Every Job is Easier If You Have the Right Tool

I did. My brother and I decided to include that inscription because my dad would always say it. Especially if he was banging in a nail with a big rock or filing down a screwdriver to fit into the end of a screw. My dad was kind of cheap. (My mom used to say he was so tight he squeaked when he walked!) So he would never, I mean never, stop in the middle of a DIY project to go and buy a new tool. He was very resourceful and very handy. He could fix anything. Often, it didn’t look so great; but it would always work.So I’m telling you all this because it occurred to me that if you really care about your clients and want them to remember you and/or your product, then you should think about putting a tool in their hand like idea#4Imagine how many good thoughts the recipient of this tool will have of you each time they reach for it to find something lost under the car seat or tighten that screw on the back of the computer printer, etc.This particular pocket tool has a number of features like a light, a level, and several screw bits and if desperate you can even use it to pound in a small nail! It is very inexpensive. However there are a host of others with more features or less features. These tools are available as a one pocket screwdriver that has a pen like clip on up to a $50 leather cased multi tool. Something for every client or employee. Tools will be long appreciated and remembered. Take a look at www.InnMkting.com and type in “pocket tools” if you want to see the wide array of ideas like this suggestion.Tools rule. My dad would have been proud of me if he knew I was able to figure out a way to provide the right tool for the next job and help people promote their business at the same time. Let me know what you think of this idea or email me at Jay@InnMkting.com if you have another idea you need some details about.

I hate to be the guy to say "I told you so," but I did and I thought I would be thrilled to find out that even General Electric is hearing me, but I'm not.
The reason I'm not thrilled is because they think they thought of it themselves and won't give me an ounce of credit for getting the idea from me, but they did.
I've tried marketing products to GE, but never could get passed the nice lady who answers the phone. Actually that is not quite all true. I did get a very cordial letter from the marketing manager telling me thanks but no thanks. Maybe that was when they got the idea.
Regardless, I'm going to start right here and let the whole internet world know that it was my idea and I'm taking credit for it. I do have to admit the GE money spenders figured out a way to spend a lot more then I was proposing and maybe that was the reason I didn’t get in the front door.
Two years ago I was promoting an energy awareness consumer event called “DoubleEEXpo.” Naturally GE was one of our biggest prospects. For less then $20,000 I offered them the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of educating consumers who specify products to contractors. They spend a lot of money training and getting contractors to sell consumers but not much the other way. "Everything is a consumer product," I argued unpersuasively. However, now, General Electric intends to make a SUPERBOWL commercial (costing $100,000 PER SECOND!) the start of a full blown television, print and internet campaign outlining "innovative ideas" (sounds like my BLOG!) to help with energy conservation and environmental protection.
The short side of this story is if you want the next $3 million 30 second idea, send me an email or respond to this blog and I'll be happy to work with you. It's nice to know my ideas are better late then never.

I spent last week at the annual Promotional Products show of creative marketing ideas and was happy to see so many ways my industry could present our new president's image and words. There were key chains, mugs, paper weights, desk accessories, picture frames, rulers, book marks, etc., etc., etc.Even a lifesize standing cardboard Barack Obama so we could stand in line and have our picture taken with him. I didn't get to do that because it was one place the line was actually too long.Everything else about the show and Vegas was quiet. Very toned down. The economy has spilled onto everything except the minimums at the gambling tables.However I did see two really unique ideas for promoting an upcoming golf tournament or event where you want to attract golfers. One is CLUB WASHER that hangs off a golf bag and the other is a UNIQUE golf cap that has elastic pulleys on either side to hold your sunglasses!The CLUB WASHER was very cool. It holds about 6 oz of water and has a very stiff brush in the lid that seals in the water. The golfer takes his club head and when forced into and out of the lid, the groves are cleaned. At the end of the round,the water is discarded and the lid is inverted to dry out and get ready for the next golf outing.The cap is available in a number of colors, styles and even as a visor. The sunglasses are held very snugly so one doesn't have to worry about them falling off whether they are put on top of the hat or over they eyes when swinging. Some golfers don't wear their sunglasses because they fear vision impairment when trying to line up a swing. Others wear them for protection from the sun but are constantly taking them off on on during the game and never remember where they last left them. This unique idea in a cap or visor solves those issues.Both of these makketing ideas are so new I can't even find a picture online yet so if you have some interest, email me Jay@InnMkting.com and I'll send over the details.

Marketing Technology is EVERYWHERE

Have you heard that President-Elect Barack Obama is appointing the first ever Chief Technology Czar? Of course this is a way to finally bring the government up to snuff. What a job! The way things change so fast. How could anyone keep up and how in the world are you suppose to keep a whole country updated.Consider the latest "Revolution" in the use for Brand Promotion. This idea#2 has got it down to a T. If you are a golfer, you'll appreciate these Golf Tees. It is being regarded as "revolutionary" because of the low-ground, resistance-free features. Specifically engineered as a uni-body single component offering the high performance for golfers and lots of chatter and exposure for advertisers.The bottom portion offers an area as big as 5/8" diameter. And the deeper stem allows imprinting as tall as 3/16". See picture here idea#2The "point" of the tee is a quarter-round tapered knife-edge to cut into the turf. Don't carry these on airplanes! But think about this clever idea if you want lots of bang for your promotional marketing budget.

More Marketing Bang for Less Dollars

We may as well get right to it. Among other things, this blog is going to concentrate on ideas to get marketing going quickly and effeciently. Join me in refusing to participate in the recession!
I just got off the phone with a friend of mine who works for a county agency in California. You can imagine of anyone strapped with the responsibility of getting the word out about their agency and worrying about money, it has to be her.
So here is the simple solution I gave her. Let’s do a bag! Everybody uses bags. People will love you for recycling the bag. And the best part is you get to have others passing around your prMomotional marketing message for you because the bag shows up everywhere they go like to Trader Joe’s, Ralph’s, the Edward’s Cinema, etc.
And bags are GREEN. If you would like to see a really nice promotional bag that will get lots of views, be useful to recycle at the store and is very, very cost effective take a look at our recycle bags idea#1 which is good for mother earth, available in all kinds of sizes and gives you More Marketing Bang for Less Dollars.