Small business owners everywhere know how difficult and expensive it can be to get their name around. This article is aimed at those businesses that work within their own community and deal directly with the general public and perhaps some businesses. Here, I would like to look at five of the often overlooked products that really generate business. Promotional gifts spread the word around town that you are there so if you own or manage a small business, this article is for you. Perhaps you have already experimented with business gifts and are simply looking for ideas. With this in mind, I will now present the promotional gift items I feel no small business should be without.
Promotional Pens: There are pens available in every price bracket. Some cost only pennies where others can be quite expensive. I usually recommend looking for a quantity of good quality plastic pens. Try to stay away from the really cheap pens as they usually do not write very well and people will not use them. By offering printed pens with you logo and contact details to your customers, you are giving them a product they need often and will use. Each time they do, they will see your details. If budget permits, it may also be a good idea to purchase a small quantity of executive metal gift pens to give on occasion to your key customers.
Fridge Magnets: There is no doubt that these small logo printed products generate business. Almost everyone has at least one on the refrigerator. If you are in a position where you deal regularly with the general public, they could even work better than a business card. Print some with your logo and details and give them to your clients instead of a card. They can then put them on their fridge and will see your details each time they are near it. They will never need to go looking for your details again.
Promotional Mugs: Mugs are one of the biggest selling promotional gifts around the world. They can be difficult to send through the post but if you are dealing directly with the people in your community, they can be and excellent marketing tool. Almost everyone takes a coffee or tea break during the day. If they are using your mug, they will be reintroduced to you each time they do.
Logobugs: These very inexpensive fluffy flags are loved by many. In case you are not familiar with them, they are the pom characters that usually have eyes and feet and a flag banner that is printed with your logo and details. They can easily stick almost anywhere by an adhesive area under the feet. These cute characters can and will get your details out inexpensively and in a fun way.
Keyrings: Everyone needs a good keyring. They a attached to their house, business and car keys which means they are taken everywhere. By offering your customers good quality plastic or metal promotional keyrings, you can rest assured that your details will be with them every day wherever they may travel.
Now I would like to invite you to visit my promotional gifts website http://www.compugift.co.uk. Regardless of where you do business in the world, I would be happy to offer you FREE advice on making your next promotion a success with business gifts. I can be contacted through my website or on +44 (0)1642 782455. Good luck!
Dan Toombs is Managing Director of CompuGift Limited. Established in 1997, CompuGift was the first internet based promotional gift supplier in the UK.
From the very beginning of corporate world, marketing has evidenced to be the priciest element of all business ventures. After starting a new business, you have to inform the competitors and potential customers that you have started a business from which you would be best served. No business man wish to compromise in marketing as it is the prime factor which determines the popularity of brand name among customers. Today, companies spend majority of their revenue for promotional activities more and more to enhance their venture. Corporate people hire marketing professionals and go for most efficient promotional tactics to get high revenue volume and customers.
Spending money for marketing strategies depends on the budget of companies. Budget is based on the size of the company. For smaller organizations, it may not be affordable to go for pricey marketing tactics. At that time, they will search for novel and cheap promotional techniques. Such a marketing method is SMS marketing. It is affordable for every type of organizations and returns more positive responds than other marketing modes. This marketing strategy not only lessens the cost for marketing but function effectively for the benefit of business as well. It sends bulk SMS to target customers round the globe. It is considered to be a boon to organizations that does target marketing.
SMS marketing use short codes and long codes of telephone numbers to send bulk SMS. When long codes are used for both personal and official type messages, short codes are used for value added services. It is generally used for alter purposes such as update of new services, products, bill date etc. SMS has made its marks not only in marketing area but in other fields as well. Share tip providers are employing SMS methodology for offering tips to their clients. These types of SMS are called as premium SMS. Mobile companies themselves and business process outsourcing organizations use bulk SMS strategy to send SMSs regarding the enquiries.
Several portals are also using bulk SMS messaging service to deliver confirmation services such as reservation details, verification codes etc. SMS marketing can be found in every business sector not only just because of its reasonability but it is the easier and faster communication mode as well. You can target customers of any country via SMS marketing.
Bulk SMS service is considered to be cost efficient and result yielding. It is a time saving marketing strategy too. Try out the proven tactics of SMS marketing for your business and relish the uniqueness and incredibleness in every touch. No other marketing mode can bring you such outstanding results as SMS marketing renders.
David Webb is expert in Mobile technologies. Get latest information about mobiles, SMS marketing, mobile technologies and mobile telephony from the website http://www.info2mobi.com
Does it seem like it is impossible to sell your business? Or, maybe hanging on to it just doesn't sound like a good idea to you at the moment? After all, you can hold on to the business for another year, right? I was just like you. I had a small business that wouldn't sell. So, I talked to as many brokers and read as much as possible about selling small business's and this was my plan for a successful sale.
Preparing your business for sale takes more than putting an advert in the window. Follow these steps to get the best possible price for your company, and ensure that the sale goes through smoothly.
Step No 1 - Preparation
This is the most important step in the sequence, and perhaps the most difficult. After all, you need to view your business impartially, warts and all. If the shop floor or office is looking shabby, that is the first impression buyers will have of your business. Decorating and tidying up are duties that anyone with a business for sale should prioritise.
Next, look at the accounts. Is there anything that cannot be explained immediately? Writing off bad debts shows that you are being realistic about the true state of the business' affairs, and getting shareholder loans repaid removes any suggestion of improper or unwise dealings with related parties.
Now may also be the time to seek professional advice on any outstanding legal or financial issues with your solicitor or accountant.
Step No 2 - Do you need help?
If you have a full book of contacts who are looking for a business for sale, you may not need a business broker. After all, why give away a percentage of the sales proceeds when you can find a buyer yourself? But if you do not have any buyers in mind, or if you would like to approach the market confidentially, a business broker could be worth considering.
Step No 3 - Surviving due diligence
The buyer needs to verify that all the details connected with your business are as they should be. He will ask questions and request copies of documents. This is a normal part of the due diligence that any prudent buyer should perform. As long as you have his undertaking to keep the information confidential, you should be as helpful as possible in providing documents, to push this stage of the deal along.
Step No 4 - Negotiation
Even if negotiation is a skill that comes easily to you, agreeing a satisfactory price will be stressful, and perhaps even emotional. The business for sale represents years of your hard work; so adopting a reasonable, approachable but firm demeanour will ensure that you get an acceptable deal.
Step No 5 - Completion!
So the ink's dry on the documents and the money is in the bank. You no longer have a business for sale, so you can relax, right? Generally, yes; although make sure that you comply with any post-completion restrictions, like refraining from carrying out a business nearby with a similar name.
To find out how I've sold small business's in the UK, I've detailed in a special report please click here: Small Business Selling Secrets Revealed!