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Small businesses have to use every tool available to them when it comes to reaching new clients and keeping established ones. Creating a brand identity and making your vision clear and accessible to clients is necessary for every small business, but how that is done is likely to vary on a case by case basis. Businesses should be aware of what they offer and who they want to reach. 

EmbroidMe has the customized golf accessories and golf clothes you’re looking for. Being able to combine a promotional opportunity with a pastime favored by clients is like hitting the elusive hole-in-one. Golf, for some people, is all about the win. For others, it’s the challenge of self-improvement, and for many more, it’s just the opportunity to be outside and simply participate in a sport they enjoy.  Whether you are a course champion or weekend enthusiast, a game of golf is also a time to build or maintain relationships, business and personal.  

Golf accessories can become useful giveaways that fit almost any budget.  Game necessities like balls and tees are available in several packaged designs, like a match book, nylon pouch or reusable zippered organizers, each with a different configuration of balls, tees, markers, club brushes, divot repair tools or spike wrenches.  Refining the item selection provides an opportunity for multiple or repeated messages with imprinting options on each item in the assortment.  Additionally, most brands and varieties of golf balls are available by the box and send an impressive, memorable message when imprinted with a logo.  

Looking good on the course is easy with embroidered or imprinted apparel.  Golf clothes like polos and T-shirts are practical yet valued giveaways. Additional options include caps and visors or outerwear like zippered jackets or pullover windshirts. 

“Golf tournaments are terrific opportunities to build your brand with customized promotional products,”.  “Organizers look for customized golf shirts for staff and teams, and participants appreciate event-supplied golf accessories such as club towels or pouches for valuables, but everyday items like water bottles and beverage can insulators are all popular items.  Post-event gatherings are ideal opportunities for awards and trophies, as well as prizes like golf umbrellas, shoe bags or coolers.”


 

It is no secret that a poor diet leads to health problems later on in life. According to Fatty foods high in cholesterol are well-known to be a leading cause of atherosclerosis in adults, and people don't always understand the nutritional properties of the food they are eating. A small business can project a responsible brand image by distributing promotional products with suggestions on serving size and alternative ingredients. 

Many different aspects are involved in a promotional marketing strategy. Aside from the design and construction of unique features and brand images, a geographic distribution zone needs to be created to reach a specific target audience. Financial analysts and executive managers often spend a lot of time and money researching these markets, but there are a few simple categories that you can use to maximize return on investment while saving as much capital as possible. 

Company success rests on the performance of employees. As organizations look at ways to reward and motivate their workers, recognition methods have come a long way from a pat on the back and upgraded parking spot. Structured incentive programs—which reward employees for meeting performance-based milestones—are helping employees set, meet and exceed goals, and helping companies attract and retain valuable talent.

 

According to Trade-Show-Adviser.com, exhibiting at a trade show is often essential for businesses that are working to attract new customers. However, the opportunity comes with the risk of spending a lot of money without achieving the desired traffic. A strong promotional plan will help draw in new visitors and bring in new business. 

When it comes to promotional marketing, there is nothing more important to a business than projecting an image of personal responsibility and general caring. There are innumerable charities dedicated to specific diseases and ailments, and by supporting such an organization, a small business can expect quality positive reinforcement. 

Nine Q Code Suggestions
1. Use error correction at the M lever (most code generators have this option). This means that even if up to 15 percent of the code is blocked or dirty, it can be corrected and still be read.
2. Save your codes as a SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) if possible, which is a vectored image XML file. It can be increased or reduced without losing resolution and makes for a better printed code. You can also put colors into the code using Illustrator or CorelDraw. Try out different colors and test, test, test.
3. A good margin or white space is important to the proper rendering of a code. Most codes are 25 modules up and 25 modules across. I like to have at least three or four modules of white space. Do not print on black without having white space beyond the code itself around it.
4. Not every target has a smartphone... it's best to show the URL link the code renders to next to the code when you print. This helps increase your scan rate. About 50 percent of mobile phones in the USA are smartphones, make sure the other 50 percent can respond to your promotion by showing the URL link.
5. Show how to get a free reader. Print "get a free reader at your app store" near the code.
6. Some URL shortener services will let you change the destination link without changing the code. You could then use the same code and redirect it to a different YouTube video or offer each week.
7. Make sure you have color contrast... a dark and a light color... no less than 4:1 ratio (black/white is best). If there is not enough contrast, your code will be harder to read or not be read at all. Other colors can be used as long as you stick to the 4/1 ratio; brown/yellow or red/white would work.
8. Create your code so you can track how many scans it generated... using analytics to improve your project. Both bit.ly and goo.gl offer free analytics when you use their service to shorten an URL.
9. Finally, make sure any code you create for printing is not RGB. Even when printing black and white, it should be changed to a grayscale or CMYK so only the black plate is used when printing. This will help the resolution and make scanning easier by more smartphones. Saving a SVG code as a jpeg will work if it is the actual size it will print at, if it is saved as CMYK and if it is saved at a minimum of 300 dpi. EmbroidMe can help print the Q code on pen's bags, drinkwear, shirts and more. 

DO's
1. DO | create a Call to Action... give them a reason to scan your code, tell them what they'll get; view this video on YouTube (create a video about your product)... join our mailing list... find our nearest location... download this info article about... enter our drawing... like us on Face book... follow us on Twitter.
2. DO | always Test, Test, Test... before publishing, test your code on all Smartphone’s (Android, Blackberry, iPhone, Win7) with different readers. There are many popular code readers available. I personally use i-Nigma on my Android (go to www.i-nigma.mobi on your phone to download it free).  

There are certain brands, such as Apple, Starbucks and Google, that inspire loyalty among their customer bases. What is it about these brands that elicits such a response from consumers? Marketing consultant Kate Newlin points to several different factors that help keep customers passionate about their practices.