Promotional products are a fantastic way to make a lasting impression! They not only reach the same audience repeatedly but also introduce your brand to new people constantly, all at a lower cost per impression than traditional media. Studies show that 90% of recipients proudly own branded promotional items, using them daily and engaging with the advertiser regularly. Pens, USB sticks, and keyrings are among the favourites, often found in briefcases, work folders, or handbags. Writing instruments remain the most popular choice. Moreover, research indicates that receiving branded promotional items fosters positive views of companies, with 61% of recipients expressing interest in the company’s products afterward. These gifts also play a crucial role in attracting new customers. What’s even more impressive is that many recipients hold onto these gifts for up to two years, serving as tangible tokens of appreciation for both clients and employees. It’s not about the price tag but the sentiment behind the gesture that truly matters. At Reds Advertising, we understand the significance of corporate gifting and branding. As a registered retail supplier partnered with numerous warehouse importers, we offer tailored corporate gift and clothing solutions to suit your needs. Our extensive range of promotional products includes Eco-Lifestyle products, Writing Instruments, Folders & Notebooks, Bags, Drinkware, Office Accessories, Tools, Leisure & Outdoor gear, and even Novelties. Additionally, our Corporate Clothing Collection boasts an unparalleled variety, featuring T-Shirts, Golf Shirts, Lounge Shirts, Leisure Wear, Sweaters & Fleece Jackets, Trousers, Kiddies wear, Hospitality attire, Work Wear, Safety gear, and...

Personal selling is the most expensive form of advertising and to be effective one should use a step by step process to gain the most benefit. Personal selling can adjust the manner in which facts are communicated and can consider factors such as culture and behaviour in the approach. They can ask questions to discover the specific need of the customer and can get feedback and adjust the presentation as it progresses. The Personal Selling ProcessThe personal selling process is a consecutive series of activities conducted by the salesperson, the lead to a prospect taking the desired action of buying a product or service and finish with a follow-up contact to ensure purchase satisfaction. Step OneProspecting - the first step in the personal selling processThe process of looking for and checking leads is called prospecting or determining which firms or individuals could become customers.Up to 20% of a firm's customer base can be lost for reasons such as transfer, death, retirement, takeovers, dissatisfaction with the company and competition. A steadily growing list of qualified prospects is important for reaching the sales targets.Qualifying a prospect: A lead is a name on a list. It only becomes a prospect if it is determined that the person or company can benefit from the service or product offered. A qualified prospect has a need, can benefit from the product and has the authority to make the decision. Step TwoThe Pre-approachThis stage involves the collecting of as much relevant information as possible prior to the sales...

Our society is bombarded with advertising and marketing messages. How can you make your marketing stand out and be effective to your target market? The answer is easy, it's by taking the time to listen and relating your message to the pain of your client. Keep in mind that it is easier to sell a solution to a problem than to sell a positive benefit or substantial features. What problems are your potential clients facing? A great way to find out is to spend some time networking and doing market research by contacting potential clients. Find out what their needs are by spending time asking questions and intently listening to their answers, taking mental note of their needs, problems, and pain. Once you see the presence of a problem that your product or service can solve, study that problem and reposition your marketing so that it is offering a benefit and a solution to that problem. You will notice that by doing this marketing and selling will become a lot easier. Not sure if this works? Take a few moments and consider the products and services that are currently hot on the market. These products include products that help you quit smoking, lose weight, grow hair, and diminish wrinkles. Why are these products reaching a high level of success in sales? They offer a benefit and a solution to a negative situation or problem. Once you've identified the problem that your product or service solves, it's time to get to work...

Attracting and retaining long-term clients is a powerful strategy for growing your business. Long-term clients are likely to feel more satisfied, are more likely to refer others, and are more likely to purchase additional services from you.  Here are 10 retention marketing strategies any business can use to turn average customers into loyal clients: 1. Focus your marketing on existing clients. Your current customers have already overcome certain hurdles to doing business with you and are more likely to buy from you again. Focus most of your time, efforts, and resources on better serving your current clients. Go deeper rather than wider. 2. Be consistent in your approach and interactions. Treat your clients with honesty, humour, and respect and maintain this over time. Present a consistent, solid, and professional style to your clients - one that they can grow to depend on. 3. Follow through on your commitments to them. If you promise to send information or to follow up, be sure to do this. You'd be surprised at how many professionals promise to send information, but then ever do. You will gain loyalty and trust by doing what you say you will do. 4. Allow yourself to connect with them. Find out about their lives, their hopes, goals, and desired outcomes. Ask questions that encourage a deeper sense of shared understanding. The greater the level of connection, the greater the mutual satisfaction. 5. Have fun.  It's easy to get caught up in goals, outcomes, deliverables and all of these are, of course, vitally important....

Each of these 8 marketing tips reveals a proven low-cost marketing tactic many other small businesses have used to boost their sales and profits. Integrate them into your marketing program now and you'll quickly start enjoying the same results too. 1. Don't Just Sell Benefits Don't just tell prospects what they gain when they buy your product or service. Tell them what they lose if they do not buy it. Most people fear loss more than they desire gain. Customers want your product or service to enjoy the benefits it provides.  They will want it, even more, when you remind them of what they lose by not buying it. 2. Use Pleasant Surprises to Close Sales An unpleasant surprise can kill a sale. But a pleasant surprise can help close a sale. For example, adding an unexpected bonus immediately before your prospect takes the last action to complete a sale will eliminate any last-minute hesitation. 3. Provide Fast Delivery - Even When You Can't The faster you can deliver your product or service the more sales you will get.  If you cannot deliver all or part of your product immediately, add something to the purchase that you CAN deliver immediately. It could be as simple as a series of  helpful tips related to your product posted on your web site ....available only to new customer 4. Make Buying Easier Every non-essential action in the buying process is an opportunity for customers to reverse their decision to buy. Look for ways you...

