store make space for exercise products? Do you carry healthful foods or snacks? How about developing low-calorie recipes for your café or restaurant?

Host a Spring Cleaning Seminar. This is an excellent way to better interact with your community. Perhaps, you can find organizational experts near you who may be willing to lend their time to provide spring cleaning seminars or workshops in your store. This is great for businesses that provide products for the home.

Shelves, tubs, containers and folders – if these products are available at your store, you will definitely want to make “spring cleaning” a part of your new campaign. Remember, it’s all about generating excitement so that you can increase your sales. These tips can come in handy at just about any time of year. But here’s hoping they help your store to spring into action now!

Although it may feel like we are still firmly in the middle of winter, the cold and snowy season is drawing nearer to a close than you think. In fact, in about a month’s time, spring will be here. And for business owners, that means putting plans into motion right away to begin a new promotion that will welcome the new season.

In business, it’s always important to be thinking ahead. Businesses are generally prepared for the Christmas season the day after Halloween, right? So why not thinking about spring now? Are you prepared to invite your customers into a new experience that will prepare them for the impending end of winter?

On MoreBusiness.com, it is explained that business owners should consider implementing spring promotion ideas long before the season arrives. In many cases, the spring season is considered a slow one when compared to the rush that comes with the year-end holidays. So the website provides a few ideas on how business owners can generate more sales during this “slow” period.

Winter Closeout. There’s always a reason to celebrate, isn’t there? And the end of winter is certainly worth celebrating, isn’t it? MoreBusiness.com suggests that you offer a closeout sale to get more customers “flocking to your store like spring geese returning from Baja”. The approaching season is as good a reason as any to introduce a new marketing idea.

Especially if you are in the retail business, you should be making spring a pretty big deal. Offer special discounts on your winter garments as you will be wanting to move them out anyway. And, of course, get that new spring line out on the floor to begin a new campaign that will bring in customers looking for new clothes for the new season.

Give Free Gifts To Visitors. Now, if you haven’t read this piece of advice from a Synergy Marketing Consultants blog before, you simply haven’t been paying attention! As always, we encourage our clients to package their promotional gifts with a special event. This allows for your interactions with customers to be a lot more memorable and your gifts to be a lot more special.

MoreBusiness.com recommends that you invite customers into your store with the promise of offering them free gifts just for stopping by. Even a promotional pen is a fine idea. It’s a practical and useful gift that will keep your company on the minds of your visitors on a daily basis.

The objective, as always, is to generate more sales. The more excitement surrounding your business, the more interest people will take in it. The more interest people have, the more often they will come in to your store. You know how it works. Check out tomorrow’s blog for more tips on how to prepare your business for the spring!

In yesterday’s blog, we revisited the topic of low-cost marketing strategies. This, of course, is a popular topic among small business owners – especially those who are working within small budgets to promote their companies. As always, Synergy Marketing Consultants Inc. works to ensure that our clients are promoting themselves through the cost-conscious venture of handing out promotional items.

However, we also endeavor to inform both our clients and readers alike about the many ways that they can work to make their businesses successful. Yesterday, we took a look at a SmallBizBee.com article that listed ways that entrepreneurs can promote their businesses for free. Let’s pick up where we left off, shall we?

Article Marketing. The site suggests you write an article that is related to your product or service and submit it to eZine Articles. In fact, the eZine website has become one of our favourites to research business tips and communicate with business professionals who enjoy imparting their knowledge on to others in the industry.

Networking. Yesterday, we highlighted the merits of social networking. And while most think about going online to sites such as Facebook and Twitter to network, never forget that meeting people face-to-face is a marketing strategy that can’t be beat. Remember to always have your promo products on hand when you meet your fellow business professionals for the first time. Leave that lasting impression!

Provide Stellar Customer Service. This tip should go without saying. At Synergy, we practice what we preach. We believe strongly that if we weren’t developing strong relationships with our clients, our promo products wouldn’t do them as much good. Make sure you make your customers feel important and that they understand how valued they are as your clients. They will end up selling for you!

Ask For More Business. Referrals are one of the top reasons that giving out promotional gifts is such a lucrative practice. The sense of feeling valued that promo gifts gives encourages customers to not only come back but bring others with them. Don’t be afraid to ask for a referral, especially when you know that someone is incredibly impressed with your company.

Maximize Your Mailing List. As SmallBizBee.com, suggests, “start collecting customer information so you can get one! Use this mailing list to push out information about new products or services, give a special deal to your mailing list, share information with them, etc.” If you don’t have a mailing list, start one now!

