Earlier in the week I highlighted our yummy Haribo Starmix pouches – so thought I’d continue down this sweet theme. Also new and exclusive to the range are Colour Pop Lollipops. Available from just 250 units these mixed coloured lollys are sure to impress – and what’s more they’re available on our 3 day express service too. Price includes a double sided label which offers plenty of space for a message and contact details to 1 side and a logo to the other.

Small businesses face the ongoing challenge of having fewer resources and less time to pour into their marketing efforts, so it is important that methods are integrated.

With the proliferation of smartphones in recent times, people all over the world can gain access to the internet and their email accounts wherever they are.

This has led to firms increasingly looking towards integrating some of their marketing efforts, with mobile and social media seemingly the most obvious choices.

Indeed, a March poll of small businesses in the US by Constant Contact noted that firms are beginning to incorporate social media and email marketing into their mobile efforts in high numbers.

There are other ways to incorporate strategies in a company, for instance you could reward people for signing up to email newsletters and other correspondence. In exchange for opting in to frequent messaging you could offer promotional gifts.

Small businesses work to blend mobile and social, eMarketer

Posted by Robin McCrink

Retention of customers is an extremely important consideration that firms need to make in order to continue expanding.

With subscriptions an ever-popular way to keep customers in order, companies need to ensure they do enough to convince consumers of the merits of staying with them.

Chief customer officer of Gainsight Dan Steinman said it is important that firms create and enforce a customer-focused philosophy for the whole company.

He stated that it cannot be something as simple as building a team, organisations need to start with a company philosophy so that everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet.

“You must be truly committed to your customers’ success. Think about ways to prove your commitment, or to reinforce customer-focused behaviour across the entire company,” the expert continued.

There are many ways to prove your commitment to customers, one of which could be to send through promotional gifts to improve brand loyalty.

The new bottom line: customer success, Direct Marketing News

Posted by Robin McCrink

A new study has suggested that making email more relevant to consumers is harder for ecommerce marketers than driving conversion rates.

The survey of more than 200 retailers and brand marketers by Bronto asked people to cite their biggest challenge in deriving more revenue from emails and 31 per cent said “making email targeted and relevant”.

With the proliferation of smartphones in the last few years, billions now have access to the internet wherever they are, meaning an increased number of marketers are trying to reach them via email.

This means that marketers need to be relevant and keep people interested. By engaging with customers, firms can get a good grasp of what consumers want in terms of promotional gifts.

Director of marketing communications for Bronto Kevin Skurski commented: “They’re all familiar with what relevancy means, but they’re still wrestling with how to execute it. Driving relevance is a little fuzzier to them.”

Relevancy becomes more relevant to emailers, Direct Marketing News

Posted by Robin McCrink

We’re delighted to add a couple of new exclusive items to our range – and even better they fall into everyone’s favourite category sweets & treats!

Check out our new sweet pouches! Available in just 3 days & priced from 100 units to include a large full colour label for your design & details. We think we’ve done a great job bringing these to the range – but we’ll have to leave the hardest decision of all to you – will you opt for the multi-coloured Jelly Beans or (if we do say so ourselves) the very scrumptious Haribo Starmix?!

The rise of social media within companies began in the marketing department and now it has been shown to be a vital tool.

It is being used in a number of different combinations by marketers including for customer service.

Indeed, a survey completed by Call Centre Helper noted that 75 per cent of marketers stated customer service as a primary use of their social channels.

The platform has long been used as a way of engaging with customers and can be a good way to find out their likes of and dislikes.

Another way to engage with consumers is by sending them personalised items such as promotional flashdrives.

Chief executive officer of Conversocial Joshua March said social media is the communication channel of the “next generation” and only a collective effort from marketing and customer service can deliver a positive social experience.

He commented: “The most successful companies of tomorrow will be the ones that understand how social media is making customer service a fundamental part of their brand.”

The blending of marketing and service, Direct Marketing News

Posted by Robin McCrink

Businesses should be looking at their market research data for their next big idea, according to an expert.

Indeed, director of digital and analytics at MDC Partners Kip Voytek, writing in the Guardian, suggested that data has great potential to “open new doors”.

If used properly, firms can learn much from their email marketing campaigns and the data they yield.

For instance companies can find out a lot about people’s behaviours and their likes and dislikes. They can then send through personalised promotional items that suit a subscriber’s preferences.

Mr Voytek said marketing departments can use the data that they yield in order to unlock new creative ideas, as well as enhance customer engagement.

He commented: “Accessed through simple technologies and approached with an open mind, data should sit alongside cultural cues and creative instincts as one of [the] most powerful tools for generating effective marketing.”

Why marketing professionals should look to data for their next big idea, the Guardian

Posted by Robin McCrink

Almost half (49 per cent) of adults believe that tailoring marketing content to children should be allowed, according to research.

The poll of more than 1,500 parents and children by YouGov's SixthSense division found, however, that only 21 per cent accepted advertising as long as they weren't promoting unhealthy foods.

Just over a third (39 per cent) believe that youngsters need to learn what advertising is.

Children can be a key demographic for businesses aiming to offer promotional items in order to increase brand awareness.

The eight to 16-year-olds polled were highly aware of the purpose of advertising with 92 per cent stating they understood fully.

YouGov SixthSense research director James McCoy said the fact that a large number of children are already aware of advertising, suggests that adults cannot control the influence ads have on youngsters.

He added: "Advertising is a major part of everyone's lives, both adults and children and its influence cannot be underestimated."

Half of adults reject marketing to kids, Marketing Week

Posted by Rob McCrink

Promotional rulers with the shape of a heart, lorry, house or circle at the end are now available. Printed in full colour, these shaped rulers in 15cm or 30cm sizes (or 6” and 12” to my mum) make for a great giveaway. Just as perfect for the office environment as for the schools, education or training sectors, these printed rulers from just 250 units really measure up!

A new industry report has shown that consumers want their loyalty to firms rewarded with promotional gifts and discount cards.

Indeed, the Maritz Loyalty Report: US Edition examined brand loyalty across six different industries and found more than seven in ten wanted to be rewarded properly for being good customers.

Maritz Loyalty Marketing senior director of loyalty consulting Scott Robinson said it is essential that marketers recognise what will engage customers in a programme and what will turn them off.

The study noted that 67 per cent of people will modify where and when they buy and half will change brands depending on a loyalty programme's benefits.

Mr Robinson added that loyalty programme participants are open to more frequent communications – whatever platform they may be – as long as they are relevant to interests.

He continued: "Marketers can't afford to outspend each other. They can't rely on enrolment discounts to maintain engagement. They need to focus on creating an experience."

Consumers want loyalty (rewards), Direct Marketing News

Posted by Rob McCrink