It’s tradeshow season – time to rehearse because, after all, you and your company are on stage. We know that your plate is overflowing with 2012 priorities and we’d like to help you in any way that we can. Here are 5 tips that will help ensure that your tradeshow season is a success:

1. Size Matters
It’s important for your booth to be the right size for your company.  If your company is new to tradeshow marketing, you’ll want to start out with an inline 10’ x 10’ or 10’ x 20’ booth.  Get a feel for the pros and cons of these booths shelling out the big bucks for an island exhibit.  Generally, smaller booths get less traffic than larger ones – for three reasons – location, location, location.  Bigger exhibits are usually closer to the main entrance, centrally located and along the main aisles.  The biggest advantage of the larger (island) exhibits is square footage and height.  Some island exhibits are two stories, can include meeting rooms, have multiple kiosks, presentation areas and floor to ceiling graphics.  Smaller inline displays only allow for you to do so much.

More than likely, you exhibit at more than one trade show a year with the importance of some outweighing others.  At your main show, you’ll want a bigger presence while at others, you may only need a table top display.

The general rule of thumb is that you need to be at the trade shows your competition attends and that you need to be as big in presence—if not bigger.  More importantly, it’s important to determine what your goals are for the show and what you need to do to exceed those goals.

2. Cluttered Graphics
Less is more and while some people think the booth needs to tell the complete story, it doesn’t.  That’s why you have people staffing the booth.  The purpose of the graphics is to identify the company and draw in traffic with simple, clean visuals.  Exhibit booths are a lot like billboards – you have only a few seconds to attract the interest of your target market.  That doesn’t mean your graphics can’t be colorful and creative.  You just don’t want there to be sensory overload when someone is trying to learn about your company.

3. Giveaways Just Because…
Don’t hand out giveaways just because everyone else is doing it.  Sure, everyone likes logoed items, but if your items don’t have a purpose, you’re just giving stuff away—and inevitably wasting money. If the recipients of your giveaways pick it up only to throw it out—or worse—aren’t even interested enough to throw it in their goodie bag, your brand and message aren’t being seen. We recommend have three levels of giveaway items at a tradeshow:

• Something for scoopers – this is an item that costs less than a dollar for the people that just come by the booth to get stuff.  This item should not only have your logo but it should have a web address for them to go to learn more about your company.  Bonus:  If it has a special web address specifically for the show that gives them the opportunity to learn more about your purpose at the show.  i.e. Introduction of a new product or service.

• Something for qualified prospects – depending on your budget, this could range from $2-5.  The people who receive these items are ones who would be a good fit for your product or service.  Perhaps they attended a presentation or demonstration.  The product you’re giving them should reinforce your company’s brand and offering.

• Something for clients – often times you’ll have clients visit you at a tradeshow booth.  You’ll want to reinforce your relationship with a gift.  Depending on the value of a client to your business, these can be $5-50.  Often times, nice golf shirts are given to clients so they can be walking brand disciples for your company.

No matter the item, make sure it’s relevant to your tradeshow audience.

4. Booth Staff Not Trained
Staff training is an often overlooked area that makes or breaks a trade show.  Just because you have sale reps in the booth doesn’t mean they know how to work a show.  Training before the show and before the show each day ensures that everyone is singing from the same songbook.  Each person who walks into your booth is deciding whether or not to purchase your product or service. A knowledgeable staff member can be the key to closing a sale or getting a prospective client interested enough to pick up the phone and call your company.

And don’t forget—details matter. Make sure everyone at the tradeshow is on the same page. Is everyone wearing what they should be wearing on a given day?  Is eating allowed in the booth?  Can booth staff be on the phone or answering email while in the booth?  These are just a few of the questions that need to be answered when you train your staff.  It’s a big investment to be at a show; everyone should be on top of their game.

5. Poor Follow Up on Leads
To echo what was said in #4 – it’s a big investment to be at a show; everyone should be on top of their game.  Your post show marketing plan is just as important as your pre-show plan to attract people to come to your booth.  Leads should be handled within 48 hours after you get back to the office.  Carefully tracking leads after a show determines the ROI for a show and if it is worth attending the next year.

#1. Do not wait until the stroke of midnight

Although awesome promotional product companies (i.e. Bullpen Marketing) can turn orders on a dime, some unknown factors can be hard to control such as inventory, shipping errors and acts of God. Also, waiting to the very last minute on orders can incur hefty expedited shipping costs, not to mention unhealthy stress and agitation levels. If possible, allow time for unforeseen events and place orders well in advance to avoid these last-minute headaches.

