At the 2015 PPAI Expo, FreePromoTips.com will be receiving a technology award for our website. We are honored that what we do for suppliers, distributors and the industry is being recognized by PPAI. This is also a positive for the supplier and distributor companies that understand and support what FreePromoTips.com does.
It seems that websites always are evolving, often for good reason. We talked it over and even though we could update the site with a new, fresh look, we’re not going to change it right now. The heart of our program is driven by relevant information and commentary on issues that affect our industry. That is our main focus.
In an industry driven by “stuff,” we have created a content-driven website that works on many levels.
We Address Industry issues That Affect Us All
This includes things like product safety, which is an important topic that many still don’t think matters to them. We like to put our own wacky spin on this serious issue as shown in this Bob Co. video.
We Have a Strong Social Media Presence
How we communicate continues to change, but reaching people through online communication always is going to be important. Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay, and FreePromoTips.com has an effective social-media strategy to stay ahead of the curve.
We Power Our Social Media With Good Content
Our industry is product based, but smart suppliers who partner with us share our belief that content is king. They understand distributors want to know how a product line provides a promotional marketing solution. The classic term for this is a “case history” and they still are relevant.
We Utilize Video, Which Is a Powerful Communication Tool
It’s no secret that the Online Video Revolution is here. Companies feel it may be out of their reach, but it’s not. We cost-effectively produce short product videos for our suppliers that are perfect for distributors to share with their clients.
We Support and Promote What is Good in Our Industry
We believe one of the reasons we won an award for FreePromoTips.com is because of our content, but also because we promote the good things our industry is doing.
Our new content component, SuccessFit is presenting information from a variety of contributors on how fitness impacts our personal lives and business success. At the PPAI Expo, we put together a SuccessFit event to benefit the Promotional Products Education Foundation. Participants will get fitness-oriented products from a few great suppliers for a donation to PPEF.
Presenting your products and services in a different way, along with supporting worthy causes, is effective in helping a business stand apart from competitors. In my opinion, this is what every company should do. This positioning is effectively showcased through the participation of the suppliers and distributors who caught the vision of what we are doing with SuccessFit at the PPAI Expo. Everyone is getting great exposure while doing something positive.
Bestselling author Seth Godin, considered by many to be one of the best marketing thinkers of our time, writes a thought provoking daily blog. This post, entitled “Who Let the Air Out of the Balloon?,” speaks to what I want to share in this commentary.
Suppliers and distributors are looking for a way to get noticed in a marketplace that is flooded with information. Standing out it not so easy to do. We are in a great industry that can be defined by the creative use of branded promotional products, but not necessarily by innovation in our own marketing strategies.
Getting back to change, FreePromoTips.com has been innovative in how we reach the marketplace for our supplier and distributor supporters. While our website has won an award for being a valuable resource, it’s not necessarily at the cutting edge of Web design. Today’s websites have a completely different look with big images. You scroll for content and use graphic images for navigation, as opposed to the menu bars most of us are familiar with.
Personally, I want a cutting-edge and shinny, new looking website. It was brought to my attention by one of my young team members, however, that my audience wouldn’t necessarily understand a drastic new look. Wise words from Generation Y. He’s right. Therefore, we’re not going to change our website. For now, we are going to stay focused on what we do best. When we are ready to repackage those important things in a new look, we will make that move.
As we enter the New Year, FreePromoTips.com will continue doing what we do that has had a positive impact on the industry. We are excited about the New Year and look forward to including more companies who get what we are doing. If you know of a supplier or distributor company that would benefit from reaching the large FreePromoTips.com community, let them know about what we do. We want to help others catch a little more of the “balloon” experience that is so elusive these days.
