Promote like a Pro: Tweetups, Contests, and More...

This week we're brainstorming ideas for how to combine promotional products with online marketing strategies. 
Here's what we've come up with so far:

Organize a Tweetup: Tweet the time and place for your next Tweetup, and encourage followers to attend by offering a free tote bag, travel mug, or padfolio for the first 10, 20, or 50 guests who show up.  

Stage a photo contest: Distribute t-shirts, mugs, sunglasses, hats or cuddly plush toys to be used in an online photo contest. Fans and followers take pictures with your promotional product and share them on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. The more creative the better! 

Reach more readers: Expand your email list by using promotional products as an incentive to opt in. Offer a free travel mug, iPad case, messenger bag, or desk organizer for new subscribers to your email newsletter.

Get 'liked' at trade shows: Give away smartphone accessories imprinted with your logo at your next trade show for visitors who 'like' your Facebook page on the spot.

Have an idea for how to use promotional products online?
Leave us a comment below! 

Oscars 2013: The Swag in the Bag...

Photo credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN via Aceshowbiz.com

Ever wonder why the wealthiest celebrities always get things for free? Like tonight, for example, at the Academy Awards, some celebrities will walk away with gift bags worth over $45,000 (and in other years worth over $90,000!!) Businesses compete for a spot in the swag bag to promote their products and gain exposure. Even if the product is not publicly flaunted by a celebrity, it still gets a piece of the limelight when everyone asks: “Hey, what’s in that bag?” This is why businesses pay to give away their products: prime publicity and media hype. 

Believe it or not, this Hollywood marketing tactic can work for you too. When planning your next special event, fundraising gala, or corporate function, consider putting together a swag bag of your own. It won’t cost you $45,000, and you’ll generate some Oscar-worthy buzz. Things to keep in mind:

The bag: This is important because--first of all--you'll need something to hold the swag, but--second of all--a bag is the perfect product to promote your brand or message. Choose a bag that fits with the theme of your event and offers eye-catching features. Style and functionality will ensure that the bag (along with your brand) is enjoyed long after the event is over.

What's in the bag: This is where you get to choose what goes in the bag. Think of other promotional items that will generate a lot of use and attention from participants. Include products that fit with your brand and the specific event. 

Who gets the bag: Decide who will get a swag bag. Will everyone attending the event get one? Or will only special donors, supporters, or contributors get one? Swag bags could be raffled off or given away as prizes during the event. 

If you're not sure which products to use, let us know. We can put together a customized swag bag for your event. If you need a little inspiration, take a stroll around our Pinterest page. We're always posting new items to our collection of favorites. 

Where Did January Go?

At the ASI Trade Show w/ ASI mascot "Promo"!

The Brio team has been busy this month, so it’s no surprise to us that it’s February already! (Ok, we’re a little surprised.) Since ringing in the new year, we traveled to Orlando, FL for the ASI Trade Show and returned to Portland just in time for a heat wave and a snow storm. We stocked up our sample department and researched the best new products of 2013. We started a Brio Pinterest page, showcasing our favorite products, our adventures out of the office, and a glimpse of Brio history. All in all, it’s been a great start to the new year, and we want to keep it going, which is why we’re offering a special for the month of February: free artwork for any order. Give us your ideas, even the scribbled-on-a-napkin ideas, and we'll bring them to life for you. Don't have any? That's ok too. Contact us for a free promotional marketing consultation, and we'll talk it out together. Here's to a great new year!

Going Somewhere?

Aero-Safe Travel Kit

Happy Holidays! Since we'll be doing a lot of traveling over the holidays (and we bet you will too), we thought it would be nice to share some of our favorite travel-themed promotional items, starting with the always-important toiletry bag. Help your customers and clients travel smarter this season with these on-the-go products.

