tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12132242666175563722024-03-12T16:40:07.419-07:00Cordial GreetingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-43620896242648226282016-08-18T06:59:00.000-07:002016-08-18T06:59:03.315-07:00Top 5 Ways to Build a Better Business<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 15pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Summer is coming to an end and we hope you were able to
relax and spend some time with family and friends and maybe even squeeze in
some beach time. But now it’s time to get back to business and round out 2016
with some serious success. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To that end, here are five best practices for building your
brand.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. Create better customer experiences. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your brand is about so much more than what your logo and
website look like. Your brand involves experiences, as in how do you make your
customer feel every step of the way? Think about the experience you want your
customers to have and make sure everything you do and every interaction you
have helps create this experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What to do:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Take
a hard look at the different areas of your business—customer service, social,
sales, customer loyalty strategies, and so forth—and see what needs
improvement. Pay attention to customer feedback. They won’t be shy in telling
you what’s working and what’s not, but it’s up to you to take action. You will
learn the most from your biggest critics, so listen carefully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. Be consistent.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> If
you’re touting one string of messages on your website and another on your
social channels, then this creates a disconnect. Be consistent with your
messaging across all channels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What to do:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Conduct an audit of all materials/places where your core messages appear and
see if the messages are consistent. Better yet, ask someone else to look at
your channels (e.g. website, social, online ads). Use a service like </span><a href="http://www.usertesting.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #21759b; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">UserTesting.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> if
you need help. For each channel, ask the person what the main message is. Based
on the feedback you receive, identify any inconsistencies and correct them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. Make sure your content marketing supports your brand</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. All the content you produce should reinforce your brand,
and not just in terms of messaging, but also the look and feel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What to do:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> If
you haven’t been using one already, get in the habit of creating a content
calendar. A calendar provides a clear snapshot of all your content so that you
can easily spot holes or issues (for example, perhaps you spend too much time
on one message while neglecting another). Conduct an audit of all layouts and
make sure the physical presentations align with your brand from a visual
perspective as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. Do something different. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you want your brand to truly stand out, then you need to
do something that will <i>make</i> it stand out. And, yes, we’re talking about
something bigger than simply stating on your website the ways you’re different
from your competitors. Here are some ideas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Create a company mascot and use it
on everything</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Become an industry thought leader</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Publish books or eBooks, whatever
works for you</span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.
Develop brand ambassadors.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> You can’t do it
alone. The way to build your brand and get the word out is by tasking people
with the job of promoting your brand—both employees and customers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-46717287803548822372015-10-02T06:46:00.000-07:002015-10-02T06:46:40.501-07:00Company Logo Products that are Missing from Your Waiting RoomStarting up and running a small business is an all in endeavor and one of your top priorities is to make your clientele comfortable and welcome. You've put thought into how your office or business looks when someone walks in the front door, maybe a few strategically placed plants or artwork, possibly a coffee machine in the waiting area to win customer satisfaction points. There's still room to improve the experience in that critical, first - impression stage.<br />
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Company logo products can help...<br />
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Personalized coloring books are a lifesaver for parents with kids in tow. Not only will they appreciate the giveaway, they'll potentially have more time and focus to have an uninterrupted conversation about your services.<br />
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Pens are the essential company logo product for your waiting room-make sure they are available on a counter or coffee table for quick and easy access to fill out forms, and it's your name they will be showcasing everyday with this affordable customer take-away.<br />
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Photo Business cards are another great company logo product to have available in your waiting room.<br />
This will not only remind you to pass them out rather than tucking them away to collect dust, it will also let people know who the members of your team are at-a-glance.<br />
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Personalizing and adding your logo builds brand recognition and by simply adding a few items to your waiting room you will allow your customers to spread the word with an affordable give-away.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-69916785566808708012015-09-11T13:01:00.001-07:002015-09-11T13:01:15.070-07:00Magnetic Calendars: Opportunities to Make Your Message StickImprinting magnetic calendars with your company logo and contact info is a great promotional strategy-as long as you can find the right opportunities. Here are some good and not as good times to give away branded magnetic calendars.<br />
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<b><i>Good:</i></b> at the point of service in a customer's home or office space; a handy way to post an invoice as there will likely be a refrigerator or other appliance nearby to attach the magnet to.<br />
<b>Not as Good: </b>Parades; attendees are far away from home and receive a lot of promotional papers and items and these are often left on the ground or thrown away.<br />
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<b><i>Good:</i></b> At the point of purchase ( if you sell food, baked goods, medical prescriptions or delivery items) customers will be bringing their purchases straight to the kitchen so there's a good change the magnet will be remembered and added to the artwork already adorning the fridge.<br />
<b>Not as Good: </b>in a mailing campaign that lacks the proper packaging or fulfillment guidelines. You can prospect with a mailing and include a magnet but be sure to check with your post office.<br />
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<b style="font-style: italic;">Good: </b>Send a follow-up thank you to clients for choosing your business. A Thank You goes a long way and magnet calendars are an affordable way to say "thanks" and included your information for future contact.<br />
<b>Not as Good: </b>At a conference or trade-show; attendees are typically traveling and often will throw the product away rather than taking the space and time to pack it.<br />
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Whatever your plan is magnetic calendars add staying power to your promotion and keep your contact information visible all year long while in use.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-1502924635117974912015-08-11T09:16:00.001-07:002015-08-11T09:17:32.101-07:004 Customer Types That Still Love Promotional Calendars<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We often hear how business is becoming paperless, and how customers prefer to do their banking, shopping and communicating on line. But printed promotional calendars still make sense for lots of people and here are 4 potential customers you could reach with a printed giveaway:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Moms -</b> Moms love having a wall calendar near their command center, where ever that may be, so they can choose a convenient date/time for your service call or free estimate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Professionals Who Work with their Hands -</b> Restaurant owners, chefs, and mechanics to name a few, need a quick at a glance reference while their hands are busy for planning and reference.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Government and Public Service Professionals - </b><span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;">Teachers, social workers, police and firemen are often scrambling to make the most of scarce budget dollars. Advertising your business to them with a promotional wall calendar is a win-win, as it gives them one less supply to buy for themselves so they will be sure to use it. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Seniors -</b> Businesses that cater to senior citizens do well by supplying promotional calendars at the point of service or in a direct mail campaign. Seniors are less likely to track their schedules on a mobile device and the larger font makes for easier reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Your clients will thank you and our calendar reviews attest that printed calendars are "a great tool for a fair cost and get your name out there." Start your fall promotion off with a logo or personalized calendar and advertise your business 365 days a year.</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-3504581016388241352015-07-15T13:18:00.003-07:002015-07-15T13:18:39.999-07:00Business Thank You Notes: 3 Steps to an Amazing Customer Experience<div class="MsoNormal">
Email isn’t always best- certainly not when it comes to
saying thanks. To create a truly memorable and amazing customer experience in the
21<sup>st</sup> century, some companies are discovering they need to follow their mom's advice. Want to copy their success? Follow these simple steps:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. Buy some branded or personalized business thank you notes</div>
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<br />2. Encourage your sales team and account reps to hand write genuine notes of thanks when customers buy, renew or even leave you for a competitor.</div>
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<br />3. Be sure to set up a forum for positive and potentially negative feedback via social media and online reviews. Remember this can be an opportunity to change and grow.</div>
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Interacting with your customers encourages loyalty and creating a personal relationship creates an open dialog for better customer service.</div>
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This company learned the value of handwritten notes- read more <a href="http://onforb.es/1sWzrXS">http://onforb.es/1sWzrXS</a></div>
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Our goal is to help your small business succeed one printed product at a time!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-24044456328947533212015-06-25T11:39:00.001-07:002015-06-25T11:39:28.907-07:00Affordable Company Birthday Cards that Deliver Valuable ResultsWhen is a cheap company birthday card more than just a birthday card?<br />
<br />
When you plan and create a campaign around it- one that can deliver valuable ROI. Here are four industry examples of how to leverage cheap company birthday cards:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>From an accountant - A birthday card sent outside of tax season, with an invitation to check out financial services (in addition to tax filing services), might create a successful cross-sell</li>
<li>From a salon- A coupon for a free birthday service in conjunction with a regular manicure/pedicure</li>
<li>From a dental office- A discount on teeth whitening services </li>
<li>From a physician - add a helpful reminder about important milestone years that warrant a specific type of exam or procedure e.g. mammogram</li>
</ul>
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If possible, give customers a code or special web landing page to reference so that you can measure the results and traffic from these efforts.</div>
