The Awen Group

With so much SEO time spent focusing on the right keywords and incoming links, it’s easy to overlook simple steps you can take to improve your web sites overall page rank.  Did you know that the length of time your URL is registered can affect your site’s rating? Google and other search engines may penalize websites with domains that expire in less than a year. This criteria is called “domain stability” and search engines interpret a shorter length of registration to mean that your site may be temporary at best or even worse, spam. Ultimately, your site will be considered less relevant and not ranked as highly.  It is relatively inexpensive to register your domain for longer periods of time, so it is worth it to extend your registration three to five years or longer.

This is just one way to improve your web site’s rating with search engines. For more information, you can read our post How Healthy is Your Web Site? to learn more about keeping your web site relevant. Or leave a comment below, we’d love to discuss SEO with you.

Promotional products are gaining popularity as the most cost-effective advertising tool and the fastest growing advertising medium.  Even though the economy is struggling and companies are constraining their advertising expenditures, promotional items still prove to be the most likable and cost efficient method to reach out your business and marketing message to the target consumer.

Promotional products offer a opportunity to get your company’s name out to its target market and keep it there.

The promotional items you pick are limited only by your own creativity. They can range from calendars, which will stay with the consumer for the whole year and are a constant reminder of your company and advertising message, to coffee mugs and T-shirts. Other products such as key rings or magnets can also leave long lasting impressions on the consumer’s mind. Eco-friendly and biodegradable items such as bags, writing pads and pens would also be good options.

But no matter what items you select, be sure you maximize your investment. Here are a few tips to make the most of this sales and marketing resource:

• Set goals for your promotion. Think about what you want these products to do for your business. Build awareness of your company? Boost sales? Provide a way to thank your customers or your employees? Have goals in mind from the start so you can purchase items that make sense for your business.
• Set a budget and stick to it. Putting your logo on a coffee mug or a mouse pad tells customers that you’re in business for the long haul. Avoid overspending: Identify your costs up front, factor them into your overall marketing budget, and keep careful track of all expenses – especially costs like shipping and handling.
• Seek out partnership opportunities. If you’d like to offer gifts at your next event, ask one of your suppliers to share the cost. In exchange, recognize them by placing their logo on the gift. Joint promotional efforts strengthen relationships with suppliers.
• Recognize the limited shelf life of most promotional products. Don’t buy more than you need.

Promotional items can be a silent salesperson for your products or services. Keeping these tips in mind will help you make the most of your promotional items.