Tag: lanyards

Marketing tactics to try in 2016

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In the war to win new business and new customers and clients, it’s essential that entrepreneurs keep up to date with the latest marketing tactics that are favoured by those in the know. When you’re running your own business though, it goes without saying that you’re going to be pretty busy. You simply don’t have the time to dedicate huge chunks of your day to finding out what could work for you, so it pays to get a little guidance. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’re in the right place! Let’s take a look at the approaches that are set to be big news in 2015.

Podcasting

In the past 12 months, podcasting has really taken off. It’s been around as a medium for years, but it’s only recently that marketers and big brands have started to sit up and pay attention. This could perhaps be attributed to the runaway success of Serial, a weekly series that examined a murder case from 1999. It racked up 5 million downloads. The sponsorship deal that MailChimp managed to strike up was regarded as one of the biggest marketing wins of 2015. In short, people are listening to podcasts, and it gives you a fantastic opportunity to connect with your audience. You’ll need to create exceptional content that adds value for your listeners if you want to make sure you’re heard, but keep in mind that you’re an expert in your field, and you have plenty to share. It’s just a case of getting creative and stepping outside of the box.

Video marketing

If you aren’t creating videos as part of your marketing strategy, you could be missing a trick. Many businesses, from small one-man start-ups to huge multinational corporations, are taking their seat at the table, and using this method to connect creates deeper relationships with their prospects. You could demonstrate your products, share tips and techniques, or simply share the story of your business. The great news is that it can also be pretty easy. You don’t need a huge budget, or any advanced equipment. These days, you can get started using most laptops and PCs, and your clips can be shared in seconds using YouTube.

Traditional networking events and exhibitions

In a time when there’s so much hype about online marketing tactics, it’s easy to forget that sometimes, the old approaches can be just as good. If you’ve previously had great results from attending events, armed with lanyards and banners and lead generating tactics, then why would you want to abandon your existing strategy? Though it’s always wise to experiment and keep up with the times, use your common sense and continue to develop in the areas that are already bringing in the cash. Be sure to keep your eyes open for new opportunities, such as recently set-up networking events catering for your industry in your local area.

There’s no uniform approach that’ll work for all businesses, so it’s essential that you try new things, assess your results, and build upon your successes. Avoid complacency, and don’t be scared to try new things and take calculated risks. The key here is preparation. Carefully plan your strategy, and get everything in order. Need items like stationary and lanyards? Order them today! The companies that take quick action are likely to come out on top.

Are you ready to create a marketing strategy that will deliver the results you need over the coming weeks and months? Which of these tactics will you be adding to your toolbox?

How to win business at trade shows and events

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When it comes to winning new business and getting the attention of prospective clients and customers, attending industry trade shows and events as an exhibitor is a tried and tested method that many companies have used with great success. Whilst it’s very possible to use this tactic to make revolutionary changes to the fortunes of your business, it’s not enough to just turn up and hope for the best. You need to have some techniques up your sleeve to ensure you really get the most out of your investment in terms of both time and money. In this guide, we share top tips for winning new business at your upcoming trade shows and events.

Pick the events where your prospects will be in attendance

Okay, so it may seem glaringly obvious that you need to choose an event where your prospects will actually be, but it can be all to easy to make some bad decisions in this respect when you’re just getting started with marketing your business in this way. Event organisers can be really persuasive, and before you know it, you’ve decided to take them up on a ‘special deal’ that isn’t necessarily going to benefit your business. Think about the audience that various events are likely to attract, and consider how many people you’ll get in front of who might actually buy from you.

Have a talking point at your stand to initiate conversations

Once you’ve chosen the best trade show or event for your business, you’ll need a way to stand out from the crowd. You’ll be up against other companies and if you want to get the most out of the opportunity, it pays to consider how you’ll start up conversations with your prospects and get them interested in what you have to say. The options are pretty much endless – you could give away promotional wristbands or branded lanyards, you could have a selection of sweet treats displayed on your stall, or you could do something else entirely. Don’t be scared to get creative.

Collect email addresses from attendees so you can continue to market to them

If you’re selling B2B services or items with a high price tag, you’re probably not going to make lots of sales at the actual event. Your strategy should be to introduce your business, share a little about what you have to offer, and then have a plan in place so you can continue to nurture the relationships that you’ve started, and ultimately, convert them into paying business. One of the most effective ways to do this is to collect their email addresses and embark on a great email marketing campaign. It’s cost effective, and it can have phenomenal results. Obviously, you’ll need to give your prospects a reason to leave their details with you. You might decide to offer a free e-book that you have created that will add value for your prospects and help them to solve a problem that they often experience, or you could offer entry to a competition to win something like a bottle of champagne, or one of your very own high-end products.

Winning business at trade shows and events isn’t always as easy as many people will have you believe, but with the right advice and forward planning, it can be something that you can use to really maximise your impact ramp up your revenue. Before you even consider turning up at the next much-anticipated industry event, make sure that you’ve given some careful consideration to each of the points outlined above.