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Your signature will add a personal touch your message and our greeting cards offer free imprints with your order.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-90605059599491630052014-11-21T10:36:00.001-08:002014-11-21T10:36:44.655-08:00Take Part in Small Business Saturday<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mark your </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">calendars!</span><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span><a href="https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Small
Business Saturday</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is around the corner! An American
shopping day held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving (after Black Friday and
before Cyber Monday), this annual event encourages shoppers to do their holiday
shopping at small and local businesses — like yours! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Small Business Saturday is anything but
small and all about community. It was founded by </span><a href="https://www.americanexpress.com/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">American Express</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
in 2010 as a way to celebrate and promote the local businesses that make
America’s neighborhoods so great. Due to the big response, in 2011 it became
recognized as an official shopping holiday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
year Small Business Saturday falls on November 29<sup>th</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No matter what type of business you are
in, it pays to participate! Take advantage of this unique opportunity to
promote your business and boost sales for your business. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Encourage
your customers to Shop Small®.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Encourage your customers to shop your
business by creating memorable marketing materials that promote your business
and invite customers to Shop Small®. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Extend
an invitation.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Create an in-store event to attract
new and old customers to come to your business. Send out simple customized
invitations. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can also promote online by creating
an event on Facebook. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let
it fly.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Put up a flyer in your store window that reminds shoppers
of the date and encourages them to shop local. Not only is it a great way to
support your community, but it is also a great way to boost your brand image. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gear
up on giveaways.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Plan a special giveaway that reminds
your customers to shop at your establishment all year long. Customized 2015
calendars, personalized pens, and custom-printed t-shirts are all great,
functional gifts your customers can use every day of the year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Create
special offers.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Increase the incentives with special
one-day discounts and promotions that will improve foot traffic into your store
location. Giving away gift certificates </span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">for every $XXX spent is a smart way to
encourage repeat business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Give
them something to smile about.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Create even more excitement for your
local small business by doing something unique to generate attention. Have a DJ
play music in the store. Hire a magician or clown. Serve free coffee in the
morning. Display balloons</span><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">outside your store and give away free
cake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be
social.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Social media played a critical role to the first Small
Business Saturday’s success. Be sure to follow the movement on Facebook and
hashtag #SmallBusinessSaturday on Twitter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Regardless of whether you are a retail
store or restaurant, a beauty salon or a bakery, Small Business Saturday is a
fantastic opportunity to reach out and show your community that small
businesses matter. The only “wrong” way to participate is to not participate at
all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be sure, too, to check out the free
materials </span><a href="https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">American
Express</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> provides to assist you in promoting this fantastic and
meaningful event. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thing big. Shop small.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have
you celebrated Small Business Saturday in the past? Are you planning to
participate this year? We want to know! Please tell us your story below. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-83988691089406263792014-10-27T09:18:00.000-07:002014-10-27T09:18:16.273-07:00Your Customers Are Looking Online. Can They Find You?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every
day people use their smart phone to look for everything from local movie times
and dining options to car repair services, pet supply stores, beauty salons,
and more. Is your company one of them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According
to </span><a href="http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/08/making-sure-your-website-is-ready-for-smartphones/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The New York Times</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> nearly half
of all mobile searches — also known as “googling” performed on a smartphone —
have a local intent. This means that the person who is doing the searching is
looking for local information. This number is up from 40% last year and
translates to literally </span><a href="http://screenwerk.com/2012/10/01/google-50-of-mobile-search-is-local/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">billions
of local searches</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> taking place on mobile phones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
better understand people’s local search behaviors, Google recently partnered
with Ipsos MediaCT and Purchased to research the behaviors of more than 5,000 American
smartphone users. Their </span><a href="http://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/research-studies/how-advertisers-can-extend-their-relevance-with-search.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">study
revealed</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Searches
with local intent are more likely to lead to store visits and sales within a
day</span></b></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">1 in 3 searches on smartphones occur
right before a consumer’s visit to a store</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">50% of mobile users are most likely to
visit after conducting a local search — compared to 34 percent of consumers who
are using tablets or computers to research the same information.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mobile
searchers are typically ready to buy once they are in a store.</span></b></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">18% of local searches lead to sales,
compared to 7 percent for non-local searches.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consumers
search for a variety of information, the most popular being:</span></b></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Business hours</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Directions to a local store</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Local store address</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Despite
the huge volume of local queries in mobile, a majority of small businesses and
brands still don’t have mobile-optimized websites. If your company happens to
be one of them, Cordial Greetings can help. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Benefits of Mobility<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Given the growing
trend in mobile device use, it’s more important than ever to ensure that your
business can be found quickly and easily — and using the devices your customers
rely on the most. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We’ve all been in situations in which
we wanted to find something nearby — the closest gas station to the airport, a
local yoga studio, or simply a place to go to dinner. We also search for
services that don’t necessarily have a prominent store front — a landscaping
business, a trucking company, a dentist, a plumber, and more. Mobile content
helps to ensure that your business is found and allows people to pass your name
along effortlessly! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Get Your Business Moving <br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dedicated to helping small businesses succeed, Cordial
Greetings now offers </span><a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/promotional-products/mobile-landing-pages"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mobile
Landing Pages</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. Choose one of eight attractive and
professional template themes, including automobile, construction, landscaping,
general business, towing, plumbing and more. Each one is designed to make it
easy for your customers to access your business information on their mobile
device.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Getting
Started – Three Simple Steps</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Provide us with your company and
contact information<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We will create a Mobile Landing
Page for your business and provide you with a QR code image via email<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Add your QR code to any
promotional product or printed media<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With
Cordial Greetings a mobile website isn’t only easy, it’s also affordable— just
$49.99 for an entire year! Your </span><a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/promotional-products/mobile-landing-pages"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mobile Landing Page</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> will be active for 12 months from the
date of purchase and can easily be renewed - allowing your business to benefit
for as few or as many years as you choose. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Take the Next Step<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/promotional-products/mobile-landing-pages">Get started today!</a></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-17397968199827173792014-08-14T09:42:00.001-07:002014-08-14T09:42:17.209-07:00 Promotional Ideas to “Fall” in Love With<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We hate to be a buzz kill, but the
summer months are drawing to a close. Goodbye sun and fun, hello autumn! Soon
the temperatures will start to fall — and so will the leaves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">For many of us, the “back to school”
season also means “back to business.” The time is now to start thinking about
new and innovative ways to promote and market your company. To help get you
started, consider some of the following Cordial Greetings autumn themed
promotional products:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/cards/greeting-cards?filters=Thanksgiving&view=Pages&sort=&page=1&name=catalog"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanksgiving Cards</span></b></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"> – Why wait until the winter holidays
to express appreciation and gratitude? Cordial Greetings offers a wide
selection of attractive Thanksgiving cards that make it easy to say thanks to
customers, partners, and prospects. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/calendars/calendar-cards?filters=Perfed&view=Pages&sort=&page=1&name=catalog">Personalized Tear Off Calendar Cards</a></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> —
Make a date with the Carving Thanks Perfed Calendar Card. Personalized, perfed calendar cards are a
calendar and card in one! They are a perfect way to say you care and give a
promotional gift your customers can use every day of the year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/promotional-products/pens">Promotional Pens</a></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> — Write it off! Promotional pens are
perfect for Fall. Did you know that Cordial Greetings offers 13 different types
of customizable promotional pens? Choose from a wide range of styles, shapes,
colors, and imprints. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/promotional-products/drinkware"><b>Customizable Coffee Mug</b></a>— As the days
grow cooler, give your favorite customers a gift they can warm up to. Our
customizable, classic coffee mug is an affordable and functional promotional
gift that’s brimming with potential!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/promotional-products/notebooks">Promotional Notebooks</a></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> — Take note!
