Do you give out promotional items?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbie

Hmmm... it seems that handing out "promotional items" isn't as common as I might have thought.

Don't let that stop you, If you have a product or service that promotional items would work well with, I think you should try it. It may well be worth the cost and effort.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen Sargent

Well, I was just suggesting a way that can get more referrals from your customers and thereby have more control over the numbers of people who get your emails but you would need to get permission before you send emails to your customers referrals and a telephone call is the easiest way.

I understand now and I think you're right. I would need their permission as well as their email addresses. Thanks for all of your good ideas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlsimms

Don't let that stop you, If you have a product or service that promotional items would work well with, I think you should try it. It may well be worth the cost and effort.

I agree... some items just don't work well with promotion, but others I'd think would boost sales tremendously.

The pens and note pads are marketing tools and should go everywhere. The shirts, coffee cups and umbrellas are gifts and should go to treasured customers.

The Thank You note should go to everyone you can think of, no matter how small the reason. Good bet, set a goal of sending one per day (mail it, not eMail)

That's my 2 cents

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG Mike

The Thank You note should go to everyone you can think of, no matter how small the reason. Good bet, set a goal of sending one per day (mail it, not eMail)

I agree about the regular mail, but what reasons are your top two or three for doing it that way instead of email? Mostly because of the impersonal-feeling issues regarding email?

I think that especially after years of email, a hand-written thank you note means considerably more.

Chances are when someone checks email, a thank you message may be one of several other messages. But if a thank you note is received in snail mail, it may stand out from the bills and flyers.

That's my 2 cents.

I think your 2 cents make a lot of sense!

Should we be sending thank you cards to each customer after they've made a purchase from us? That could get expensive very quickly, in my opinion.

I know a guy who sent his entire Christmas Card list an eMail card instead of a snail mail card. I think that is worse than tacky.

A thank-you note by regular mail is impressive, because the others don't do it.

A thank-you note is one of four minimum contacts per year I recommend for each customer worth keeping.

Another could be a clipping about the customer's industry, "I found this and thought you might find it interesting..."

Another could be a birthday card. When was the last time you got a birthday card, in the mail, from a vendor?

My husband and I have both gotten a birthday card from our State Farm Representative since we signed up with him 40 years ago. He never forgets. He usually includes a magnet calendar too!

Never ever underestimate the power of a hand-written note accompanying a promotional item... OR just a hand-written note. While it could be a bit time consuming, the personal nature of this gesture goes a long, long way with both prospects and existing customers.

	#44
BIG Mike	Don't confuse promotional items The pens and note pads are marketing tools and should go everywhere. The shirts, coffee cups and umbrellas are gifts and should go to treasured customers. The Thank You note should go to everyone you can think of, no matter how small the reason. Good bet, set a goal of sending one per day (mail it, not eMail) That's my 2 cents __________________ BIG Mike McDaniel is the Small Business Advertising Expert. Get BIG Ideas for Small Business newsletter at http://bigideasgroup.com/html/sign_ups.html Find hundreds of small business articles at http://SmallBusinessAdvertisingArticles.com

	#46
Ricardo	I think that especially after years of email, a hand-written thank you note means considerably more. Chances are when someone checks email, a thank you message may be one of several other messages. But if a thank you note is received in snail mail, it may stand out from the bills and flyers. That's my 2 cents.

	#47
ozzie	I think your 2 cents make a lot of sense! Should we be sending thank you cards to each customer after they've made a purchase from us? That could get expensive very quickly, in my opinion.

	#48
BIG Mike	Snail Mail It Is I know a guy who sent his entire Christmas Card list an eMail card instead of a snail mail card. I think that is worse than tacky. A thank-you note by regular mail is impressive, because the others don't do it. A thank-you note is one of four minimum contacts per year I recommend for each customer worth keeping. Another could be a clipping about the customer's industry, "I found this and thought you might find it interesting..." Another could be a birthday card. When was the last time you got a birthday card, in the mail, from a vendor?

	#50
Coda1108	Never ever underestimate the power of a hand-written note accompanying a promotional item... OR just a hand-written note. While it could be a bit time consuming, the personal nature of this gesture goes a long, long way with both prospects and existing customers.

Do you give out promotional items?

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