How do you raise awareness of your brand? Sue Wei, owner of Magic Promotions Inc, shares her tips and ideas for creative ways to increase awareness of your brand.
Here is the transcript from the presentation:
Ryan: Alright, so everybody now I’d like to introduce the lady who can put your logo on anything you can think of; she could put your logo on it. She did a fabulous job with the pull up banner that we ordered back in November, I think. So, we’ve been using it at every event since the beginning of December this year.
Ryan: And to talk about, today, Creative Brand Visibility and what each of us can do to make sure that our brand is on top of mind with our ideal prospects. Let’s give Magic Sue a hand.
Sue: Thank you. Thank you everybody. Uh, let me share my screen here. Here we go. Can everybody see my screen here?
Sue: Awesome, Ryan, you’re muted.
Sue: So today, we will be, I will be sharing with you some creative ways to increase your brand visibility. Also, some ways that you may not be using yet, which is, you know, more of the traditional, but I’m sure we talked about Google reviews all the time, right?
Sue: How do you get found online? Does everyone have a Google review, Google My Business profile? Raise your hand if you do.
Sue: ½. OK, not everybody, 3-4. OK, OK, if you don’t have a Google My Business profile set up yet, it’s not too late because, you know, 90- statistics shows 95% of people looking are looking online for things, product and service that you offer. So, and a lot of time people ask me so, how do you get reviews?
Sue: We are hesitant to ask because we think we are adding extra work for your client and they’re busy. We don’t want to bother them, but what if we offer something, a little extra, some incentives fill out this review for, of course, when you’ve done a great job. I think, first of all, we deserve a excellent review, you know, so don’t be bashful to ask for review and also offer a little incentive.
Sue: Maybe a branded, you know, a branded speaker or a backpack or something, even a mug or something. It doesn’t have to be super expensive. But it offers them something like showing your appreciation. We appreciate your time and we appreciate you sharing your feedback so we can help more awesome clients like you, so, and that’s how, you know, I built my business, Google reviews. I’m going to go to the next one. If you see, each month, you see 1644 views. I mean that’s one of the months, but often times you see a lot of people looking at your business, once you have it established, and a great way to have it on there and get noticed.
Sue: Updating, pictures and, you know, the specials you offer and, offer and, you know, and then different discount and ways to boost your SEO on Google. And, yeah, so, this is my business that you’ll see on Google, and, you know, also have your, I have my calendar for appointments there. So they can click on making appointment. It’s really a great way to save your time, too, instead of going back and forth, hey, what time works for you next week? What time? Give Me 2 time, 2 time slots that works for you.
Sue: So, instead of going back and forth. You know, you can add your calendar there as well, and then also, are you being seen in your local market? If you search, let’s say Bill, your HR business, HRFE Consulting, if you search in your zip code, do you see your business there?
Sue: So, you know, just try it to see if that you are, you are on there, if not, definitely there are a lot of work we can, you can do to get it seen and found on local listing.
Sue: And also, social media, LinkedIn, post, with hashtag, with your, with your business name and different keywords. This is a post that I shared when I invited one of my clients, to a, my industry supplier, you know, event, and I just posted this event and tagged different topics, hashtag. Employee appreciation, Christmas in July, Magic Promotions Inc, food lover, all of that. And this gets, you probably don’t see this here, but it was, it got 1846 impressions and then, you know, 29 likes. So, you know, social media, it’s a great way to get your brand noticed and also tagging the person, that way you are promoting through other people as well.
Sue: And uh, signatures do you all have your logo tagline and what you do under your e-mail in the signature? If so, you know, great. If not, this is another way to showcase your, your brand and what you do, how you can help others, this is what I set up for mine and just wanted to show you as well.
Sue: And, yeah, also how do you get found in your local community? You know, that could be community event, like the event Ryan’s hosting every month and he always has his awesome banner. He’s showcasing every, every time and then he will take pictures on there.
Sue: That way if I see my picture there, I’m gonna share it, attending the INSPIREsmall.biz event. That way other people are helping. They’re helping Ryan promoting his business as well as being seen in the community and, of course, partnership. You know, whether it’s through established businesses, such as the Chamber, or I know, Ryan has a directory as well. You can have it added whether it’s through membership or under other partnership.
Sue: So, when they search for you, they can find you as well, it also boosts your SEO and other website. You know, I know I have my own other businesses organizations as well, such as the Rainmakers. If you go to their website, you’ll see Magic Promotions, our partners and other brands as well. But Magic Promotions is one of the brands being showcased there. And then, your local banks. A lot of banks have the area where they are, customer can showcase their products, their business cards, you know, or giveaways. This is a great way to showcase your business as well and to get found by new customers.