Our new line of promotional notebooks are a fun, contemporary way to get you
company noticed. The Orange Chevron Reporter Style Notebook and the Colorful
Circles Journal Style Notebook are two perfect options for Fall and ideal for
the office, home or school. Customize the back cover with your company name and
contact information. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Count
on Cordial Greetings <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While we can’t make summer last
forever, count on Cordial Greetings to help make a lasting impression this
Fall. From key chains and coloring books to can coolers and coffee mugs, we
offer a wide variety of unique and affordable promotional products that are
perfect for your business or organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have a great idea for a fall promotion?
Let us know! Tell us how you plan to use promotional products to market your
business this autumn by posting your story below. We’d love to hear about it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-3726266962046709432014-07-14T11:53:00.003-07:002014-07-14T11:53:38.472-07:00SWAG: The Power of Promotional Products<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sealed With A Gift? More sales. More customers. More
profits. What are we talking about? The power of promotional products. Research
shows that customers who receive promotional products return sooner and reorder
more quickly — and frequently — than those who don’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to a study conducted by <i>Relevant Insights</i>: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eight in
10 consumers own between one and 10 promotional products<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Six in 10
consumers keep them for up to two years <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More than
half (53%) of these consumers use a promotional product at least once a
week or more <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is
yours one of them? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">If promotional products aren't currently part of your marketing mix, perhaps it’s time to explore how to put
this form of advertising to work for your company. Not only can promotional
products be used to help generate more business, they can be a great way to
motivate your staff, encourage customer referrals, thank regular customers for
their loyalty, increase visibility at a trade show, launch a new product and/or
demonstrate support for your community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Plus, promotional products can be one
of the most cost-effective forms of advertising. According to the Advertising
Specialty Institute (ASI), the cost-per-impression of a promotional product is
just $.005 — less than prime time TV advertising, national magazine advertising
and newspaper ads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When considering promotional products
for YOUR company, consider the following tips:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Choose
promotional products that your audience will actually use.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
When promotional products are useful to and appreciated by the recipients, they
are retained and used longer, ultimately communicating the imprinted message over
and over—without added cost to your business. Some of the most popular and
successful promotional items include pens and writing instruments, desk
calendars, water bottles, coffee mugs and apparel — such as t-shirts and hats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Avoid
a short shelf life. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Select
items that will be around for a long time. While imprinted sticky notes are
certainly useful, a customized note holder can be used repeatedly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Choose
quality over quantity.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
Think of the promotional products you purchase as “gifts for family and
friends.” Cheaper is not always better. One well-considered promotional gift
can have a far greater impact than a hundred smaller ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Make
it memorable.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
Don’t be afraid to get creative. Promotional products are a $19.83 billion
industry. Every year, thousands of new products come to market. Keep an eye out
for new and exciting ways to put them to work promoting your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cordial
Greetings Can Help<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From key chains and coloring books to
can coolers and coffee mugs, count on Cordial Greetings for a wide variety of
unique and best-selling promotional products. All of our items are easy to
customize and economical — and guaranteed to please.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Want to share your experience? Tell us how you’ve used promotional products
to expand YOUR business by posting your story below. We’d love to hear about
it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-19013826689737046402014-06-05T06:17:00.003-07:002014-06-05T06:17:25.983-07:00Picture This: Personalized Photo Business Cards & Calendars<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a company that specializes in quality
personalized promotional print products, Cordial Greetings embraces
opportunities to help small businesses build relationships and brand
recognition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Should I put my personal photograph on
my business card — or any other promotional products, for that matter?” — it’s
a question we get asked all of the time. Our answer? Yes! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whether you are a real estate agent, an
attorney, an insurance broker, a home repair persona, or a hair stylist — if
you operate as an independent contractor or a small business, you are your
business! Personalized photo promotional items are a great way to be memorable and
set you apart in the marketplace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Put
Your Best Face Forward <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cordial Greetings now offers a variety
of customizable <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/promotional-products/photo-business-cards">photo
business cards</a> and <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/calendars/economy-calendars?filters=Photo%20Personalized&view=Pages&sort=&page=1&name=catalog">photo
personalized economy calendars</a> that make it easy and affordable to put your
best face forward and:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be memorable. <br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Visual recognition can be a powerful tool. How many
times have you heard somebody say, “I don’t remember names, but I do
remember faces?” Photo business cards and promotional items are great
tools that can help jog a person’s memory— long after you meet face to
face.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Build brand awareness.</span></b></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You put your picture on your website,
your Facebook page, your LinkedIn profiles, Google + profiles, your Twitter
feeds — and quite possibly your brochures. Including your photo on your
business card is a smart way to reinforce the connection and build brand
awareness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make it personal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">People do business with those they
know, connect with, and trust. If you are in the business of building
relationships and want to be remembered, photo personalized promotional
products are a great way to create an emotional appeal and establish a personal
connection. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Build credibility.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A picture says a thousand words. If you
are in the business of building relationships and want to be known as a trusted
expert in your industry, a photo business card or calendar is a simple way to
build recognition and help people associate your face with your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stand out in a crowd. <br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consider all the business cards you collect — whether
it’s attending networking events, conducting business day-to-day, giving
or receiving a referral, etc. If you’re like most of us, you probably have
quite a stack. <i>How many of those
business cards are truly memorable? Can you recall or visualize who each
of those individuals are?</i> Photo
business cards are a smart way to stand out from the pack and be unique.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Smile
for the Camera!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/business-card-networking-leadership-careers-employment_slide_2.html">Dan
Crowther</a>, an online marketing consultant in Racine, Wisconsin, putting your
picture on your business card is his number one piece of advice for making your
card stand out. But that’s not to say
that any old photo will do. Make sure the photo you choose is professional and
matches the image you wish to communicate — a pleasant, friendly smile works
wonders, too!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What do you think? Do you use a
photo on your business card already? How has it been received? Let us
know by posting your experience below. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-78317650212491026922014-05-12T14:21:00.002-07:002014-05-12T14:21:46.382-07:00The Write Stuff: The Power of Promotional Pens <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even in our digitally connected world
of smart phones and keyboards, texts and emails, writing instruments are still
considered to be the #1 most popular promotional product. Why? Simply put,
people use them! We rely on pens and pencils regularly— at home, in the office,
and on the go — to leave notes, write reminders, sign documents, and mark
boxes. Their uses are endless!</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to a <a href="http://www.ppai.org/inside-ppai/research/documents/writinginstrumentstudy_final.pdf">2012
study</a> published by Promotional Products Association International (PPAI),
people in the United States use a pen 5-10 times a day. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Seventy-three percent of people in the
United States carry a pen with them at all times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">When it comes to <i>promotional</i> pens, the PPAI study also reported that of those who
have received a promotional pen:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">79 percent reported that they use promotional pens
they receive <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">40 percent reported they use them at
least 1-5 times a day <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">60 percent could recall the name
of the advertiser who gave them the pen<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">More than 50 percent of them could
remember the product or service<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Almost half of the people surveyed
said they often pass on the pens to another person<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Five
Benefits of Promotional Pens<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aside from statistics, here are five
more reasons that customized promotional pens have all of the components of the
“perfect” promotional product:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.