Multi-pocket Hanging Toiletry Bag

This Aero-Safe Travel Kit is perfect for keeping shower essentials together while traveling. It comes with airplane-approved bottles and a funnel to help transfer soaps, shampoos, and lotions. A clear case makes it easy to see if anything has been left behind (like perhaps a toothbrush?) and provides a large, easy-to-read imprint area for your logo. 

We also like this Hanging Toiletry Bag because it has multiple pockets, a carrying handle, and exterior storage compartments. Very useful for the multi-tasking traveler.

Luggage Tag

Travel Kit

Travel Tip #349: Make sure you can tell which suitcase is yours at the baggage claim. "Of course no one else will have the same black, square, rolling suitcase," you think to yourself while heading out the door--but newsflash: we all have that exact same one. So stand out from the crowd with a bright, colorful, practical and hard-to-miss luggage tag. Best qualities: Many fun colors to choose from, large imprint area, and durable. 

And now we get to the absolute must-have. This travel kit includes the holy trinity of overnight flights: eye pillow, neck pillow, ear plugs. Whether the family is across the country or halfway around the world, this kit has everything for an en route nap or good night's rest.

Our Winner & Why We Love Mugs!

The winner of our Holiday Mug Showdown is mug B! Voters loved this mug for its shape and two-tone flare, and we have to say, we really agree.

So, why a mug? For us, the mug is a symbol of quintessential promotional marketing. It's a simple yet unique product that demonstrates extreme functionality (especially when you consider this: Americans drink approximately 400 million cups of coffee per day!) and can be fully customized to fit the look of your brand, organization, or message. 

Pair your promotional mug with bags of locally roasted coffee beans for a holiday gift or include other promotional products such as pens, highlighters, and note pads for the perfect office care package. 

Stick With It...

Collection of stickers at 
158 Pickett Street Cafe in South Portland
(Location of the best bagels in Maine)

When we talk about promotional marketing strategies, we often use the term "sticky" to refer to or describe a product's ability to make a lasting impression and stick in the minds of consumers. A great example of a "sticky" promotional product is (you guessed it!) a sticker. But it's not just the obvious trait that makes this item a powerful promoter.

Everyone loves stickers

They really do. When it comes to stickers, we're all like kids at the dentist's. People of all ages enjoy receiving, collecting, and using stickers. 

Stickers travel

Just because they stick in one place doesn't mean they're stationary. Whether they're on a musician's guitar amp, a college student's laptop, or the family van, stickers move from place to place, bringing your brand wherever they go.

Stickers travel... literally!
(HP fans get your Hogwarts stickers here)

Fans become brand ambassadors
The best marketers for your brand are your biggest fans and happiest customers. Make it easy for them to share their love for your business by having stickers free for the taking. Fans will proudly display your logo and are sure to pass along a good word. Stickers will also help fans spot other fans, building a community around your brand.

Apple gives away stickers with every purchase.
(How many Apple stickers do you have?)

Business cards on the brain...

Get business cards and "get noticed"!

This week we’ve got business cards on the brain (which could have something to do with the sparkling, new order of Brio business cards that just came in!), and so we got to thinking about what makes these versatile cards a staple promotional item:

Be prepared...

Carry business cards with you at all times. Random encounters in the grocery store line, on the bus, or at the gym can turn into lifelong business relationships. Make the most of serendipity by keeping a few custom business cards handy at all times.

Connect offline with online...

Include your website, email address, and social media links, or experiment with a QR Code to make it easy for your new friends to find and follow you online. A great business card fills the gap between offline interactions and online communication.

Show some creative spirit...
Experiment with different styles, textures, colors, and fonts when designing your business card. A business card is more than a name and a phone number (although, these elements certainly are important!) -- a great business card involves creative design that illustrates who you are as a brand and as a business.

Get what you give...
When you give a business card, get one in return. This exchange will help build strong business relationships. 

References and other links for advice and ideas about business cards:
Creating a Great Business Card -- Entrepreneur.com
The ABCs of Business Cards -- Entrepreneur.com
Designing a Business Card: 5 Things You Need to Know -- Huffington Post