#2. Do not give a pork chop to a vegetarian

Not knowing your targeted audience for your promotional product campaign is a disastrous mistake leading to wasted time and money. There’s a simple reason for this: People will not keep something that doesn’t resonate with them. You wouldn’t give a vegetarian a pork chop, would you? No matter the case, the promotional items you’re handing out should have the goal of getting more sales and better customer response. Take some time to think about your intended audience and ask yourself “Would they like this item?” Better yet, use your promotional product company (such as Bullpen) as a resource for product selection advice. This isn’t our first rodeo…or trade show…or client appreciation dinner…or employee safety program…or…well—you get the picture.

#3. Do not have unrealistic expectations

If it feels looks like a $0.25 pen, and writes like a $0.25 pen—it’s probably a $0.25 pen… While there are several items that make for fantastic money-saving deals, in most cases you undoubtedly get what you pay for. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with giving out $0.25 pens at a trade show. But keep your expectations in check. These pens may not last as long or look as appealing and therefore not have the same impact or staying power than another priced pen or item.

#4. Do not keep things to yourself

The promotional item is important to the recipient, but what is on the promotional product itself what’s most important to you. Just as a billboard, you need to share all the vital and relevant information. If you’re trying to drive traffic to a website, make sure your URL is on there—or, for the tech savvy recipient, perhaps a QR code that opens a mobile friendly webpage. If you’re only putting your logo symbol on there, will the recipient be able to identify it and make the connection to your company? Or would it make more sense to have the company name written out? Get the most out of your promotional marketing by having the correct information on your items.

#5. Do not have good intentions

Don’t get me wrong. Good intentions are…good. However, if you order 200 calendars and give away 100 of them while intending to get the rest out as soon as you can isn’t a good strategy. Promotional items don’t do any any good if they’re sitting in your company’s storage room intending to be distributed. Unless there’s a lot of unsought after business in there.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMm0Hj0kR-w

Bullpen has a large offering of different products for you to choose from.  Let us help you find the perfect corporate gifts for your clients, prospects, boards and employees.

Tip #1. Don’t do it alone. Email marketing service providers are your friend. They can help you maintain and segment your lists, provide you with nifty design templates, connect to social media,  track performance and much more. We’re big fans of MailChimp here. They even offer an absolutely free (no joke) level of service. What’s better than free?

Tip #2. Back to basics. When you get into the design portion of your eblasts, make sure you stick to old school tables to get the best cross platform compatibility. CSS is great for web sites, but don’t you dare use it for your eblast. After your programming is done, don’t think you’re done. Test it. Then test it again. And then test it some more. You’ll want to test on the major online email readers like Yahoo and Gmail, not to mention the very stinky desktop readers such PC platform Microsoft Outlook and the very awesome Mac platform Entourage. (What bias?!)

Tip #3. Don’t be sketchy. Always make sure to include a one-click “unsubscribe” link to give your readers the options of opting out. Ideally, your e-blasts will be so awesome and helpful that no one will want to unsubscribe—but let people make their own decisions. Also, if your company has a private policy online, go ahead and provide that link to your readers.

Tip #4. The bold and the beautiful. You’re sending an email, not building a fancy pants website. At most, you’ll have text and images. No javascript, no flash, no embedded videos. You’ll want to keep images to a minimum if possible. Keep in mind that email programs and mobile devices have a tendency of stripping out images. And when you do use images, make sure you have your alt tags setup. Make sure your emails make sense—even without the pretty pictures.

Tip #5. Don’t be annoying. Make sure before you send out an e-blast you actually have something to say that people want to listen to. Be concise with your words, get to the point and again, keep it simple. And remember—the only person who wants a daily e-blast from you is your mother.

Tip #6. Only bad people buy lists. If the people you’re emailing didn’t ask to get an email from you, don’t send one. You’re just setting yourself up for failure at that point, and even worse, you risk losing your email marketing service provider if you get one too many unsubscribes or complaints. And if that happens, people will point, laugh and make fun of you. Rightly so.

Tip #7. Viagra! While it gets your attention, it will not reach any inbox. Stay away from spammy words or phrases that might raise an electronic eyebrow—especially in your subject line. Words to avoid include viagra, free, limited time, click here, sales, sample, trial, quote…well, you get the point. Also, ALL CAPS is a no-no. (That and it reads like you’re yelling at your reader—SO STOP IT!)

Still confused? Have questions? Or would rather let someone else worry about tables, alt tags and getting everything right? Give Bullpen a call today at 713.652.2030.

The upcoming holiday season is the perfect time to let your clients know how much you think of them. A stylish pen set with your logo and your client’s name or initials is a personal way to make a long lasting impression. Below are five classy pen sets that cost $40 or less. Best of all, the laser engraved personalization is free until the end of the year.