Customized promotional pens are used all of the time. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of
customized pens is that promotional pens are used on a daily basis — by people
of all ages and in every industry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.
Customized promotional pens are often shared. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like money, pens often move from hand
to hand. Statistics show that the average pen has seven different users in a
lifetime. While a promotional pen may start with an original customer, quite
often it will wind up in the hands of someone else. Every time the pen changes
hands, the company’s name and identity spreads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.
Customized promotional pens are easy to distribute. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Customized pens are small, portable and
convenient to pass around — at trade shows and special events — as well as within
your place of business. Recipients can carry them anywhere they go — quite
often they may pick up a promotional pen without even realizing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.
Customized promotional pens are inexpensive to produce. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Promotional pens are one of the least
expensive forms of advertising and ideal for companies with lean marketing
budgets. They provide maximum brand exposure at a surprisingly affordable
price. Cordial Greetings offers a wide range of options — some cost as little
as <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/promotional-products/pens/clic-stic-CS05">.49
cents a piece</a>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.
Customized promotional pens come in all shapes and styles.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There’s blue ones and black ones, red
ones and green ones – even pink and purple. The list of types and styles of
promo pens are endless. Cordial Greetings’ own selection of promotional pens
range from basic ballpoint pens to more sophisticated designs — such as our new
<a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/promotional-products/pens/stylus-click-pen-SCPEN">Stylus
Click Pen</a> that offers both the functionality of a pen, as well as a stylus.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">What are people’s favorites? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The PPAI study also revealed people’s
preferences for promotional writing instruments. The top five user favorites
were:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ballpoint
pen<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Roller
ball pen<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gel
pen<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Highlighter<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Permanent
marker<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Get
to the “point.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are looking for an easy,
inexpensive way to market your company and build brand awareness, a customized
promotional pen can be a smart addition to your marketing mix. <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/promotional-products/pens">Ready to get
started?</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-9117182011233686882013-12-20T13:56:00.000-08:002013-12-20T13:56:39.341-08:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">10 Easy Ways to use your Calendar as a Marketing Tool</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<b><i>What
do you get when you cross a kangaroo with a calendar? A leap year, of course!<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They come in all shapes and sizes. They bring images of glorious landscapes, icons
of patriotism, happy puppies, playful kittens, beautiful flowers and even the
smiling faces of your office staff! With
designs and styles too numerous to mention, calendars remain an economical and practical
way to market your business. <br />
<br />
Here are ten easy ways to market using this truly versatile tool!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Save
the date! </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Part
of a local festival? Having a
pre-holiday sale? Anniversary sale? Choose a desk or wall calendar and note your
special date with a bright sticker. Your
customers will be grateful for the easy reminder.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2. Say
<i>Cheese</i> ... or <i>First Bank and Trust</i>! </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Placing
the smiling faces of your office team on a photo-personalized calendar card
helps your customers -- and perspective clients -- see just who they'll be
dealing with! The importance of familiarity
in the business world can't be emphasized enough. Are you a one-person show? Consider a photo
card calendar with a business photo of yourself or add your family, for a more
personal touch. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3. Keep
your business info right before their eyes! </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How wonderful -- and how
easy! -- would it be to have your business information, address, telephone,
website and even business hours right before your customer's eyes, each and
every day? Imprinted desk calendars do
just that! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">4. Don't
just send a card -- send a gift! </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Calendar
greeting cards do twice the job for a fraction of the cost. Now when your loyal clients open your holiday
greeting card, they'll find not only your best wishes but a useful and
practical gift. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>Come
fly with me. </b>Travel agency? When you give the <i>Destinations 201</i>4 calendar to your clients not only are you giving
them a practical gift but a ... hint!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">6.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>Instant
art</b>! Wall calendars provide instant
brightness to a sometimes not-so-festive cubicle and add a nice addition to a
breakfast nook or home office space.
Warm, practical and imprinted with your business information, you won't
be forgotten -- you're a part of the decor!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. <b>Be a
hero! </b>When you donate calendars to a
local school or assisted living facility, your good deed -- and your business --
gets noticed! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">8.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>A
little something extra in the bag! </b>Save
mailing costs and target your market when you tuck a calendar into their
shopping bag or give a calendar magnet when you provide a service call. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">9.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>Get
your votes here! </b>Running for office?
Newly elected? Patriotic calendars are a wonderful way to
reach out to your constituents while providing important information about your
campaign or district office.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">10.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>Say <i>Ahhhhhhh</i>. </b>Whether puppies or kittens are your
clientele, offering their leash holders a puppy and kittens calendar with dates
pre-marked for their furry one's next vaccine or grooming appointment is a
great way to ensure a return visit.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hope these ten suggestions give you ideas that
help you market your business 365 days a year!
Cordial Greetings encourages you to share your ideas with us -- and
wishes you a happy, prosperous 2014!</span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-87174948236830232742013-11-18T15:05:00.000-08:002013-11-18T15:05:00.760-08:00Adding a Personal, Local Touch to your Marketing<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="bqquotelink1"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Disneyland is a work of love.
We didn't go into Disneyland just with the idea of making money. --
Walt Disney<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="bqquotelink1"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="bqquotelink1"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Business is
about people. When we approach our
customers as friends; when we create a business environment that feels
welcoming and when we provide products or services that deliver what they
promise at a fair cost -- we soon find our bottom line isn't quite so ...
bottom! <br />
<br />
As summer draws to a close and we settle into our regular routines, we find
that the sometimes lazy autumn season becomes the perfect time to touch base
with old </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">acquaintances and remind our customers that
they haven't been forgotten. Here are just a few examples of ways to spark the
interest of new clients while reminding our long standing customers that they
are truly valued:<br />
<br />
<b>Get your cider on!</b> Whether hosting a full-blown fall open house
or simply brewing an urn of hot cider or hot cocoa to have on-hand, you'll find
that even the simplest of personal touches will help you to stand out and be
remembered. They may come through the
door as customers -- but they'll leave as friends. <br />
<br />
<b>Trim the Tree. </b>Offer a week-long Tree or Wreath
decorating contest and prepare for a revolving door! Prospective customers -- not to mention participants -- will be
stopping by to check out the competition.
