This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...



... 2-in-1 ballpoint pens and styluses (or styli) for Ogletree Deakins to be used during a webinar series. 



... basting brushes, visors and stickers for the 2nd Annual DC Metro Eggfest. Never heard of an Eggfest? It's a gathering for enthusiasts of the Big Green Egg barbecue to show off their grilling and smoking skills. Yum!



... and sweatshirt blankets for Cantor Fitzgerald with a prolucent imprint. Want to learn more about this decoration technique? See the process in action here!

"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
This Week at Sonic Promos 9.20.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 9.13.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 9.6.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.30.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.23.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.16.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.9.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.2.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 7.26.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 7.19.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 7.12.11
Check in every Tuesday to see some of the work that's going on in our office.

Seth recently assisted client JK Moving with marketing materials for the Maryland Association of Realtors "Rally for Success" conference. We were delighted to see a recap of the event on their blog, This End UP. Keep reading for Kent Fegani's first-hand account!

Last week, JK was an exhibitor at the Maryland Association of Realtors "Rally for Success" conference, and I was fortunate enough to represent JK. It was my first time attending the annual convention, and I was really surprised by the experience.

First, the facility was huge! Everyday, there were hundreds of attendees walking around and visiting booths. It was fantastic to meet a variety of people in person and have the opportunity to explain the extensive services JK Moving provides.



While we did not win an award for our booth, I think everyone enjoyed their visit. We welcomed booth visitors with a couple of fun games to play (all of us from JK certainly enjoyed the games). We wanted people to remember our booth for more than just the games, so we gave away several practical gifts for people to use. Remember that almost all of the event attendees were realtors, so we had gifts and prizes with them in mind: tape measurers, stress relievers, pens, lip balm and nail files as options for their takeaway from our booth. Finally, because that just was not enough for the magnitude of this event, there was a raffle! We raffled off a $50 gas card and $100 off of someone's next move.

Overall, it was an outstanding experience that I recommend for anyone. It's a great way to spend a few days, or just an afternoon, but I know I will certainly be attending next year. Stop by and visit; you won't regret it. We can talk shop if you would like, but if not, we'll have gifts and games for our realtor friends to enjoy.

P.S. Belinda E, from Long and Foster, won the $50 gas card. The Jay Fischetti Group (Keller Williams), Cynthia G (Long and Foster), and Julie D (Prudential Carruthers) all won $100 off their clients' next move. Congrats to the winners!

Thanks for sharing, JK! We are thrilled the event was a success!

For more trade show promotion ideas and best practices, check out the following posts:
Trade Show 101 Part 1
Trade Show 101 Part 2
Trade Show 101 Part 3

This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...


... custom playing cards, puzzle books and Medicare card holders for LightHouse Healthcare as part of a promotion targeting senior citizens. 



... Swiss Army knives for The Glover Park Group to be used during a sales presentation for National Public Radio (NPR). 



... sweatshirts, tote bags, stickers and notepads for Razoo to promote Give to the Max Day: Washington on November 9th. 

Give to the Max Day: Washington is a one-day regional online giving fundraiser for nonprofits. The event is part of Digital Capital Week, which is a series of Web 2.0 events from November 4-11 that will attract more than 10,000 people to hundreds of local events about digital media. The event is expected to raise three million dollars in donations and matching grants with more than 35,000 citizen actions.

"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
This Week at Sonic Promos 9.13.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 9.6.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.30.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.23.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.16.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.9.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.2.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 7.26.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 7.19.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 7.12.11
Check in every Tuesday to see some of the work that's going on in our office.

If anyone knows how to use promotional items effectively, it's race directors. Between T-shirts for staff and volunteers, finisher medals, expo displays and sponsor materials, the branding opportunities are endless.

On Sunday September 11th, Seth and I participated in the 6th Annual Nation's Triathlon. We both walked away with personal records and heavy swag bags. Take a look at our loot below, and learn a lesson or two in successful promotional strategy.



Incentivize.
Clif Bar, the Official Performance Nutrition Sponsor of the event, distributed energy gel packets during the race, provided bite-sized recovery snacks at the finish line and offered samples of their full product line at the race expo.

Free samples are an excellent way to lure passers-by to your table, but your promotion shouldn't be all give and no take. Expos are a great opportunity to gather valuable data about your target market, and Clif offered branded cups stuffed with product samples to those willing to complete a short survey.



Reward.
Craft, the official apparel sponsor of the Nation's Tri, provided bright yellow tees as a reward for race participants. Athletic tees are prime real estate for sponsors. Consider this- 4,500 people just completed a challenging athletic event, and they want nothing more than to share their accomplishment with others. Wearing a race medal is really only acceptable during the hours immediately following your triumphant finish, but wearing your race tee is perfectly acceptable for years to come. I guarantee you that my shirt will make appearances in spin class and on long runs through the city. Wouldn't you want your brand on a T-shirt that will be worn proudly dozens, if not hundreds, of times in the future?



Organize.
Even though the swim leg was cancelled due to flooding, swift currents and debris in the Potomac, participants still received a color-coded swim cap (provided by XTERRA, the Official Wetsuit Sponsor) at packet pickup. Promotional products are not just for use post-event; put them to work during the event itself. Vibrant, color-coded swim caps would have kept multiple waves of swimmers organized and visible in the water. Cinch packs branded for event sponsor Event DC also contributed to a smoothly run event, providing a convenient place to stash expo samples and race materials.  



Recognize.
Praise and recognition are an innate need (you can read more on this topic here). Super Bowl rings, diplomas, trophies and awards are evidence of this fact. The 2011 Nation's Triathlon, like so many races, recognized its participants' achievement with a beautiful medal.

Promotional products can be used to accomplish a number of goals- to motivate, incentivize, recognize, organize and reward. Where do promotional products fit into your marketing strategy?

This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...



... piggy banks, calculators and key chain wipes for CGI and Scott Financial, to promote a kids' education day.



... recovering from the 6th Annual Nation's Triathlon on 9/11 to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. More than 4,500 athletes participated this year, raising over $2.75 million for research, patient education and support initiatives.

"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
This Week at Sonic Promos 9.6.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.30.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.23.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.16.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.9.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 8.2.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 7.26.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 7.19.11
This Week at Sonic Promos 7.12.11
Check in every Tuesday to see some of the work that's going on in our office.