One of the important key elements to promotional product awareness is to understand how to properly display the products. So, whether it is part of a tradeshow package registration, passing them out for prospects who visit a booth, or even for those who might purchase a company product, the presentation says a lot more than what most people might think. It says a lot about how the company handles the little things in business. If flyers, pens, sticky notes, or an assortment of other products are scattered about the booth, it could give the impression that this is the way the company will treat the prospect’s business.

“Making your logo your hardest working employee is what we’re all about here at Clever Advantage,” says Casey Poldino, President of Clever Advantage,” a San Diego promotional products company. “We even have a 100% guarantee that means you can rest easy knowing your promotional products will be printed correctly, look great, and delivered on time. We’ll even show you how to display them to show that your company cares about the little things too.”

Clever Advantage is an entrepreneurial San Diego promotional products company that caters to like companies because they understand the entrepreneurial heart of the business, and especially what it is to start small and grow large.

The intense competition in the current economic and marketing world involves finding creative approaches to tried and true marketing practices. As a result, corporate gifts have become popular. Corporate gifts are given to promote a company, its services, company anniversaries and achievements, and as performance rewards for employees. Keeping the company name on the market, branding the company logo, and bonding with clients is mandatory to insure an increase in business and a future of success.

Imprinted corporate gifts show good business acumen and are a straightforward method of expressing the importance of those in the company’s business world. Therefore, choosing the correct corporate gift is vital, and there are a number of promotional marketing companies specializing in this field.

“Customizing promotional corporate gifts is one of the many things we do well here at Clever Advantage,” says, Casey Poldino, President of San Diego based Clever Advantage. “From customized gift boxes and umbrellas to leather computer bags and polo-shirts, we’ve imprinted almost anything. If it has a surface, we can get the corporate gift out the door.”

Business professionals have become aware over the past number of years at just how important this aspect of the corporate world is, and they’ve steered marketing dollars toward carrying out these services.

With the economy working its way through a major adjustment, business both large and small are finding ways to pull their proverbial belts a tad bit tighter. Unfortunately, some businesses cut back on their marketing, which sends the wrong message. By not keeping the name of the company on the minds of customers, both prospective and current, a business can fall to the way side. Promotional Products are the key to businesses because they allow current customers to know the company is still in business, wading through the storm, and moving forward.

The Client Loyalty Program offers one hundred dollars in “Clever Bucks” for every two thousand five hundred dollars spent, and they can use it on promotional products of their choice. Under the Referral Program, Clever Advantage will place one hundred Clever Bucks into the referrer’s account for every qualified referral. Each month Clever Advantage asks it clients to share promotional product success stories, and from those they will pick one to feature on their website along with the client’s company information. The reward is worth over two hundred and fifty dollars.

“Who doesn’t love free stuff?” says Casey Poldino, President of Clever Advantage. “We love our clients. They are dedicated with their business, give us great referrals, which goes both ways of course, and they share their success with us. It makes us feel like we are all part of the same community, and that’s why we offer our Clever Rewards Program.”

                Thankfully we at Clever Advantage are fun. We just laugh it off, take a walk around the block, toss a foam brick against the wall, shoot a squishy foam basketball into a hoop on the back of our office door, or even go bug our work neighbors. Whatever it takes we do it, and honestly, after a few laughs or some constructive distractions we are right back on track.

                We are a clever lot when it comes to clever promotional ideas.

                As always, when I blog, I like to share some creative or even clever promotional ideas we’ve done, or that I’ve gleaned from the internet, or maybe just some idea that’s stopped me in my tracks.

                Today is no exception of course!

                One idea, which is sort of similar to what I mentioned when attempting to come up with thoughts for clever promotional ideas for existing and new clients, is pretty straight forward. Even with the turn in the economy people are still remodeling and doing work on their homes. As a matter of fact, a certain large retail construction outlet has posted some wonderful stock gains this week already. But, let’s not get off track. We mostly deal with smaller, entrepreneurial businesses, because we can identify with them. One of our clients is a contractor, a good one, whose specialty, although he has many, is laying brick and tile. His business card is a compressed foam board that enlarges to the size of a small brick when wet. He hands them out at trade shows and to customers, and last time we spoke, he said his customers ask for more when he does repeat business. It seems they use them as a sponge as well.

                The business-card-brick works well for him. Customers use it and most importantly it doesn’t get misplaced with all the other paperwork.

            Trade shows are a great way to meet up with your clients for some face to face time, generate new leads, establish brand identity, and even promote a new product on the market. The overall impact can be valuable and worthwhile.

            For me, the right trade show giveaways are vital to your marketing campaign, keeping you in the physical and mental view of potential customers. Unfortunately, when one tries to cut corners, these trade show promotional giveaways end up in the trash.

            I think the main part you need to focus on is how re-usable your product can be. Asking yourself how someone can use your promotional product over and over again is a great way to find the answer. It’s imperative to subtly invade potential clients’ homes, desktops, drawers (desk drawers!), cars, and many other personal and business related spaces to help drive up your investment. The more they see you the more pivotal it is to gaining maximum retention effectiveness.

That’s a mouthful!

I think one of the easiest ways to do this is through pens. They are relatively inexpensive and people, no matter who they are, just have a hard time tossing them in the trash can. Please don’t scrimp on this; you want to be sure the pen works, because if it doesn’t, well, that’s a quick trip to the garbage and a loss on your investment. So, I ask you to think about it. A portable trade show giveaway that can be used at home, office, and even the car. The funny thing about these trade show giveaways is that they can be considered commonplace because everyone else is doing the same thing. That’s a perceived fact by the way, so a lot of marketers overlook them.

Am I hearing a comeback for the pen!?

