Turning Needs into Leads™

Welcome to the July NewsAlert from Promotional Merchandise USA: 16th Edition

Best Practices

Real Life Success Story From An Established Distributor

Challenge:
To provide a gift that retiring employees will use, one that will be a sentimental reminder of the time spent working for the Atlanta Public Schools. The gift has a high perceived value, but a reasonable cost.

Click Here for Solution

A Quick And Easy Way To Build A Great Mailing List

Learn More

Trade Show Advice

How Tradeshow Information Can Drive Revenues

If spending is down then how can revenue opportunities be up?

How will the remainder of 2009 spending decisions be made in regards to virtual trade shows, online display ads and sponsorships?

Learn More

10 Lead Generating Tips for Events and Tradeshows

Budgets are tightening yet we still need a high return on our Marketing Investments.

• Secure your booth space early
• Build out a theme
• Start generating traffic before the show
• Leverage your current customers
• Set specific goals and communicate them to the whole team
• Be Different. There are lots of ways to stand out at a show
• Integrate social media
• Follow-up with booth visitors after the show
• Discover and reach out to the right buyers in the right companies
• Measure your success

Learn More

Industry Updates

ASI Launches Email Marketing Tool for Distributors

New member benefit provides easy message creation and list uploading feature

TREVOSE, PA – July 21, 2009 – Advertising Specialty Institute®, the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, announced today a new easy-to-use email marketing tool for distributors.

The new ASI member benefit allows distributors to quickly create and send email marketing messages and promotions to customers with the click of a button. Users can choose from over 100 ready-made templates or can create a custom template. Additional features include customer feedback tools that allow clients to easily provide testimonials and feedback that distributors can use to promote their Website and LogoMall site, at no extra charge.

ASI has selected RatePoint, Inc., the leading provider of user-friendly, Web-based communication tools, to provide the program to ASI distributor members. RatePoint is providing the program at a substantial savings, exclusively for ASI distributor members.

The new program includes:

• Ability to easily upload contacts from nearly any application
• Industry-leading message delivery rate (CAN-SPAM compliant)
• Detailed reporting and tracking of messages
• Over 100 free, customizable email templates
• Free, unlimited customer support

The new email marketing tool is available immediately, with a 30-day free trial for distributors with no further obligation.

"We are pleased to provide this exclusive and powerful benefit, especially since it costs about the same as the price of lunch," said Timothy M. Andrews, president and chief executive officer of ASI. "ASI conducted an exhaustive search for the best service available, and we’re excited to provide this program at a time when distributors need cost-effective ways to reach customers and increase market share."

Distributors using this new service will convert more prospects into buyers, improve customer perception, encourage repeat business and raise their company’s visibility in the industry.

The email marketing program joins more than 12 other member savings programs from ASI, including discounts on UPS® shipping, group health insurance options, office supplies at OfficeMax®, credit card processing and digital artwork services.

To sign up for the new email marketing tool and for a free 30-day trial, visit asicentral.com/ratepoint. For more information, contact Dale Denham, senior vice president, at dale.denham@asicentral.com.

Entries Are Now Being Accepted

Do you have a winning campaign that shows the creative and inventive use of promotional products? Then you need to enter the 2010 PPAI Pyramid Awards Competition. The Pyramid Awards recognize the most outstanding use of promotional products by distributor members and non-members in business and institutional programs.

Enter today by going to www.ppa.org/awards, (you will need your PPAI/UPIC login and password) and then click on PPAI Pyramid Awards for the details and entry form.

Deadline for entry is September 4, 2009. To take advantage of the Mentoring Program, where past winners review your submission and offer their suggestions, your entry must be received by August 14, 2009.

Need help? Contact MelissaP@ppai.org or call 972.258.3042.

Web Advice

The Dark Side of the Internet: What to Do If Your Site Is Attacked!

By: Bob Speyer, President – Web Success Team

Learn More

Social Media

LinkedIn Group for Tradeshow Giveaway's via The Trade Show News Network (TSNN)

Join TSNN's LinkedIn Group today to network and stay informed with 1,400+ trade show industry professionals. It's free and viral! Join the helpful and informative discussions.

LinkedIn: What It Is and How to Use It

Linked In can be a handy way to stay in touch with colleagues past and present but it can also be a very good way to build business.

Learn More

The 12-Step Social Media Program for Traditional Marketers

A Social Media Strategy is absolutely necessary.

Here's the 12 Steps:

1. Audience Identification. If you know who your audience is, you're already one step ahead of the game. The next step is to figure out where they interact online.
2. Platform Development & Design. Figuring out how to engage and interact with this audience.
3. Brand Campaign Integration. It's possible for a social media program to piggyback off a good brand campaign, but it has to be transformed into its cooler younger brother.
4. Content Creation/Coordination. You must create a consistent message.
5. Goal Mapping. In other words, how do you measure your success? Is it brand mentions? Traffic? Email sign ups? Leads? Sales?
6. Brand Identity. Everyone that is engaging via social media on your team must understand your goals and messaging.
7. Audience Attraction. Larger brands like to start spreading the word of their new, fancy and glossy initiatives at the outset, but if your social media program is good, your audience will find them on their own and the spread the word for you.
8. Social Media Listening. If you don't know what people are saying about you and your products, their related interests and more, how are you going to interact with them?
9. Community & Social Responsibility. Social responsibility is increasingly expected of everyone - and this engagement is an essential part of your online identity.
10. Internal/External Community Engagement & Response. Be everywhere. All the time. It's up to you to let people know that you are listening, engaging, helping, and offering solutions.
11. Brand Advocacy. Authenticity and transparency are such huge aspects of social media, your social media and management team must be 100% on board.
12. Customer Service. Good customer service involves listening (within and outside of social media) and responding appropriately.

Learn More

Job Postings

Promotional Services Manager

Compliance Manager - Promotional/Marketing Materials

Brand Manager (Promotional Effectiveness)

Contact Us