As always, our staff is here to help. Give us a call at 1-877-748-9884 today and speak to one of our team members about how Synergy may help you get your promotional plans off the ground. Remember, it doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money. But a little effort can certainly help you to go a long way!

At Synergy Marketing Consultants Inc., we pride ourselves on being well-rounded business marketing professionals. What that means is that we don’t strictly focus on being experts when it comes to promotional products. We add, to our expertise, a firm customer service regimen that helps for our clients to pinpoint their marketing plans so they can incorporate the right promo gifts to help them do the push their companies.

We are well aware that many small business owners are forced to work within a budget. So, in addition to providing them with top-of-the-line promo gifts that are much less expensive than traditional modes of advertising, we also impart our expert advice. Naturally, there are many other methods of marketing that don’t have to cost you a lot.

On SmallBizBee.com, a list of ways to “market your business when you’re broke” appears. Admitting that “broke” may not necessarily be the appropriate word to use, the site acknowledges that maximizing resources is a key concern of business owners who may not have as much of a marketing budget as they’d like. So what are some ways that one can promote for free?

Social Media. There’s a reason why this is number one on the list. Our blog has discussed the merits of Facebook and Twitter on a regular basis because there is no denying the power of social networking in today’s world. Gaining followers and fans and converting them into customers is the name of the game these days. Free to set up, profiles on these sites are a small business owner’s dream.

Free Classifieds. Another way that Synergy promotes itself is through free classified ad services such as Craigslist. This helps you to market your businesses to specific buyers who may be looking up your products and services online. It also helps you to expand your marketing reach by allowing you to set up posts for various cities across the country.

Reciprocity Advertising. In other words, “if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”. Are there local business owners that you know of that you can cross promote with? You’d be surprised how many other like-minded individuals are out there. Sometimes, all it takes is for a person to step up and make the proposal to get the ball rolling. Be that person.

Barter. In many cases, bartering is how small businesses get off the ground. You may not always have the money to help you get done what you would like to accomplish. But if you can offer your time or perhaps some of your products or services in exchange for a free plug, you will often end up making a better deal than if you had to pay for it.

Write a Press Release. If you have anything newsworthy taking place with your business, write about it and submit it for publication. If you don’t feel that there is anything particularly interesting about yourself to write, become more interesting! Check back with us tomorrow as we wrap this list of cost-free ways to market your small business.

Like most businesses across Canada, the Synergy Marketing Consultants offices won’t be open today. It’s Family Day today, and we can’t think of a more important reason to stay home from work than to spend time with our families. Most people, business owners especially, live lives with such busy schedules that it’s sometimes easy to forget how important spending quality time with love ones really is.

On behalf of everyone on our great staff, Synergy would like to wish you a warm and wonderful Family Day today. For some of you, however, it may not be so warm. And that’s a good thing! The Toronto Star has listed a number of outdoor activities that are taking place throughout the City of Toronto today to assist families with ideas on what to do with their extra day off work.

As Leslie Ferenc writes, free skating is available at the Waterfront at 235 Queen Quay West today. This location provides an awesome view of both Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands while skating on the country’s largest artificially cooled outdoor rink. Don’t worry if you don’t have any skates of your own. You can rent them along with helmets when you get there! It’s open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today.

If sports on ice is your thing, but you don’t particularly wish to play them, perhaps you’d like to spend some time paying tribute and learning more about the greatest hockey players ever. There’s no better place to do that than at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, the Hockey Hall of Fame is free for kids 13 and under with the purchase of a regular adult admission.

Of course, you don’t have to be a sports fan to enjoy Family Day in Toronto. The ROM, which is located at 100 Queen’s Park is open between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. today. A visit to the ROM will enable you to check out the Ancient Maya exhibit. Interactive workshops are available that allow visitors to dig for treasure, build a pyramid and even get a taste of the “food of the gods” – chocolate!

If you need public transit to get around the city, remember that the TTC will be running on a holiday schedule. Many stores will be closed including LCBO and The Beer Store. Banks, schools and libraries will also be closed for business today. However, a number of shopping malls will be open including the Eaton Centre, Vaughan Mills and Square One.

Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to spend any money to enjoy your Family Day. The day off from work today is meant to provide families with more time to spend together. Perhaps, you can plan a family dinner or small get together and make it a yearly tradition. Today represents one of those holidays where gift giving has everything to do with giving your time.