Add a coloring contest for the
little ones and now you really have a show.
Display the winners in your storefront window. This fun idea will truly live up to its name
as it acts like a beacon, drawing customers to your door.<br />
<br />
<b>Baby it's cold outside! </b>Autumn brings with it more time indoors --
and more time surfing the web and catching up with our social media sites. Don't forget to update your website, add some
cool seasonal colors or graphics and offer cyber coupons. As your customers check you out, remind them
that there's a coupon that they can access right then from their smart
phone. Remind them to “Like” you on
FaceBook for additional sales and promotions.
<br />
<br />
<b>I Yam who I Yam.</b> Popeye, that great guru of branding, knew his
stuff! Keep in mind as you shift your
colors, your themes, your products to suit the season, be true to your brand. If you are a floral shop known for your
unique arrangements, don't succumb to the tried-and-true
leaves-in-a-frosted-pumpkin. Stay
innovative! If you are the local coffee
shop, add a pumpkin spice selection.
Place those cool college sweatshirts front and center to remind those
who drive by of the big game that weekend.<br />
<br />
Reach out, stay in touch and welcome your customers in a way that only you can
-- and you'll never be at a loss for business! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-19509625863728206852013-09-13T07:41:00.001-07:002013-09-13T07:42:52.334-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Charlie Brown, you are the only
person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a
problem." Linus (Charles Schultz)<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's September.
It comes every year. The month
when we begin to hear the whispers of the approaching holiday season. It begins slowly. Back-to-school clothes replace the brightly
colored shorts and tees. Before long,
the appearance of the first turkey serving platter. It's only a matter of time. <br />
<br />
This year, why not get a head start and prevent the heretofore inevitable
deer-in-the-headlights moment when, standing amidst hanging snowflake ornaments
and over-stuffed Santas, you realize that (again) you're too late to market and
advertise effectively for the season. <br />
<br />
Here are a few easy-to-do suggestions that will jump start your advertising
campaign and will advertise <i>for</i> you!<br />
<br />
<b><i>I'm
here for the wooden spoon set.</i></b>
An interesting study by the Yale School of Management indicates
"the shopping momentum effect" is alive and well. Draw customers into your store and get them to
buy just <i>one </i></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thing -- and you'll
find that they will immediately begin looking for other things to buy. When you advertise to bring your holiday
shoppers through the door, keep that in mind and offer special pricing on an
item or service everyone can use. <br />
<br />
<b><i>Haul
out the holly.</i></b> Literally. Decorating your storefront will set the
holiday atmosphere before they ever walk through the door. Change it just a bit each week and you'll
keep interest piqued! <br />
<br />
<b><i>Stick
to your reputation.</i> </b>A holiday
card in an envelope sealed with a sticker will be less likely to be tossed and
will show your customers that, true to your reputation, you take that extra
step to make things perfect. <br />
<br />
<b><i>Don't
break the bank. </i></b>Take advantage
of early-bird specials on 2014 calendars and holiday cards. When you order early you save not only money
but you buy yourself time by having your cards in-hands and ready to be
addressed whenever you are ready! <br />
<br />
<b><i>Gift
cards ... keep giving!</i> </b>Stock up
on gift cards and keep them on display at the register. Not only are they great gift giving ideas for
your customers -- but great gifts <i>for</i>
your customers, as well. Consider
advertising a free $10 gift card with every $50 purchase.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Local
Saturday</i>. </b>Focus on local traffic
on the Saturday before Christmas. Last
minute shoppers will welcome ideas for those last minute purchases. <br />
<br />
Hope this list spurs some ideas that will encourage you to begin strategizing
early -- hopefully avoiding those last minute marketing misses!</span>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-90535212452029154332013-08-15T11:14:00.001-07:002013-08-15T11:14:17.412-07:00Making the Most of a Negative Review<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SEND
IN THE LEMONS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">… make lemonade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Few things are more humbling in our business lives than
receiving a negative review. Like most
things, it’s not so much the event as it is how we deal with the
aftermath. We’ve assembled a few
suggestions to hopefully help you weather this inevitable storm and to realize
there is good that can be taken from a negative review. From evaluation to recognition to resolution,
here is a mini-guide to helping all involved feel better!<br />
<br />
<b><i>Give
me five.</i></b> Reacting immediately to
a negative critique is the equivalent of taking the club from your reviewer’s
hands and hitting <i>yourself </i>over the
head. Brilliant financier Warren Buffett
was once asked what was the greatest piece of business advice he had ever been
given. Without hesitation, he said he
was once advised: “Remember,
Warren: There’s always tomorrow to tell
someone to (take a leap)!” <br />
<br />
Whether you have read feedback online or actually have endured a face-to-face
unhappy camper, your long-term best response is to step away from the keyboard
or, if you are confronted in person, simply say, “I appreciate you’re taking
the time to share your thoughts. I’ll
certainly think about all that you’ve said.”
Ask for their number or email address so that you can follow-up.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Really?</i></b> Here’s the part where we get our coffee and
close our door. It’s also the part where
our conclusion determines our next step.
Was your receptionist honestly rude?
Was your promised delivery time missed by a mile? Was your floral arrangement prepared with
white carnations when they ordered red roses?
Could you really have served breaded rubber bands and saved the cost of
fresh calamari? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">We always fry it for three minutes.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Determining if the criticism is valid really <i>is</i> the first step to resolution. Have you had complaints before about Sally at
the front desk? Has your delivery
service been late getting to your shop for a pick-up? <br />
<br />
Here’s how we know: Take a listen to how
Sally approaches your customers. Are
there times when she’s swamped and gets a little snippy? Pull that floral order. Could you have read it wrong? Try the calamari. <br />
<br />
<b><i>Squeeze
the Lemons.</i></b><i> </i>First, right the cause of the wrong, if
there was one. Change delivery services
or put them on notice. The front desk is
a hectic mess and Sally really could use some back-up during rush times. You didn’t read the description of the
arrangement – only the item number. The
difference between the “5” and the “3” was … well, roses vs. carnations. Have each order double-checked (not by
Sally!) to be certain the description matches the product. The new fryer runs hotter – looks like it’s
now only two minutes for the calamari.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Pour
the Lemonade.</i></b> Perhaps the most
important strategy of all in winning the war against negative comments is to
respond in the same venue as the critique was first given. If you received unflattering feedback via
social media, respond both on your Facebook/Web page and to the
individual. Keep it very, very
brief. If the comment was a valid
criticism, thank them for their input and explain the changes you’ve made. (Keep in mind, if Sally had to go … this
isn’t the place to announce it!) If the
critique wasn’t valid, then the simple response thanking them for their input,
along with a little blurb about how your customers are valued partners, works
best. (Because it’s true.) <br />
<br />
Customers will remember how you resolved their problem longer than they will
remember the problem. A refund for the
floral arrangement, totally your fault, is in order. An apology?