My goal, when I work with clients on trade show giveaways, is to ensure they receive the biggest bang for their buck, or in layman’s terms, the highest return on their investment.

Since I’ve started blogging about Pop-Bys and how Clever Advantage can help turn nearly any product into a memorable promotional product, I’ve received some pretty wonderful feedback with great ideas for pop-by gifts and some awesome tag lines too!

You know, staying fit is one of the main things I like to do in my life. Although, I must confess I have from time to time slacked off on my workouts, watched an extra hour of television when I could have gone for that brisk thirty-minute walk after dinner, and I’ve even had a second helping of French Fries when I was already full. As usual though, whenever I get back into going about things with a physically healthy way, I feel some discomfort from the aches and pains of not exercising.

The same can be said for the business end of things. Although I know what works, I sometimes get slack, but then I bounce back. It’s uncomfortable that first time around, but it gets better and easier the more I do it. And the more I do it, the more creative I am, and the more creative I am, the more I can do!

Segueing here! So, business for me has been steadily picking up, yes pop-bys are a great niche within the promotional market, and with the economic times being as they are, surely temporary in my opinion, it has never been more important to continue getting your name out there so that your customers know you’re still around.

Don’t give up the fight!

If you’re new to the whole target Pop-By promotional product phenomenon or a seasoned pro, there’s no time like the present to show those A+ clients of yours how much you respect and admire them. And nothing shows you care more than a thought provoking, scintillating item that generates warmth while simultaneously building your business community.

Just remember, the most important thing to do during a Pop-By is to do just that…Pop-By. Your gift should be sufficient for now, so don’t stay unless they ask you to do so.

I need to head off here.

Please remember, I am never to busy for any type of referral!

To recap just a bit, a pop-by is normally a small, thoughtful gift that reminds you’re A+ customers, the ones who send you referrals and are steady business, to think of you when making decisions. They work as a one-time occasion, but I recommend using them a bit more often than that, maybe once a month, every other month, or even more frequently. The pop-bys become tremendous sales tools that enhance the building of your client community.

But, does anybody really enjoy doing a pop-by? Yes, they actually do. Doing the work sometimes may feel like climbing some insurmountable pinnacle but when the items are coordinated through Clever Advantage, you can rest assured you’ll make that A+ customer smile! Be sure to add a catchy phrase, we at Clever Advantage seem to have an abundance of them, your logo and name, and then you’re on your way to wiggling your way into the hearts and minds of some pretty great people – your clients.

I developed a great, little, relatively inexpensive pop-by recently. I went to the local hardware store and purchased a number of keys, blank ones, not copies to my front door. I created a miniature, abbreviated, plastic coated business card here at Clever Advantage and fastened them on like key tags. What was my tag line? “You are truly the key to my business! Thanks!”

Honestly, I received so many smiles and laughs that it made my day. I felt like I was walking on air because I’d done something creative and fun.

You’ve really got to try something like this.

Well, I do need to get running here.

And as always, please remember I am never too busy for any type of referral!

So, anyway, I was flipping through the pages of Clever Advantage’s Corporate Promotional Catalogue and boom there it was – a big box of candy, nuts and chocolate. It wasn’t like anything I’d seen elsewhere. What was different you ask? What makes this so darned special? Well, hold on, let me tell you. The center bar, or shall I call it a ‘chunk,’ of chocolate can be designed with a company logo on it. Okay, so that’s not the best part, but, there’s more. The surrounding candy can be shaped in the design of a company’s product. Items like hammers, handsaws, airplanes, trucks, or whatever.

I think this is a great gift to remind customers that you’re thinking about them, and maybe they’ll give you the pleasure of thinking about your company when they crunch down on some of these delicious candies.

This is one of my favorite times of year and not because of the gifts – it takes a very close second behind Thanksgiving. But, what I like most is how cheerful nearly everyone is during this holiday. Well, most people are anyway.

Anyhow, the phones are ringing, so I need to wrap it up here. Feel free to drop me a line with any great ideas, or even if you’ve had someone do something nice for you this season.

Caring stories rock!

Oh yes, and one last thing, remember, I never find myself too busy for any type of referral.

The most cost effecting marketing plan is through word of mouth, but starting out with a list of marketing goals is the first step in discovering what is most important to the company. These goals could be; mining a client base, reducing costs per acquisition, increasing conversions and referrals, generating a positive brand exposure, targeting new market segments, or even launching a new product. Upon realizing these goals it will be easier for a company to identify itself and team up with a Marketing Promotional Company that has the same goals and philosophies.

“We only associate with the very best partners for our programs; ones of the highest caliber,” says Sam Knox of Clever Advantage. “We are happy to oversee and contract for anyone. Our services include printing, public relations, web development, graphic design, video production, photography, comprehensive internet marketing, including search engine optimization, and pay per click marketing. Taking your brand to the next level is what we are all about.”

Clever Advantage is located at 611 K Street, Suite B, #161 in San Diego. They can be reached at (866) 698-SPIN, or visit their website at www.cleveradvantage.com.

Company branding, as defined by the American Marketing Association, is a name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them that’s intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group and to differentiate them from those other sellers. In order to do this a good brand needs to achieve; a clearly delivered message, emotional connection, buyer motivation, credibility confirmation, and will cement user loyalty.

The importance of branding is vital to any company’s success in today’s highly competitive market, and with the battle for customers deepening every day, the brand promises associated with its product becomes a precious commodity in and of itself.  “Branding isn’t only being the one people choose over someone else, but it is the message that you are the only one who can give them what they want,” says Sam Knox of Clever Advantage.

“Our clients in both the marketing and entrepreneurial arena,” continues Knox, “understand that branding is truly the cornerstone piece of the communications portion of their marketing strategy. In order to succeed they must understand the needs of prospects and customers.”