Cutter & Buck Facet Pen Set

This handsome set includes the Cutter & Buck Facet Roller Ball and Cutter & Buck Facet Twist. It comes with a standard European black roller ball and black ballpoint ink cartridges. The set comes with a genuine-top-grain leather gift box with Cutter & Buck signature snap. $40.00 (click thumbnail for larger image)

Cutter & Buck Parallel Pen Set

The Cutter & Buck Parallel Pen Set adds elegant styling with handcrafted Italian resin. The set includes the Cutter & Buck Parallel Roller Ball with removable cap and standard European black roller ball ink cartridge along with the Cutter & Buck Parallel Twist with twist action mechanism and standard European black ballpoint ink cartridge. The set comes with a signature Cutter & Buck leather gift box. $40.00 (click thumbnail for larger image)

Cutter & Buck Collectors Edition Pen Set

The Cutter & Buck Collectors Edition Pen Set includes the Cutter & Buck Collector’s Edition Twist and Roller Ball pens. Both of these pens use standard European black ink cartridges. The pen set is packaged handsomely in a Cutter & Buck leather gift box. $36.00 (click thumbnail for larger image)

Cutter & Buck Legacy Pen Set

The Cutter & Buck Legacy Pen Set includes the Cutter & Buck Legacy Twist and Roller Ball pens. This exclusive Cutter & Buck design features a tungsten carbide tip and a black standard European black ink cartridge. The roller ball has a screw on, threaded brass cap and it showcases the Cutter & Buck crest intricately etched into the pen tip. The twist pen has a retractable twist action mechanism. The pen set is packaged handsomely in a Cutter & Buck leather gift box. $30.00 (click thumbnail for larger image)

Balmain Narbonne Pen Set

The Balmain Narbonne Pen Set is another favorite of Bullpen Marketing. The two-piece set includes an elegant twist and roller ball pen. The pens include a standard European black ink cartridge. This pen set is packaged in a smart presentation gift box. $35.00 (click thumbnail for larger image)

Please note there is a minimum order requirement of 12 pen sets and a set-up charge of $30 for all of the pen sets above.

Call Bullpen today and let us help you get up close and personal, 713.652.2030.

“Going Green” is more than a trendy slogan – it’s a way to share the holiday spirit. Many corporations and consumers alike are looking for eco-friendly ways to make a difference. Make Plant-A-Tree Cards part of your holiday gift and enhance your company’s image while assisting the Earth. Printed on recycled or seed-embedded paper that grows wild flowers when planted, Plant-A-Tree Cards donate a tree to a global re-forestation project once they are redeemed. Seed a brighter future with Plant-A-Tree Cards!

Why Choose Plant-A-Tree Cards for Your Holiday Gift?

• Plant-A-Tree Cards show your brand’s green initiative and help your customers or employees “Go Green” as well!
• Plant-A-Tree Cards are a unique gift that recipients will appreciate and remember.
• With an interactive redemption experience, this gift makes recipients part of the process and allows them to plant a tree in an area they choose.
• Recipients will feel good about helping the Earth by having a tree planted in their name in one of many global re-forestation projects.

To see how it works, watch this video

We’ve got school spirit—yes we do. We’ve got school spirit, how about you? Bullpen is offering special pricing on these item below. Each items offer a low price tag, but a high value. Bullpen Marketing can work with you to find the perfect fundraising item or idea for your school. These special prices are valid until Nov. 25, 2011.

Mega Hand Clapper
Give a hand and make some noise with this large hand clapper. This item is great to sell in spirit stores, before pep rallies and sporting events. Make some noise for your favorite team! Available in white, black, blue and red.

Price: $0.99 ea. with a minimum of 300 piece order. Includes 1-color imprint, 1-location printing. Shipping not included.

24 oz Aluminum water bottle
Clip it on and go! This BPA-free, stylish water bottle with carabiner can be conveniently clipped to backpacks and is terrific at promoting eco-conscious living. Available in aluminum, blue, red, apple green, white, black, tangerine, aqua, fuchsia and graphite.

Price: $3.48 ea. with a minimum of 144 piece order. Includes 1-color imprint, 1-location printing. Shipping not included.

Drawstring Cinch Bag
Safety First! Wide reflective strips on top and bottom of this bag is great to keep your students visible at night. This drawstring rope closure converts bag from a tote to a backpack. Available in black, blue, hunter green, lime green, orange, purple, red and yellow.

Price: $2.19 ea. With a minimum of 150 piece order. Includes 1-color imprint, 1-location printing. Shipping not included.