Sue: So, you may get surprise calls. Hey, you know, Kendrick, I got your information through your bank. You know, I wanted to, I’m interested in social media marketing, and you’ll get connected.
Sue: And, of course, sponsorship. Sports. If you have kids, your kids have different, you know, sports program, whether it’s soccer, basketball, different events that you can talk with them and sponsor their payroll, their uniform, T-shirts. So yeah, that’s one way. And then nonprofit, too, sometimes they have auction. You can donate gift, your offer, or your service and product, you know, maybe it’s $25 gift card to purchase your product. Or a restaurant, restaurant has, also has a lot of them, you know, think of your favorite restaurant. They have boards, you know, at their entrance that you can.
Sue: Wait, did I see someone raise hands? OK. I thought Carol raised her hands.
Sue: You know, you can have your, so, your business cards, your brochures, flyers to be on there as well. So, people can, when they know you are open to network, they all connect you, to you, for one to one meetings or other questions.
Sue: And, golf outing. A lot of times, golf outings, they’ll have a sponsorship. You can, so, you know, have a sponsor a table and have your brand showcased at the golf event. Of course, that, it’s when the audience is what you’re looking for, it’s your target audience, otherwise it doesn’t, you know, worth. It does not worth the money to invest in that, but if you see the audience is your target audience, then you wanted to participate and, you know, get, and get opportunity to speak with your target audience and engage at the event.
Sue: And, of course, strategic networking. I, when I started my business, I kind of, I like to meet everybody, but then, you know, they always say focus on, 80% of your energy, on the 20% of your top clients. So, look at where your top clients are or who they are and look for a way to connect, connect that way, connect with partners who can introduce you to them.
Sue: For example, you know, Ryan would be a great referral partner for my business if he knows someone, you know, who’s rebranding and changing their logo. Well, that would be Kendrick, right? They need graphic design help. I mean, he can be a referral partner for anyone. Everyone here, you know.
Sue: But you know, if he knows someone rebranding and they’re attending event and looking for creative giveaways, then how do I keep him, I mean, keep my brand top of mind with Ryan?
Sue: Something that I can do, you know, maybe sending, sending creative gifts that he would use rather than things that will get thrown away, which happens a lot, a lot of time.
Sue: My client asked me hey, what’s the cheapest one? But, I would ask, are you really looking for something cheap? Yes, we have it. But, you know, if that’s something you’re looking for, we have plenty of options. But there’s also other options that will, that’s kind of aligned with what you do, represent your brand, you know, it speaks your message when you’re, when you do it right.
Sue: So yeah, the next one will be creative gift giving, which I mentioned, you wanted to give something memorable and long lasting, having that long lasting impression. Now, just for giveaway, you wanted something you find something memorable they can use. They’ll remember you. They appreciate. You know, one of the ways I like promotion product is, people, really, when you do it right, people really appreciate you and that also keep your brand top of mind, rather than commercials on media, let’s say, The Super Bowl.
Sue: So, half time when you see commercial, you’re like, OK, I’m gonna take a bathroom break. OK, I’m gonna get drinks or whatever, you’ll skip it. But promotional product, when you do it right, that’s gonna be kept for a long way to go and-
Sue: Then I wanted to show some, you know, ideas as well, which this one’s a great investment, right? His banner everywhere he goes, you see it, and you know the picture, he’s taking. Everyone when they see it and they share it. That’s, he is promoting his brand and it’s for free. And community event, I always try to find the right event to attend and showcase, you know, different displays to keep the brand, you know, kind of, also you want to make sure your brand’s kind of what you do, kind of having, kind of aligned with what you do, the giveaway is also the color, brand color, you see, mine is always kind of sky blue. It’s kind of showing fun, you know, and the creative side, I would want people to see.
Sue: So yeah, we are always, you know, out about in the community. And I know this is the, when 2020, a lot of people can’t, cannot get hands on sanitizers. You donated branded sanitizers, hundreds of them, and that’s get into, you know, hundreds of people’s hands and, you know, people got curious. They wonder, what is Magic Promotions. And that’s the restaurant, that’s a restaurant board. As you see, Magic Promotions right here. Yours can be here.
Sue: And this is from the Dragon House in Fishers, in case you wanna drop off some of your business cards there, too, or flyers, and a lot of time in restaurants, they. Some business, they are afraid the pens being taken away. You like, you want people to take away your pens, right? So, you know, but they, they don’t, some of them, I mean, they don’t have the branded pens. Maybe they don’t see the value of branded product, but that’s a way for you to kind of build relationship and have them give away your pens and they have, they don’t have to worry about having something on the pen, so it’s easy to identify their pen, because now they can freely give away to anybody and it’s free marketing tool for you. They’re giving away your pens promoting.
