PromoKitchen

Free Yourself From FREE

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Jonathan Irvin

A good friend of mine is a professional photographer. When I say professional, I mean he has dedicated his economic earning efforts and committed his family’s stability to taking pictures for people or companies at their request, with expensive cameras, lighting, a commercial studio, and a talent that he has acutely developed to capture moments, events, smiles and human essence….

#SMWNYC: Five B2B Best Practices

Posted on February 27, 2012 by PromoKitchen Contributing Editor

The following article was written by John R. B. Cudahy, Regional Sales Manager at Starline. Social Media Week (#smw12) kicked off in NYC on February 13 with a full day of education and networking. I began my week with a session on B2B Social Media Marketing. While every bit of information was useful, I found five best practices that rose…

Stop Jamming Your Tongue in the Prospect’s Ear: An Atypical Elevator Pitch

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Danny Rosin

You are on the golf course. Or at a networking function. Or maybe you really are in an elevator. And there he or she is. The prospect. Now, what should you do? Instead of breaking out that polished elevator pitch Gitomer’s Toastmaster Sales 101 class taught you to rehearse in front of the mirror, breath deeply and take off your…

1993 and the Rena Lopez Story

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Tonia Allen Gould

The year was 1993, and I just landed a sales job in downtown Los Angeles working for a national digital imaging and photographic lab that catered mostly to clients in the cosmetic, architectural, advertising and entertainment industries. It was my first corporate job, and one where a suit and high heels were my typical attire. I’m pretty sure, back then,…

The Space Between: It’s Not Just A Good Dave Matthews Song

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Roger Burnett

You’re far enough down the path with your client that you need something to happen to justify the time investment you’ve made. The introductory meeting leads to a discovery meeting that leads to follow up meeting. And now, there you are, prepping to present your solution. But it’s got holes. Not major holes, mind you, but enough that you know…

Are You Gonna Sell Me or What?

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Roger Burnett

THAT client is on the phone. You know the one. That same client that won’t take any of your calls, then does the same thing to you every single time they call you. They waited too long, they don’t have a great idea about the budget, and they’re hoping that you’ll save the day with pure magic from your fingertips….

Standing up to Commoditization

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Mark Graham

A common complaint in our industry is that it’s tough to differentiate ourselves because commoditization is rampant. I have always looked to the advertising industry for inspiration as I respect their ability to sell their creativity more effectively than we can in the promotional products industry. Marketing buyers treat us differently. In general terms, promotional companies sell products while ad…

Setting Goals

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Brad White

Whether you can believe it or not, the year is over. In just a few short weeks we will wave goodbye to 2011. Hopefully you achieved your goals, and you have created specific goals for next year. What’s that? You haven’t set goals for 2012? Your competitor has. Good businesses and smart people plan their year well in advance to…

It’s Good, But It Could Be Better

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Roger Burnett

I’m lucky. In addition to a great family and a beautiful wife that actually puts up with me, we were fortunate enough to move onto lakefront property a few years ago. What no-one warns you about before moving in is the serious amount of work required to live lake-side. Serious like you better love the view in a MAJOR way. …