Bewildered About Social Media?

The seven most pressing questions are answered about Facebook and twitter in this blog.What's the difference between a Facebook personal page, a company page and a group, and do you need all of them? Should you "friend" your customers? Can you really track a sales uptick back to your Facebook postings? Read on and educate yourself.

With a small team, it's difficult to keep up. What's the best way to make the most of what you have? How time should you invest? 
The biggest misconception of social media is that it is easy and free. In order to have a successful social media presence, you need to invest time and effort. However, once you get the ball rolling, it will become much easier and less time consuming to manage. Here are three tips to have you maximize the time required to maintain your social media presence.

The first is to set goals. Plan in advance what you are going to do when you log into Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and so on. Planning ahead will help avoid distractions such as reading the 25 comments that your uncles friends daughter got in response to a post about her new sneakers, chatting with your long lost pre-school teacher or saving your Farmville crops from withering. Usually your goal should be to post something, check if you need to respond to anyone and log off. When you have a little more time on your hands, its also a good idea to visit other related Facebook pages.

The second tip is to set aside a specific amount of time each day for social media. Aim for 30 minutes a day and , if possible, schedule it before noon. Posting early in the day gets you more exposure than posting in the evening does.
Lastly, use your down time for social media. Invest in a smart phone with an Internet connection and you can turn the time you spend waiting into time you spend checking Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. It's surprising how much time you spend waiting each day.


Is it recommended to use a tool to push tweets and Facebook posts from one place rather than each one individually?

It's not a good idea to push posts this way. Each platform is different and should be treated differently. If you push your Facebook messages to Twitter, they will more than likely be too long and get cut off. If you push tweets to Facebook, you can't take advantage of the different types of posts. When you tweet, you should be using hash tags and twitter handles to increase exposure and engagement. When you post on Facebook you should be using links, images, videos, notes and tags.

What is the difference between a Facebook page for business and a personal page? And how are they set up?

Setting up a Facebook page for your business is actually quite easy. First, if you have not done so already, open a personal Facebook account. You will use this account to create your personal profile. People often try to open a personal page under a company name. This is not recommended and it is against the Facebook terms of service. Facebook has been known to shut down accounts before. It's your decision if you use your personal profile page to interact with customers, but obviously, if you do, be mindful of what you post.
Once you have opened a personal page and set up your profile, you can then create a page for your company. If you want to create a page for your company but do not want a personal profile, you can do this by selecting "Create a page for a celebrity, band or business" from the Facebook homepage. You cannot friend people with a company profile. When you post, it shows up as your company. If you have both a personal and a business page, be aware of which account you are logged into before posting, commenting and interacting.
To set up a company page from your personal account you will need to search for "Create New Facebook Page" in the Facebook search and follow the provided steps. The two basic steps to get your page up and running are to upload an image and fill out your company information. However, there are many other ways to optimize your company page.

What is the difference between a Facebook company page versus a group?

A company page, also known as a fan page, is much different from a group. Groups are "for members of groups" according to Facebook. The main feature of a Facebook group is the ability to make them "invite only" or limited to specific networks. Anyone on Facebook has the ability to "like" a company page and view the page's content, but this is not always the case with groups. Groups can be limited to a network.

Should people "friend" customers and potential customers? 

There is not correct answer to this questions and the decision is up to you. Some people are friends with their customers on Facebook and very happy to connect with anyone with whom they work. Although, there is combination of personal and professional information that can be found in profiles - which is why you should be cautious.

It is OK for suppliers to advertise they on Facebook and Twitter in 2011 catalogs?

Advertising your Facebook and Twitter page is no different than advertising your website, which is common practice in the industry. In fact, if you are promoting your Facebook and Twitter pages correctly, there will be direct links to your pages to your web site. Much like a web site, it is important that suppliers keep all social media posts completely end user friendly, which means no contact information, no net pricing and no other references to any specific distributors.


How do you add custom information tabs to a business Facebook page?