Sue: And these are some of the, you know, gifts we’ve done, whether it’s drink wear or, at one time when I meet people, I like to bring something like this. It has, it has the chocolate covered almonds and people just love it. Do you think people gonna forget?
Sue : Ohh, look at, look at what Ryan has, he has a matching 1. That’s a, a Christmas gift we sent out to Ryan. It has Magic on it, and I’m sure, even though it didn’t say Magic Promotions, I’m 100% sure he will remember where he got it from. And then, you know,, the sometimes I, when I meet people, I’ll bring this little gift bag, it also, it’s custom made with the stars, which represent part of my brand, stars and then my business cards.
Sue: I have my business card and some type of small giveaways. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but when it’s done thoughtfully, and it really goes a long way. And that is another Christmas gift we sent out to our top clients one year ago, couple of years ago, branded packaging, a great way to market your business and get, see it has the website and what we do. And, you know, magic is something you create, kind of create that call to action.
Sue: Sometimes my client will call me, hey Sue, we want, we have an event coming up, let’s say April 10. And, you know, show us, you know, what your ideas are. And we wanted to make magic, you know, so yeah, people just remember. And, uh, yeah.
Sue: And this one on the other side, showcase our specialty here as well. Inside it, you want, you guys want to know what’s inside it? It’s a luxury blanket. So, I’m sure, they’ll, you know, use it all the time. You know, in my, I know in my office, I feel like cold all the time. So, I use that wrap around, so that people will appreciate and remember you for that.
Sue: And, yeah, and then, here is my contact information. If you’re looking for ways to create your brand visibility or having questions that we can help you with, feel free to contact me. And if you have any questions, I’m happy to answer your questions as well.
Ryan: Sue, I’ll start questions off here. As far as all of the available things, because you talked about a lot of different products and how it makes a big impact on your existing customers and even new customers. But what is one of the most cost-effective things that a small business owner could order from you today, that’s gonna get them the biggest bang for their buck, as far as how many eyes they’re gonna look at it?
Sue: That, I would say pens. Every business. It’s, you’d never go wrong with pens, like you can drop at your local bank or your the restaurant, your favorite restaurant you go to, or you can hand out instead of a business card, you can hand out a pen. And I can show you what, let’s see one moment.
Sue: So, instead of giving out just the business cards, this is what I put together for potential clients. There is a pen that has my full color logo and then a postage and a sticker and my business cards inside, and people receive it, then they’ll say, wow, you know, and that’s what we help people create, the wow effect, you know, and help you keep you top of mind when they are looking for your type of business.
Sue: And just imagine, you know, where your, I mean, where your audience hang out the most. If you target consumers, maybe the kitchen such as this one, the chip clip. This is the one we did for Rainmakers, inexpensive around the dollar. But do people use it? Yes, all the time for real estate.
Sue: One of the most popular, best seller, is the jar opener. You know, I have 1 from 10 years ago. The logo is a little fading, but I still I remember where I got it from, and you can use those. They are easy to mail out if you have a list of clients. Wanted to mail out your literature and business cards. You can, or the jar opener, you can put in there, just little something instead of your information.
Sue: So yeah, and I wanted, I just can’t help sharing with you guys this one. It’s a egg timer, you know, I go to trade shows a lot and industry shows, other home shows to get inspired, to get new ideas. This is an egg timer. So, when, you can have your branded logo on there, too, when it’s done, there are three music, 3 songs in there. So, the first one it shows, it’s soft and runny, and the second one it’s medium, and then the third song, it means it’s well done. It’s hard eggs, you know.
Sue: Do people, are people going to throw away something like this? No, you know, will they remember where you got, you got it from, they got it from? Yes.
Sue: So, you know, we are all about creativity, ways to help businesses get noticed, get found.
Sue: A lot of the weather is nicer now. I mean, it will be and there will be a lot of community events. Maybe it’s Easter events. You can give away branded candies, too. You know, just a lot of ways.
Sue: If you’re looking for different ways for your audience, we’ll be happy to chat. Any other questions?
Ryan: Sue, I think you left everyone speechless.
Sue: Or maybe everyone’s muted.
Carol: Great ideas. Great ideas.
Sue: Thank you.
Carol: And did you say you put yourself, the information in the chat?
Sue: Yes, my information is in the chat as well.
Ryan: Sue, because we’re recording this and we’re going to put the recording on our website, can you read out how someone can get a hold of you?
Sue: My name is Sue Wei, and here’s my contact information. My cell phone number 773-791-3166. And you can e-mail me at sue@magicpromotionsinc.com. Yeah. Thanks everyone for sharing the time with me and, yeah. Thanks so much.
Ryan: Well, everyone, let’s give Sue a hand for her presentation today.
Sue: Thank you.