Getting customers may seem like a difficult, mysterious process, but marketing is simply communication. You have to know what your message is, then get it out to others. People are used to getting information in soundbites. When you meet someone, you have only a few seconds to get their attention and make a strong impression. The 10-Second Brag can do that for you. We were all taught that it is not polite to talk about ourselves; however, it is important to express clearly and concisely what you do. The Brag is a short, to-the-point statement of: WHO you are, (Reds Advertising - your advertising agency) WHAT you do, (We increase your market share) WHO you do it for (For a diverse group of satisfied clients) HOW they benefit. (Their profit margins exceed their expectations) It is benefit-oriented, to catch the attention of your customers. Most of us talk in feature language. We talk about our titles and experience, or the equipment we use, or the tasks we perform. Customers don't care about any of that. They care about what's in it for them. When you talk about what you do for your customers -- the problems you solve, how you make their lives better -- you are using benefit language. Where, when and how can you use your Brag? Use it when you meet someone new, to introduce yourself at a networking meeting, while standing in line at the post office, when your mother asks what you do, on your business...

Here are 7 low-cost but highly effective marketing tips to help any small business find customers and generate sales quickly. 1. Don't advertise like a big businessBig businesses advertise to create name recognition and future sales. A small business can't afford to do that. Instead, design your advertising to produce sales ...now. One way to accomplish this is to always include an offer in your advertising - and an easy way for prospective customers to respond to it. 2. Offer a cheaper versionSome prospective customers are not willing to pay the asking price for your product or service. Others are more interested in paying a low price than in getting the best quality. You can avoid losing sales to many of these customers by offering a smaller or stripped down version of your product or service at a lower price. 3. Offer a premium versionNot all customers are looking for a cheap price. Many are willing to pay a higher price to get a premium product or service. You can boost your average size sale and your total revenue by offering a more comprehensive product or service ...or by combining several products or services in a special premium package offer for a higher price. 4. Try some unusual marketing methodsLook for some unconventional marketing methods your competitors are overlooking. You may discover some highly profitable ways to generate sales and avoid competition. For example, print your best small ad on a postcard and mail it to prospects in your targeted market....

Case Study: Acme Screens - Part 2 In Part 1 of this case study I shared the following problems with a follow-up letter Dan, owner of Acme Screens, was sending to his recent customers. Problem 1: Too much WE-ME. Not enough YOU-YOUR Problem 2. Too many thoughts and offers for one letter Now let's continue with Problem 3. Problem 3. Discount Certificate for a Future Purchase Side-Bar Comment: Dan was asking his recent customers to keep a discount certificate for R25 off their next purchase of replacement screens, until a future date when they were ready to purchase again. My advice to Dan: Any time you ask your prospects or customers to take some action, you are going to be met with resistance. People are busy. They are easily distracted, forgetful, and they love to procrastinate - and that's with activities for themselves. They will take even less effort for someone else, especially a business.' - R250 DISCOUNT CERTIFICATE: You are asking your customers to consider purchasing additional screens in the future and to file and remember this certificate. They won't do that. Your certificate will probably be lost or tossed within a day or two. Solution 3 If you want your customers to apply a R250 Discount Certificate to a future purchase of replacement screens, then you must send them the Certificate later, at the time when they may be ready for another purchase.  Then you can follow up with a phone call a few days later. When you mail...

Hi all, I read an article written by Joe Garcia which I thought is most informative. A follow-up letter needs a special way of writing to your customer. These letters are normally sent by email without the marketing department having a look at it before it's sent. I would like to share this with you over the next 2 newsletters. I know it's a bit long but it's worth it! Case Study - Follow-up Letters - Part 1 Here's a case study from my files that I thought you might find interesting.A few years ago I was asked by Dan (not his real name) to critique his follow-up letter to his newest customers. His business, Acme Screens (not the real name) sold a special screen for open doorways that would allow you to enjoy a cool breeze and let you walk in and out of the doorway without letting bugs in. It was a unique idea and a quality product. He was very disappointed in the results he was getting from his follow-up letter to his recent new customers. He wanted the letter to accomplish three things: help him sell backend replacement screens,get some referrals from these recent customersand get some testimonialsThere were a number of problems with the letter that were preventing him from getting the kinds of results he was hoping for. Here's what I told him. Problem 1: Too much WE-ME. Not enough YOU-YOUR People get bored and distracted VERY easily. If you talk about your product, your...

According to a study performed by the Association of Sales Executives, 81% of all sales happen on or after the fifth contact. But what if you only follow up with your prospects and customers 2-3 times, or worse, not at all? Imagine all the business growth opportunities you would be missing. Smart marketers know that follow-up is one of the most important keys to growing a successful business. You've heard the old adage, 'Out of sight, out of mind.' It applies directly to your sales opportunities. If your prospects or customers don't hear from you on a regular basis, they can easily forget about you.At that point, your competitors have an ideal opportunity to come in and escort your prospects and customers over to their businesses. Now you see them - now you don't.If you want to successfully grow your small business, effective follow-up is crucial.Here are a few follow-up tips to get you on the right path: 1. Who should you follow up with?You want to follow up with both your Prospects (people who have responded to one of your past marketing messages but who haven't purchased yet), and Customers (People who have purchased from you in the past). 2. How often and how long?You want to follow up with them on a consistent basis so that they don't forget about you and your offerings. That may be once a quarter, once a month, or even once a week.You should follow up with your lists for as long as it...