In the past, HTML aor FBML was required to make custom tabs. Recently, Facebook announced that in order to add a custom tab to a page, useers must now do so with iFrames. This is exciting news for the more technical Facebook users, but it also means that adding custom tabs to a page just became much more complex for the average Facebook user.
The move from HTML/FBML to iFrames is monumental because now almost any type of content can be placed on a Facebook page. Using iFrame means that you can display content from a website or a web page designed for Facebook on your page. This would include elements like e-commerce, flash objects and more. Now, when someone visits a custom Facebook tab, he or she is technically not interacting with Facebook any longer, but rather with a specific web page. This means your traffic and user information can be captured in your analytics which is huge news. You can use this information in marketing plans and measuring ROI. Of course, the most important question here is how does someone create a custom tab with iFrame? There are different ways of doing so, but a good place to start is first creating a web page with the content you would to appear on your Facebook page. Remember that a Facebook tab has a width of 520 pixels, so be sure your website is constrained or it will automatically re size to narrow the width. Most people will have a web developer put the page together as this requires technical knowledge. Once the page is ready you will have to create an iFrame in Facebook and this is where things get a little tricky. Suggestion: Find a YouTube tutorial on how to set one up - or ask your web developer to do it for you. Since iFrames for Facebook are brand new, you can bet that we will see more features and apps created specifically to ease this process.

How to Calculate the Real Cost of Embroidery

Supply costs are always part of the discussion when embroidery comes up. To save on costs, many shops skimp of the quality of the supplies.  But at API, as a rule, we don't skimp. This ensures the lasting quality of your logo for years to come. You probably already know you pay a run charge - the cost of actually running the design and sewing onto the fabric. And you already know that for new designs you also pay a digitizing charge - the cost of creating the design and converting it into stitches. But do you know what else we include in that cost? From thread to stabilizers, we're breaking it down.

Thread: The most fundamental part of embroidery is probably the least expensive. We purchase cones of Robinson Anton thread which is sturdy and long lasting. We use it because it is the market's leading thread. They have a vast color selection with a bright high lustrous sheen. These threads wear our machines down less quickly than the rest and the have excellent wash-ability, a huge benefit to our clients. We divide the total cost of the cone by the amount of stitches your design will require to calculate costs. Things like metallic thread, swirl thread and any other special requirements will incur additional costs but you can rest easy in knowing that your design will stand apart from the rest.

Bobbins: Bobbins are one of the most important factors in producing high quality embroidery. Using pre-wound bobbins and bobbin threads ensures that there will be no extra bulk added by the under-thread as it is being sewn into the design. Extra bulk can cause the embroidery to become too heavy and can cause needle breaks. A strong and lint free thread is preferable as this will reduce bobbin thread breaks.

 

Stabilizers: These are sheets cut to fit your logo and the last step to make sure your design runs smoothly. It's use prevents your embroidery from pulling, sagging or puckering and will add stability to your garment. There are various kinds of stabilizers. E-Zee TEAR® is a non-woven* general use backing. You can tear it in any direction and won't need scissors.  We use this on heavier, stable fabrics such as denim or twill.  Pulling and tearing the backing will not distort the edge of your embroidery, as long as the fabric is sturdy.  Once you tear away the backing, there will be no remnants of the backing left around your embroidery. There is also E-Zee CUT AWAY® which is a soft, stabilizing backing that is ideal for use on knits, sweaters, fleece and any fabric that stretches.  It is especially good for use on fabrics that will be worn close to the skin.  Cut the excess backing away from the garment as close to the edge of the embroidery as possible. Our reasons for Using E-Zee Cut Away® are its soft texture and stability and the weight availability

Aside from that, we use a special backing for hats. E-Zee CAP® backing is available in two sizes of pre-cut, specifically sized for your finished caps.  If you prefer, rolls are available.  The sizes, texture and weight of our cap backing will improve the quality of your embroidered design when used on cylinder style cap frames. E-Zee Cap Backing offers a few distinct advantages including the way it improves the crispness of lettering, the insurance of smooth machine operation and the use of an extra fold of the cap backing to get a firm seating on rotating cap frames to prevent registration slips.

Now you are informed in the behind the scenes embroidery scene. And you know what to expect when placing an embroidery order. Go ahead, call us today for your free quote! 

800.507.7007 

info@apisource.com

Let's take this to the Next Level

Next Level apparel delivers the latest fashions with superb quality and heavenly soft fabrics at sharp price points. They have an outstanding color pallet, up to date styles, and fit continue to define them as one of the leading suppliers of fashion blanks in the US market.

Fashion is their passion. Every individual at Next Level Apparel is committed to the mission of delivering top quality product through outstanding service. Value combined with the newest fashions and superior fabrics define what being Next Level is all about.