7.5” Plastic Megaphone
Rah Rah RAH! Let’s make some noise and eat a snack. This item can be filled with popcorn, peanuts or other goodies and sold at school games as a fun snack and noise maker. Megaphones come with bottom cap and top lid to make snacks easy to hold and carry. Available in black, blue, green, orange, purple, red and yellow.

Price: $1.77 ea. With a minimum of 100 piece order. Includes 1-color imprint, 1-location printing. Shipping not included.

It’s that time of year to start thinking about holiday gifts for your clients and employees. Without question, food gifts are a holiday favorite with just about everyone! Below are 9 helpful tips about purchasing food gifts:

1. The holiday season tends to be stressful; make things easier for yourself whenever you can. Instead of sending an employee to the local retail store or having that employee spend hours on the web trying to find the right food gifts, you can purchase your food gifts from Bullpen Marketing.

2. Make sure you receive the deserved credit for your gifts by promoting your brand and not someone else’s brand. Purchase your food gifts from Bullpen Marketing — we will make sure that when your client or employee opens their present, the first thing they will see is your logo, not a food brand.

3. Take advantage of volume and value driven pricing. Everyone deserves a better price when buying larger quantities. And more importantly, there is no need to purchase overpriced brand names when you can receive better quality gifts for less money….

4. Make certain that your gifts are fresh. Without question, fresher gifts taste better and they leave a better impression with your clients or employees. Bullpen Marketing recommends gifts that are packed-to-order just before the order is shipped. We do not provide any gifts that are made-up several months in advance (like many gifts from the mail order and retail giants).

5. Provide both quality and quantity. Our holiday food gifts are packed fully of the finest premium chocolates, fresh-roasted nuts and other gourmet treats. Nothing is worse than getting a gift that is filled with fluff, air, and inexpensive fillers (like gifts from many mail order and retail companies).

6. Remove the hassle from packing and shipping. We can have all of your food gifts delivered to your doorstep or we can ship them for you to each of your clients or employees. We can insert a greeting card or anything extra that you would like to include.

7. Don’t let anyone clutter up your gifts with their self-promotions. Giant food gift companies are notorious about including their catalogs and promotional literature inside their packages and that borders on making your gift look tacky. Bullpen Marketing ensures that your gift is clutter free and the spotlight is shining on your brand.

8. Be creative and provide a memorable gift. Let Bullpen Marketing create customized gifts for you that are limited only to imagination and budget.

9. Secure peace of mind with a guarantee. The holiday season is stressful enough without gifts going wrong. All food gifts purchased from Bullpen Marketing are guaranteed to meet our quality promise so there is never any risk on your part. It’s our job to make you look great in front of your clients and employees. Let us provide you with peace of mind during the holiday season.

Please call us today for holiday gift ideas that will exceed your expectations: 713-652-2030.

Those animal groups sure have a way of putting out a message that send chills down your spine and tears down your face within a span of 30 seconds. How do they do it? And how can any marketer learn from their success?

The effectiveness of most of these campaigns come from the emotional appeal that they create. For example, this Shelter Project Ad for 2 kitties who just haven’t been chosen yet.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfy90Nszt_E

Targeted. Direct. Heart-wrenching. And how about the ASPCA commercial starring singer/song writer Sarah McLachlan?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eXfvRcllV8

Manipulative?—Perhaps. Effective?—Absolutely!

Taking a step back from animated cats and one-eyed dogs, the story is at the heart of the message and is essentially what “sells” the message. Both these examples go above and beyond simply conveying information. They take you on a journey, triggering an emotional response, all the while, effectively (directly or indirectly) making a call to action. “Tomorrow—guaranteed!”

Any non-profit business can appropriate this model to work for them—as long as they can tell a convincing enough story.

Many people in the United States think that the majority of manufactured goods are made in China.  In fact, the USA remains by far the No. 1 manufacturing country. It out-produces No. 2 China by more than 40 percent. U.S. manufacturers cranked out nearly $1.7 trillion in goods in 2009. The promotional product industry is dominated by products that are made overseas, but that doesn’t mean you can’t brand your company with something Made in the USA.

People buy American for many reasons, and for many companies, it is to support their corporate culture or philosophy.  Just because a product is Made in the USA doesn’t mean it’s more expensive.  In recent years, the high cost of fuel to transport goods around the globe has helped American manufacturers level the playing field.  Let us help you find the perfect products that fit your company best.  If you’re looking for American-made products or green products or even American-made green products, contact Bullpen and let us help you out.

A few products Made in the USA…

Click here to see a more options in the Bullpen “Made in the USA” Showcase.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPnLBLnX14Y