Those always come from you – you are after all the name on the
door. A nasty server, unpleasant
customer service representative – or even Rude Sally – shouldn’t be the ones to
apologize to the customer for that is the very best way to unleash an
Armageddon-sized can of worms. Offering
a gift card is a great way to ask for a second chance to do it right. The next appetizer is on us! <br />
<br />
Just remember that the worst possible mistake is doing nothing. Even if you feel the critique is thoroughly
unjustified, responding will mitigate the damage! <br />
<br />
Now, pass the calamari! <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-72694293160219525932013-06-10T14:36:00.001-07:002013-06-10T14:39:49.411-07:00Keeping In Touch with Your Customers <b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I'm
not a marketing person. I don't ask
myself questions. </span></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I go by
instinct." Karl Lagerfeld</span><br />
<br />
</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether keeping in touch with friends or family,
greeting cards remain an economical, fun, thoughtful way to do just that. <br />
<br />
That same philosophy makes an easy jump to our business world when we begin to
look at our customers as our business-friends.
Not only can we say “hello” and remind our customers that we are there to
help when needed or to wish them well on their birthday, but we can (and
should!) use this handy keep-in-touch method as a vehicle to update our
customers on everything from our monthly specials to a change in contact
information.<br />
<br />
Greeting cards are just one "marketing tool” that works. Let's take a look at a few more marketing
ideas that don't come with a hit-you-over-the-head club, but yet are super
effective ways of making things happen!<br />
<br />
<b><i>I
Like You ... </i> </b>Social media really
is the latest and greatest way to stay in touch and let your customers know
what you're up to. Offer a coupon to those
who <i>Like</i> you on Facebook. Don't forget to post often and encourage
customers to visit your page for deals not offered anywhere else. Placing cyber-coupons on your page makes it
easy for customers to effortlessly "carry" your coupons, rather than
clipping and cutting and arriving with a messy tangle. <br />
<br />
<b><i>You
can take it with you ... </i></b>Colorful bookmarks with your company name and
address; recipe cards with your kitchen store hours; coloring sheets or squeaky
new crayons for the little ones -- offer your customers something to take with
them and you've struck marketing gold.
Now they are reminded of you each and every time they bake a pie or turn
a page or are presented with another masterpiece from their child. You've become part of their everyday world. <br />
<br />
<b><i>Don't
Be Shy ...</i></b> Link your promotion
to a public event. Sponsor the local
run/walk race and offer a free gift or discount from your storefront for all of
those who participate. Being seen in the
community helps to show customers that you're not just the shop on the corner,
but an integral part of the town.<br />
<br />
There are many (many!) ways that we can market.
Choose the vehicle that seems right for you ... or stretch yourself a
bit! Reaching out to your customer as we
would any friend will create long-lasting, profitable partnerships. </span>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-39749753346240533392013-05-21T08:15:00.003-07:002013-05-21T08:16:47.096-07:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"In
the world of Internet Customer Service, it’s important to remember your
competitor is only one mouse click away."
</span></b><i><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doug Warner </span></b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">... </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or a
call away, a block away, an advertised sale away ... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although
Mr. Warner may be referring to internet customer service the truth is that,
whether we're clicking it or walking it, Main Street is bigger than ever. Even savvy business owners can no longer be
confident that their customers are captive audiences, as theirs' isn’t the only
game in town. Customer service is more
important than ever. It not only keeps
one's customers coming back, but it's often the linchpin for drawing new
customers through the door. <br />
<br />
Here are a few basic rules to not only draw new customers, but new-to-you
customers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To thine own self be true. </i> Bill Shakespeare must have owned a small book
store! Remember when all this
began? Remember your great idea, your
enthusiasm for the products you carry or the service you provide? Get back there! Being true to your mission statement, true to
your dream, will instantly provide a certain level of service that your
customers will feel, respond to and (better yet) spread the word about. Trite but true: Your business is a clear reflection of who
you are. When people feel comfortable
with you, they feel comfortable working with you.<br />
<br />
<i>Whatever you are, be a good one.</i> If you are the Mom and Pop diner with your
storefront nestled between the florist and the hardware store, don't try to be
the shiny new giant Starbucks down the street.
Know that there is a service you provide that can't be -- and isn't
being -- duplicated by a competitor.
Know your niche and embrace it rather than putting your efforts into
becoming something else. Abe Lincoln's
homespun wisdom seemed to work for him!<br />
<br />
<i>Would Macy's tell Gimble's ....</i>? Run your own race, but keep your eyes open. When seeking to draw (and you should seek to
draw!) clients who are unhappy with the service a competitor is offering, first
take a look at what exactly that service is.
Do your research. Pull some of
your competitors' brochures. Visit their
web sites. How are you the same and
where do you differ? How <i>can</i> you differ? What client-base isn't being served? Armed with your competitors' marketing
strategies, it will be easier to see what's worked and what hasn't. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Make new friends, but keep the
old! </i>There is little that frustrates a long-time customer
more than finding your storefront emblazoned with a banner offering special
discounts to new customers. Should you
advertise to welcome them?
Absolutely! That being said, you
may want to herald in your campaign targeting new customers at the same time
you offer a customer appreciation celebration.
Want a little more bang for your buck? -- run your customer appreciation
week immediately prior to your welcoming-new-customer offers. Your current customers will feel you thought
of them first -- and your new customers are likely to have seen how you value
your old customers, as well. <br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Revisiting the core
of your business -- who you are -- is the fastest route to becoming who you
want to be and will provide invaluable insights into how to get there.<br />
<br />
The Cordial Greetings Team encourages you to take your lead from the budding
trees and flowers around you -- make
this be the spring your business blooms brightly!</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-87518699732590016222013-05-01T13:14:00.001-07:002013-05-01T13:14:09.277-07:00Taking Back Your Schedule<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Once you have mastered time,
you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can
accomplish in a year – and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!" </span></em>A.Robbins</div>
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<br /></div>
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Whether you are <i>the</i>
Jim in Jim's Plumbing and Heating or <i>the</i>
Verna in Flowers by Verna; whether your small business is operated out of a
rented space with its own water cooler or a home office/back-bedroom, for
the small business owner time is a precious commodity. The busier you get -- and that is the idea
after all! -- the more precious your time becomes. </div>
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<br /></div>
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As your business grows you will no doubt find yourself being
tugged and pulled in what may feel like a million directions. At the end of the day, you may feel as though
you've spent your time chasing your tail rather than making the progress
necessary to stay on top. You are
likely to arrive home exhausted and wanting the name and number of the inventor
of the phrase <i>Work Life Balance. </i> And it's only Tuesday.</div>
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<br /></div>
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While few of us may be able to "master" time, most
of us can leash it a bit! Here are a few
observations and suggestions to help you do just that:<br />
<br />
<i>Tail Chaser:</i> "<em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To do two things at once is to do neither."</span></em><i> </i><i>Publius
Syrus. <br />
</i><br />
Good old Publius was right: multi-tasking
doesn't work. Well, at least not the way
we've been encouraged to do it for decades.
Often we feel that if we can do two things at once then we have used our
time so much more effectively. We have
cheated the clock! Too soon, what we find
is that it is much more likely we've cheated our customer out of the attention
they deserve and ourselves out of the pride that comes from knowing our name is
attached to something really first quality.
<br />
<br />
<i>Solution:
</i>Go ahead and love your multi-tasking, but do it in blocks of
time. There's a difference between
multi-tasking and doing two things at once!