API is a proud distributor of Next Level Apparel. Visit www.apisource.com today to find the latest styles for your next order. We carry it all!

So, what’s the deal with this whole branding thing anyway?

Why Promotional Products Are Such an Important Component of a Successful Branding Strategy

By Daniel Namm

Most people know this as the Reebok Logo.

When mapping out your creative strategy to market your brand, the factors you must consider are endless. Any business owner or marketing strategist needs to know right off the bat what their target market is, which medium they want to advertise in (i.e. print, television, internet, etc.), and how their advertising angle is going to be relevant to both their products and customers. This can sometimes be a tricky business for anyone, as companies continually attempt to market their brand in an innovative and compelling way that separates them from their competitors. What these business owners need to know is the fact that promotional products can help solve their marketing issues in many of these instances.

The purpose of promotional products is to engage both existing and potential customers on a direct and personal level that many other forms of advertising cannot achieve. Take for instance the comparison of a 30-second television spot and the distribution of some promotional pens. In the television ad, you are going to spend a tremendous sum of money in order to reach a very large group of people. If you do your research and buy the ad in the right time slot, you have a relatively decent chance of reaching your demographic and getting them to remember your brand name. However, television ads are lacking in several important areas that promotional products make up for in droves.

Compared to a television ad, using promotional pens enables the distributor to target each and every customer individually. These promotional items are usually given out at a designated event like a trade show, where the company's team can put a pen in everyone's hand, shake their hands, and introduce themselves as a representative of the company. While this takes much more time to do, the use of promotional products allows you to actually see who your customers are and develop a personal relationship with them (with TV ads, you have no idea who is watching). Of course, television is just one example of a medium through which companies choose to advertise. The point is that any other form of branding besides promotional items will not give a company such personalization and control.

Consider another point: when someone receives a promotional pen with your imprinted logo on it, they are probably going to incorporate it into the use of their daily life. 

Even if it sits on their desk or table, people are going to continually see it and use it, as everyone needs to write (the best promotional products are the ones that have a basic function which appeals to a universal demographic). The imprinted pens might even be traded or fall into the hands of someone who you never thought would get it. That means unlimited exposure for your brand at an infinite amount of time.

While a primetime advertisement on television or a magazine might reach a larger potential audience, it will be over in literally 30-60 seconds, with nothing left to remind the customer of what they just saw. When you put the right promotional products in someone's hand, they have a constant tangible reminder of what the name of your company is and what it is about, so that the possibility of doing business with you is always an option in the back of their mind.

The versatility and cost of incorporating promotional products into your branding campaign are two more benefits for your company. There are tens of thousands of items for you to choose from, so you can isolate the exact type of products which you think will be most appealing to your customers. You can make your criteria as loose or strict as you prefer, and your deciding factors may include relevance, appeal, and price. Companies even offer on sale promotional items for new and small businesses that have a limited budget to work with.

Remember to consider the advantages of promotional products the next time you are ready to launch a branding operation. You will quickly see how customers respond much more effectively to these giveaways, and appreciate the fact that they are being treated with some personal attention.

The Ultimate Presentation Transformation

Nobodies perfect! Many people have stumbled and bumbled through speeches and pitches! Let's go through some tips and tricks to ensure that you have the presentation every time!

Problem # 1: You Ran out of Time/ Your Meeting was Cut Short....

You're in the middle of your best pitch ever and you hear these words: " You've got 15 seconds." Don't panic and waste the opportunity for an awesome closing pitch. Instead, regroup. 

You should have gone in knowing your top points for the takeaway. Ask yourself before you get there "What's my competitive advantage?" If you have to wrap up, just reinforce those top points. 

Every perfect pitch can be broken down into must haves and nice-to-haves. If you get pressed for time, at least you can still get your message across.

Prep Technique: The best way to avoid any timing issues is by confirming the total presentation time.

Problem # 2: You Have to Present to a Different Audience Than Planned

You're dressed to the nine's, ready to meet with the CEO. You've created a terrific close, ready to make the sale. But when you walk into the office the person with the buying power is no longer available. Now, you're presenting to the rest of the team. Key point here: You must always treat everyone as if they are the CEO! Make good use of your time anyway. You should still present a strong call to action, even if the person can't sign the deal. Because they do speak with the one who can.

