Anniversary Promo

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The third article in this series focuses on getting more from your gift program by expecting less in return.

Tip Number Three: Give without expectations

This may sound a bit counterintuitive, but it is a fundamental principle that applies to all types of giving: You get back more when you give without expectation. So how can this work if the reason behind any corporate gift program is ultimately marketing and business development? Here are some things to consider when applying this philosophy to your plan:

Don't put out the fire

Everyone likes to feel good. When someone does something nice for you, the serotonin levels in your brain go up, and you both experience the emotion of happiness. If you immediately ask for something in return, it's like pouring water on a campfire. Avoid dampening the good feelings and let the fire continue to burn so that they will refer you to friends and others.

Good obligation

Obligation is not always a bad word as related to customers. We all want customers to feel obligated to buy from us, as long as that obligation does not have a negative emotion associated with it. When you do something nice for a client or prospect, and they sense that it is honestly a part of your business, you create a positive obligation for them to continue to do business with you time and time again.

The 100% myth

This scenario plays out at our company at least once a year. Someone decides that it is time to start sending their customers a gift. Sales are not so great, but they've convinced themselves that if they send a couple of gifts and get a couple of referrals, they'll generate enough business to pay for the gifts and give them the opportunity to send more gifts. This rarely, if ever, happens. The fact is that not everyone you send a gift to will respond with more business, a referral, or even an acknowledgment right away. Customer relationships have varying incubation periods. Expecting to get a positive ROI on every gift you send is a recipe for failure.

Measure the success or your gift program as a part of your overall marketing and branding strategy, not on sending one or two, or even a small sample of gifts. The greatest baseball hitters in history, strike out six out of ten times when they step up to the plate. Don't measure your gift program by giving someone a gift, then waiting to see if they send you enough business to pay for it. It is stressful for the recipient, for you, and simply does not work.

Dos and Don'ts:

1. Budget for gifts. Set aside an amount that works for your business and transaction level and stick with it for a period of time.
2. Practice randomness. Avoid the trap of feeling obligated to send gifts during the end of year holidays. We send our thank you gifts in July. How about a surprise birthday gift? One month anniversary? Groundhog Day? You get the idea.
3. Don't ask the client how they liked your gift. Let them tell you when it is appropriate for them to do so.
4. Balance promo materials. Don't over commercialize the gift, but make sure that the recipient knows where it came from and make it easy for them to tell others about you and your company.

The next article in this series focuses on getting the details correct - name and address matter!

Chris Duke is the Founder and President of Anna's Gourmet Goodies, providing gourmet gift products for individuals and companies that enhance marketing results and support a branding strategy. Anna's offers free customized labels and note cards for qualified companies, as well as gift list management services. More information is available on the the website: http://www.AnnasGourmetGoodies.com. And you can follow Chris at his blog: http://www.OutsideTheOven.com.

Practical Tips On Caring For Your Flower

Flowers can uplift our spirits and enliven any dampened spirit. They can bring a smile to any sad face and can definitely symbolize or express one's love for another. The presence of flowers not only brightens and adds color to a room but it also conveys strong feelings of emotion. Flowers make impressive gifts for any occasion whether it is Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, a birthday, anniversary or even if there is no particular occasion.

You may be a recipient of a bouquet of flowers and as you appreciate the thoughtful gesture as well as enjoy its beautiful sight, you want the flowers to last longer. If the flowers were purchased somewhere else and was basically shipped and delivered to you, it is very important that someone will be able to wait for it when it will be delivered. If the delivered flowers were made to wait on the porch or mail under the scorching heat of the sun all afternoon until someone comes home at around 5 or 6 pm, you have already taken days off their lifespan as most flowers are shipped without water to sustain them.

There are actually several tips to help cut flowers thrive and to extend their shelf life. If the cut flowers have been out of water even for just any time length, submerge them first for about 30 minutes in a bath before putting them in a vase. Cut off about 3 or 4 inches from the stem and place them in a vase of clean water. Ensure that the vase is clean and the water inside the vase is clean. The vase should have enough water to enable the flowers to hydrate themselves. Mist them with the use of a spray bottle around two times a day. Change the water in the vase every 2nd or 3rd day and trim the ends of the stem.

If you happen to have flowers that are starting to wilt, you can actually revive them with a warm bath. You start by filling a sink or any container for that matter with warm water. Make sure that the water's temperature should be about the same as a relaxing hot bath. Anything hotter will shock your flowers and will end up killing them. Remove the flowers from the vase or the flower foam and submerge them fully into the warm water. Use a sharp knife to groom once again the stems by cutting diagonally of about an inch from the stem's end. Allow the flowers to soak for about 5 minutes to half an hour. Check the flower's firmness and if they have been rehydrated you can return them to their vases or flower foam. Of course this technique will not work if the flower has lived passed its vase life.

About the Author

James Brown writes about BloomingBulb.com promotion code, Gardener's Supply Company promo code and Garden-Gadget.com discount codes

Smackdown 10th anniversary dvd?

Do you think it will be released in the summer of 2009 and what matches,promos,parodies,and events do you want to be on it.
I have the raw 15th ann dvd man it's cool it has edge and lita's wedding on it maybe the sd one will have edge and vickies

It'll be interesting to see Edge back when he was a "Hulkamaniac" and compare him to the leader of LaFamilia that he is today. I would think the Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar matches will be on their. Los Guerreros Tag Team Matches, Eddie Guerrero matches, the World's Greatest Tag Team, Paul London and Brian Kendrick among other things.

VCF and Trade Promotion Management Associates (TPMA) will be Hosting Best-Practices Conferences in 2010
VCF, formerly Vendor Compliance Federation, and Trade Promotion Management Associates (TPMA) will be hosting best-practices conferences in 2010 to help retailers and suppliers boost profits with the latest strategies and innovations impacting the forecasting-to-cash cycle.

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