Spend the first or last 15
minutes of your day reviewing the priority list you've prepared the evening
before. Become familiar with when you
had planned to start and end each task -- and do it! Yes, even if you just need five more minutes
...! Learning to take control of your
time -- rather than the other way around -- will make you more effective than
you may imagine.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Tail Chaser:</i> "Um."<br />
<br />
<i>Solution:
</i>You may be surprised how many hours of your business life are spent
"hemming and hawing" when you already really know your answer. Taking a deep breath and telling a vendor "No" the first time will save you the many interruptions that will come from their
calls when they are simply looking for that decisive "Yes or No"!<br />
<br />
<i>Tail Chaser: </i>"Oh -- do we want to talk about
...?"</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Solution: </i>To meet without an agenda is an enormous
taker of your time! Choose a start time
for your meeting -- but choose a logical duration (and stick to it!) as
well. The experts tell us that
meandering meetings are one of the biggest time drainers. Be smart about scheduling -- you want to be
certain to leave enough time between meetings to actually do something
productive. A fifteen minute break will
likely only give you a five-free-minute window -- enough time to do nothing!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Tail Chaser: </i>"I'll just finish this one
thing and head home ..."<br />
<br />
<i>Solution:
</i>Stop "working" 30-minutes before you leave for the
day. Take those minutes and organize
your desk (ugh! , but a messy desk is a huge time waster), and spend a few
moments reorganizing your thoughts.
Reviewing the day. Making notes
as you go for tomorrow. Prioritize the
next day's tasks and leave your schedule book open on your desk or print out
your to-do list so that it's the first thing that you see when you arrive in
the morning. Scrambling takes not only
time, but drains energy! Having things
ready to go first thing will give you a calm first-look as your day
begins. <br />
<br />
These are just a few observations and solutions that we have identified -- we
could go on and on listing those Tail Chasers -- and know that we all have our
own to add to this list, as well. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Cordial Team welcomes you to share your
Chasers and solutions and will continue to blog about ways to ... leash!<br />
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<!--[endif]--></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-42860679365522430342013-04-08T12:34:00.000-07:002013-04-08T12:55:59.635-07:00Social Media for Small Businesses<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>"When you give everyone a voice and give people power, the system usually ends up in a really good place."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">-- </span>Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and Facebook Founder<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Main Street just got bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer is your small business limited to geography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now your muffins that sell-out on Sunday mornings can sell-out every day of the week with the help of social media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br />The statistics?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are mind-numbing when one considers the potential!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his recent marketing blog, Pedro Hernandez noted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bone Suckin' Sauce</i> -- a BBQ sauce business -- increased its sales by 83% when they began posting on Facebook in earnest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sam's Chowder House</i> increased both their monthly gross revenues and monthly reservations by 19% when they committed to social media promotions. <br /><br />Love it ... or not s'much! ... Twitter, Facebook, InstaGram (along with whatever new platform rolls out today!) are probably here to stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cordial Greetings wants to help you take advantage of the endless potential social media offers for promoting your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a few tips to get you started: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Don't think local</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world is now your oyster, as the saying goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are your birthday cupcakes famous in Peoria?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, they have birthdays in Jacksonville, too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not run an easy contest for the cupcake that travels the farthest?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Send two dozen of your can't-live-without-once-you-try-them cookies to the client who orders each month from the greatest distance!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Okay:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go ahead and think local.</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want to increase foot traffic?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Offer on-line in-store coupons for those customers lucky enough to live nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monday not exactly your busiest day at the floral shop?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facebook a special that offers a free flower each Monday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guaranteed that, when the time comes for that pricey arrangement, it will be your threshold they cross!<br /><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Post post post ... post post.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then post some more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Studies have shown that social media followers are just that -- followers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will check your site, friend you, read your blogs, watch for your posts and special offers -- and keep watching!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may be surprised to find how often your blogs are visited and your on-line coupons used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trick is consistency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our social media-ites are nothing if not consistent!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you begin your online campaign -- keep it up!<br /><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Coupons ... they're not just for clipping anymore.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last month we blogged about coupons accessible with our smart phones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instant savings -- literally! -- that can be Googled while a customer is waiting for her oil change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These types of sales offers, promoted on Facebook and Twitter as well as your business site, are invaluable -- instant -- and always appreciated tools.<br /><br />We could go on and on with the many ways that small businesses can benefit from the social media age, but here's the rule of thumb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it's about building relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we share our ideas and offers with clients and prospective clients, we help them find out what our business is all about -- and who we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br />For decades, the Cordial Greetings Team has been doing just that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With our collection of real-world products and now with the introduction of our Mobile Landing Pages, Cordial's experts are ready to help your business ... go social!<br /><br />As always, we would love to hear your comments and suggestions!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-55922535095031856562013-03-18T12:07:00.000-07:002013-04-08T12:54:15.942-07:00Mobile Marketing for Small Businesses<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" <b>An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator...these are NOT three separate devices! And we are calling it iPhone! Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone. And here it is." -- Steve Jobs</b></span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
Whether you are team iPhone, Android or Windows, you are utilizing a digital device. Technology --friend or foe... or both!-- is with us to stay. As the world --our client base -- grows increasingly comfortable with hand-held devices, as business owners we would be remiss, at best, not to take advantage of this new, innovative marketing tool and means of reaching our customers. According to Neilson, the iPhone itself grew at a rate of ten times faster than that of America Online.<br />
<br />
<br />
Jamie Turner, the founder of <i>The 60 Second Marketer</i>, offers some amazing, insightful statistics:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>While it take an average of 26 hours for a person to report their wallet lost, it takes less than 68 minutes to report their phone missing.</li>
<br />
<li>In some countries, there are actually more cell phones than there are people-- and there are more mobile phones on the planet than there are televisions! </li>
<br />
<li><i>CTIA</i> tells us that 90 minutes is the average response time to an email .... while it's 90<i> seconds</i> for a text message.</li>
<br />
<li>The Mobile Marketing Association Asia reported in 2011 that while the technology world could boast that out of 6.8 billion people on the planet, 5.1 billion own a cell phone.... the dental industry didn't fair as well: Only 4.2 billion have a toothbrush.</li>
</ul>
<div>
As fun as these stats are to read-- and sometimes as shocking-- more to the point are these findings:</div>
<div>
<ul><br />
<li>97% of all U.S. citizens have their mobile devices within their reach 24/7. ( <i>Morgan Stanley</i>)</li>
<br />
<li>70% of all mobile searches result in an action within one hour of the initial search. ( <i>Mobile Marketer</i>)</li>
<br />
<li>Coupons delivered to mobile phones get 10 x's the redemption rate of traditional coupons.( <i>Borrell Associates </i>)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
