Welcome back to Multi Media Promotions’ newsletter!

As you well know, the secret to successfully promoting your organization often lies with how well you stand out from the crowd. In this issue, we highlight several strategies for making a memorable impression with your target audience: presenting promotional gifts and materials in custom packaging; creating co-op marketing programs with secondary schools and universities; and developing artwork that goes beyond the basics of showcasing your company’s logo.

To learn how these ideas can be applied to your organization, read on…

Properly designed, manufactured and presented, a promotional pin can become a treasured collectible. You may be aware of its traditional uses, such as to recognize corporate anniversaries or special achievements. But a pin can be popular in other ways, too.

When exhibiting at a trade show, Pfizer likes its staff to wear a pin emblazoned with the company logo and art depicting the location of the event. When they told us about an upcoming trade show in New Orleans, our first thought, naturally, was, “Mardi Gras!” The collection of colorful pins we created enabled Pfizer to show its support of the city while reinforcing its brand. The pins were such a conversation piece and hit we were then asked to custom-design pins for upcoming trade shows in Washington, D.C. and Dallas.

Considering a pin? You can count on Beth Levine of Multi Media Promotions – fondly referred to as “the pin lady” by many clients – to provide custom artwork, accurate proofs, quick turnaround and on-time delivery. For ideas on how to incorporate a pin into your next promotional event or activity, call us at 516-935-0553 or send us an e-mail.

An investment in packaging as part of a promotional program can dramatically boost your target audience’s reaction. By going the extra step to “dress up” the items you need to distribute – be it sales literature, product samples, thank you gifts or new customer informational kits – you as a marketer send a strong message about how much you value your target audience.

Consider the following:

• Bags are often kept and reused, both at home and at the office. For example, at the end of an office party, there are always people who pull out bags from their desks to carry home extra food and gifts.
• There are countless ways to showcase your brand with packaging. Mailing tubes. Tins. Imprinted boxes. Ribbons. Full-color, oversized labels. These materials are likely available or can be created in your company’s colors.
• Colored paper shred or tissue imprinted with your logo is an inexpensive method of enhancing the overall effect of your presentation. This may not even affect your mailing costs.

Is packaging new to you as a promotional marketer? If so, you might not be convinced that it makes a difference in the effectiveness of a promotion or presentation. But imagine how you’d feel if your family and friends began giving you unwrapped birthday and holiday gifts!

If you like the idea of special packaging but don’t have the time or staff to handle it, Multi Media Promotions provides turnkey services. We’ll ensure that the presentation of your next promotion is memorable to your target audience.

Have you ever thought about promoting your business to schools and universities? You should, because students control billions of dollars in spending and are major influencers on many purchases made by their parents.

The best method is to get involved with schools and colleges using promotional products. Consider your local sports teams. They all need game calendars, and a magnetic version of the football teams’ fall schedule or school bumper stickers – with your firm’s name on them, of course – are an easy way to gain some exposure for your business. Other promotional possibilities include:

• Stadium cushions
• Plastic megaphones
• License plates
• Water bottles
• Book covers
• Visors
• Stuffed animals
• Computer accessories

Think of it as an alternative or ancillary to your regular advertising program. By supplying such products “Courtesy of [YOUR NAME HERE]” you reach an important audience of current and future customers and establish a goodwill relationship that can last for years.

You can either distribute this merchandise via advertising (“Mention this ad and get a free Suburban High School Golden Eagles water bottle”), offer it as premiums for doing business with you (“Free Golden Eagles stadium cushion with every purchase of $50 or more”), or arrange for schools and colleges to hand them out.

If you’d like to set up a co-op program to reach the education market, we’re happy to help. Just call us at 516-935-0553 or send us an e-mail for more information.

I hope you are finding our newsletters helpful. Be sure to let us know what’s on your marketing calendar this year so we can help you make the most of every opportunity to strengthen ties with clients and prospects. And don’t forget that we’re also experienced at helping organizations create programs designed to thank, reward and motivate their staff.

To talk about an upcoming promotion or event, call us at 516-935-0553 or send us an e-mail.

With warm regards,

Beth M. Levine