As professional gift creators, Synergy Marketing Consultants Inc. would like to take this time to send our best wishes to our extended family today. Canadian business owners are our business. And as such, we see them as our partners in making sure the national economy continues to grow strong. Naturally, we have developed strong relationships with entrepreneurs all over the country. So it feels like our family is continually growing.

Happy Family Day! The Synergy offices will be open for business as usual starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.

As we have discussed over the past couple of blogs, promotional products do wonders in the advertising department for your business. This is because promo gifts do more than just advertise. They say “thank you”. Making your customers feel valued and appreciated is a huge part of why the promotional product is the fastest growing medium of advertising this century!

At Synergy Marketing Consultants Inc., we offer the best promo products in the business! If that wasn’t the case, we wouldn’t name are website what we did, would we? Well, just in case you’re not convinced, have a look at that very website to peruse through the numerous promotional gifts we offer. Like we’ve been mentioning, choosing the right promo gift for your company’s customers is the key to successful advertising…and thanking!

Pens are very often at the top of the list of practical promo gifts. This is because no matter what type of business you run, a pen can always come in handy. We have so many to choose from. Take, for example, our Paper Pens. At only $1.29 each, you can’t go wrong with putting your company name on these great pens made from recycled paper. You’ll be saying thank you while protecting the environment!

Do you own a gym, fitness centre or yoga studio? It goes without saying that hydration is very important in general – but that is especially highlighted in your industry. Undoubtedly, when your customers show up ready for a workout, they should be equipped with drinking water. Our 500ml PC Water Bottle with Ice Stick is exactly what you need to give your clients!

Are you a mechanic? Do you run a body shop or garage? What better way to thank your customers than to give them something that they can use for their cars? Especially when your gift can be kept in the car, you will be ensuring a constant reminder of where they need to go whenever they are in need of repairs. So what would be the perfect product in this case?

Look no further than our Translucent Ice Scrapers. These compact quick-fixes to ice on windows are a great way to thank your customers who have to drive all throughout the winter season. With your company logo on these scrapers, there’s no way for customers to forget exactly what company is still helping them out long after their last appointment.

Are you a real estate agent? Do you own a hardware store? Do you work in home furnishings? A company that has anything to do with the home can’t go wrong with key chains! In fact, key chains are right up there with pens as most popular among promotional products.

This is why we have so many to select from. So, for example, if you are in the sporting goods industry, the Golf Ball Rain Poncho Key Chain might just be perfect for you. A key chain is something that people use on a daily basis. Is there a better way to offer your customers a daily thank you? Call us today at 1-877-748-9884 and we’ll figure it out with you!

In yesterday’s blog, we took a look at an article by John D. Powell of Action Advertising. In it, he reveals that promotional products are the fastest growing advertising medium of the past twenty years. He also describes that the success of promo gifts lies not just in the fact that they are cheaper than traditional modes of advertising, but that they mean so much more to customers than standard ads.

Promo gifts are not just commercials. They are ways of saying “thank you” to your customers. As Powell writes, “saying ‘Thank You’ is still one of the most important things we can do to show appreciation. We were taught it from birth yet, still take for granted those who make us successful. Don’t just say Thank You – SHOW IT!”

As we have mentioned in previous blogs, the best way to thank your customers is not just to simply hand over promo gifts. The ways in which you hand these gifts out will make a big difference in how much you are able to increase customer loyalty. For example, your gifts may just be what you need to begin a new appreciation program.

To keep your clients away from your competitors, you may want to think about acknowledging specific occasions with your customers. Powell suggests that you show appreciation for such events as your client’s first order, reorders, anniversaries or birthdays and end of year holidays. What better way to have them continue their patronage?

Remember, there’s no way to run a business without customers. So taking the time and energy to thank them is something that should never be neglected. According to Powell, “since your customers are the entire reason you are in business, you can’t afford NOT TO SAY THANK YOU.”

Promo gifts say “thank you” to customers while providing constant reminders of who gave them the gift. All of our promotional products, of course, allow space for your company name and/or logo. Not to mention, most allow space for contact information such as your telephone number and website.

Staffed with the most knowledgeable and experienced sales reps in the industry, Synergy Marketing Consultants Inc. proudly consults (get it?) with clients on a regular basis so that they are always equipped with the most appropriate gifts for their respective businesses. Remember a promo gift is not just a commercial.

Because you are using our great gifts to thank your customers, you will want to make sure that your gesture of appreciation is appropriately conveyed. This will not only communicate your gratitude but it will serve as the best possible way to promote your business for many years to come. Call us today at 1-877-748-9884.