The challenge for the small business owner had understandably been where to begin with what can be a daunting task and can require resources that aren't readily available. The answer is <i><b>Cordial Greetings</b></i>. We are known for our business-owner friendly approach to keeping in touch with your customers. We now offer a simple approach to offering a mobile marketing white-page and implementing a branded mobile landing page for your business.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Still sound complicated? Visit<a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/promotional-products/mobile-landing-pages?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=March%2BPost&utm_campaign=Mobile%2BLanding%2BPage" rel="nofollow"> www.CordialGreetings.com</a> to see our product or view our super- easy- to- understand <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/customer-service/mobile-landing-page-how-does-it-work?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=March%2BPost&utm_campaign=Mobile%2BLanding%2BPage%2BVideo" rel="nofollow">video</a> and quickly learn how simple it is to move your business into the mobile age.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Providing your business information to your existing or soon-to be customers in this way opens up an entirely new base for your business and it's cheap, easy and hands free! ( No pun intended) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Learn more by contacting a Cordial Greetings' mobile marketing expert at 1-800-257-8276.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We can't wait to help you put your business on the path to making the right "call"!</div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-2329989962752795862013-03-06T12:45:00.000-08:002013-03-06T12:45:54.075-08:00Out with the Old.... in with the New!Just as we are reminded that it's time for our clocks to "Spring Ahead!," it's a great time to spring ahead with our own business plan, as well.<br />
<br />
Rather than waiting for the rush of the holiday season, take advantage of Cordial Greetings' best prices on items specifically designed to help you grow your business by growing your relationships. The only way, the experts tell us, that really works.<br />
<br />
What better way to tell your customers that they are in your thoughts each day than the gift of a Cordial Greetings' calendar? Economical and versatile, Cordials' team has created a design to suit everyone.<br />
<br />
Florists, for example, love our <em>Garden Splendor - </em>brimming with an array of seasonal favorites.<br />
<br />
Your coastal bed- and -breakfast guests will be delighted- and reminded to book ahead- when they receive our <em>Lighthouses </em>2014 calendar.<br />
<br />
Whether you choose <em>Historic Landmarks </em>or <em>Wonders of the World,</em> you'll score points sending these beautiful photos to the travelers or travel- dreamers on your list.<br />
<br />
Who doesn't love to commiserate and have a laugh? <em>Murphy's Law </em>shows your clients we are all in this together!<br />
<br />
Non-profits and church groups can easily encourage benefactors or congregation members with our <em>Inspirations </em>or <em>Christian Reflections </em>desk or wall calendars.<br />
<br />
Don't forget friends and family! Planning a class or family reunion in 2014? Wedding? Graduation? What a great way to remind family and friends that 2014 will truly be a special year.<br />
<br />
Whatever your reason, Cordial's calendars offer the appropriate style, illustrations and send the perfect message. <br />
<br />
So, on March 10th, turn those clocks forward with anticipation- and let Cordial Greetings 2014 calendars help you spring ahead!<br />
<br />
Our Cordial Greetings team welcomes your questions, comments and suggestions!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-30554848397616636692013-02-15T12:37:00.002-08:002013-02-15T12:38:03.365-08:00Promote via Presidents' Day!<h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> George, Abe and ... <em>You</em>!</span></h2>
<br />
Although George Washington officially blew out his candles on February 22nd-- just a few days behind Abraham Lincoln on February 12th-- it wasn't until 1971 that Congress officially declared that Presidents' Day would be celebrated as a Federal Holiday the third Monday of each February. This year, Presidents' Day falls on the 18th.<br />
<br />
Whether or not you indulge in a slice of cherry pie to celebrate George or chop an extra log or two for the fire in remembrance of Abe, this day surely reminds us of the strong, intelligent and brave men and women who have helped put the freedoms we enjoy each day into place. <br />
<br />
Cordial Greetings line of <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/collections/specialty-products/patriotic?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=card&utm_campaign=Feb" rel="nofollow">patriotic cards and calendars</a> can be a wonderful reminder of just that to your clients and friends-- as well as serving as a shout-out from you!<br />
<br />
Take advantage of Cordial's early bird special pricing and select either the <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/collections/specialty-products/patriotic/patriotic-pride-X1167?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=CG&utm_campaign=Feb" rel="nofollow">Patriotic Pride</a> or <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/collections/specialty-products/patriotic/colors-of-america-X6658?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=CGC&utm_campaign=Feb" rel="nofollow">Colors of America</a> holiday card. With the American flag cleverly incorporated into the design, whether your taste is elegant or casual-fun, Cordial Greetings has got you covered.<br />
<br />
<br />
Maybe you want to share your sentiments 365-days a year? With Cordial's variety of calendar styles there is something for everyone.<br />
<br />
Card to Calendar styles combine the best of both worlds-- the sophistication of a greeting card sharing a holiday message and the practicality of a 12-month calendar presented in a tri-fold card.<br />
<br />
Need something economical and practical--something to keep your name, address and phone number in front of your clients' eyes? Cordial's <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/calendars/economy-calendars?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=EC&utm_campaign=Feb" rel="nofollow">economy calendar line</a> has been the perennial go-to collection for the smart business owners looking to give an everyday reminder on their clients' desks.<br />
<br />
Self-adhesive styles declare your patriotism with the image of the waving Stars and Stripes. Magnetic economy calendars offer the bold colors and vivid image of our flag--and 2014 adds a touch of gold, displaying the year.<br />
<br />
Whatever your taste, style or budget, Cordial Greetings Patriotic Collection has a card or calendar that will surely be the perfect fit.<br />
<br />
This February, Cordial Greetings salutes our customers with great ideas, great products and great prices to help make your business reach the stars (and stripes)!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213224266617556372.post-67186348869869549532013-02-05T12:01:00.000-08:002013-02-06T12:08:58.458-08:00Treat Your Customers Like Family<i>" I squirrel away sealed greeting cards that people give me so that I can open them later when I am having a bad day.</i>"- Emily Procter<br />
<br />
There's simply no doubt that cards touch us. As Valentine's Day approaches, it reminds us that the feelings we wish to share with those we care about the most are easily expressed- and most easily received - when we send a card.<br />
<br />
Whether we are telling someone how much we care or sending a note of recognition or appreciation, cards are a wonderful vehicle for those feelings. Invoke a sense or feeling of; I care enough to take the time and I thought about you.<br />
<br />
This year, take full advantage of Cordial's easy approach to making your business look great and your customers feel valued.<br />
<br />
<i>Where do I start?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Plan early! </i>The beginning of the year is a busy one for us all. It's only natural to commit something to memory in February... only to have the occasion sail by and your good intentions go unfulfilled.<br />
Keep an active list of clients and their special occasions, that you would like to remember with a<a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/cards?utm_source=BLOG&utm_medium=link&utm_term=card&utm_campaign=VD" rel="nofollow"> greeting card</a><a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/cards?utm_source=BLOG&utm_medium=link&utm_term=card&utm_campaign=VD" rel="nofollow"> </a>or <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/calendars?utm_source=BLOG&utm_medium=link&utm_term=calendar&utm_campaign=VD1" rel="nofollow">calendar</a> and make sure to set a reminder to check it on a certain day of the week or month.<br />
<br />
<i>Keep planning early! </i>Oftentimes, our fiscal year-end arrives at the same time as our holiday expenses. When we understand the impact of something as simple as sending a greeting card can have on our business; it's a no-brainer to earmark a bit of our advertising budget.<br />
<br />
<i>We know you! </i>Your the electrical contractor with a client- list as long as your arm, and your time isn't best served browsing shiny catalogs to find the perfect choice to represent you and your business. No worries!<br />
Our new website <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/" rel="nofollow">www.cordialgreetings.com</a> brings to you the feature of shopping by <i>Collections</i>. <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/collections" rel="nofollow">Collections</a> does the work for you by grouping together calendars, cards and promotional items themed just for you. In just a few minutes, you are set and ready to connect with your customers all year long!<br />
<br />
<i>What about my Real Life?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Cordial's products are anything but industrial! Known and respected for creating high-quality, affordable, stylish <a href="http://bit.ly/14EwzVH" rel="nofollow">greeting cards</a> and <a href="http://www.cordialgreetings.com/calendars" rel="nofollow">calendars</a>, you'll be certain to find the design and sentiment that's just right for your personal use too!<br />
<br />
The Cordial Greetings family wishes you a warm and lovely Valentine's day!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16346561267582084381noreply@blogger.com0