Prep Technique: Know your expected audience and do some research in case the audience changes. Never automatically assume that the person making the arrangements is the person you are meeting with. If you show up and there is another audience, ask a few questions to what their experience is. This kind of situation also proves the importance of preparation. Many people don't rehearse because they think they are better off winging it but if you have nothing prepared, how do you know when you are done?

Problem # 3: You Made a Mistake

OK so you screwed up on that one point. Mistakes range from minor blips to major, factual errors. And trust us, everyone has made them (note the picture on the left).It's a waste of time beating yourself up over it. Most people really do understand that mistakes happen. Unfortunately, making a mistake can sometimes ruin the potential for a great business relationship unless it's handled correctly. If you catch a mistake during the pitch say "I apologize, I misspoke." And correct yourself there right away. The two most powerful words in the sales industry are "thank you" and the next two most powerful words in the world of sales are (drum role please) "I'm sorry." People find you unique in the field when you can learn to say that you are sorry. It also gives you back some (if not all) of the creditability that you may have lost when you made the blunder.

Prep Technique: While it may sound silly, practice making some mistakes. If you are able to create some scenarios in which you misspeak, you can prepare different ways to address potential disasters. Also, make sure that you have sources for the information that you are presenting. That way, if someone questions you, you can say that the data is up to interpretation but you are always able to confirm where it came from. 

Problem # 4: You Have an Embarrassing Situation (wardrobe malfunction anyone?)

Your bra is showing. Your fly is down. Your shirt came un-tucked in the back. A button popped off. There is toilet paper stuck to your shoe. You choke on your words. You're sweaty. After that list, no wonder more people are more afraid of public speaking than death! But guess what. You're human. And so are the people you are presenting to. Some have an ability to laugh off situatyions like these and others naturally start to panic. So what do you do when everyone has seen it and everyone is thinking about it? Point it out. Laugh about it. Move on. 

Prep Technique: Arrive early and take an extra minute in the bathroom to give yourself the once over you need. Also, have room temperature water and don't eat before a big presentation.

Problem # 5: Your Audience is Falling Asleep

While you (and maybe your family) may think that you are a lot of fun, there are times when you're just not being very engaging. During a presentation a lack of energy from you can create a huge disconnect between you and your audience. Do everything you can to not turn the boardroom into a bored room. 

The best way to engage is to ask questions that the audience cannot ignore. Make them do things like a show of hands. Typically, when a presentation goes south in this way, it's because you are not addressing the major concerns of the audience. Make sure what you are going to talk matters to them rather than just using a canned pitch. Also, do your best not to schedule these meetings after lunch. Meals make people sleepy and that's a fact!

Prep Technique: Practise some great ways to pump up the energy in your audience. Whether you plan a game or a great story, keep one technique tucked away in your back pocket to use during those moments when the audience starts drifting away. The worst error you make is reading a script and pairing it with boring slides. 
When presenting with a powerpoint never read word for word off of it...only point out the key topics and let the audience do the reading for themselves. This helps them to stay active.

Problem # 6: Your Audience Turns Hostile

You think your presentation has gone great but then you start fielding questions. There's one in every crowd - a rival. No matter who the hostile person is, an excellent presentation can be disregarded if questions are not answered properly. First, don't pick a fight. There is usually a reason why someone is hostile so find out why. It could be as simple as they have had problems with their previous vendors. If the environment permits, agree to answer the question in great detail after the presentation. You also consider stealing the strength of hotile audience members by raising the issues before they can. Note that usually the first objection of a hostile person is price. So talk about the value they get with the price. Also when a hostile question is posed, it is important to rephrase it to the audeince so that it's neutral. Take the hostily out. 

Prep Technique: Avoid hostile questions in the first place by knowing your audience. If you are aware of them, you are aware of their concerns and they can all be addressed as part of your pitch. A professional skeptic can't argue if you're not vague. 

Problem # 7: Tech Glitch!

The show must always go on. Presentations are about performance which can be a multimedia showcase. While high tech elements can really improve your presentation, they shouldnt be a crutch. Most important, they should not be a substitute for knowledge. Be prepared by knowing your information by heart and dont read word for word from a slide. When your computer crashed you'll be forced to show your true colors - are you a trusted source of information? 

Prep Technique: You should expect problems instead of assuming it can never happen to you. Make sure you are able to do a strong presentation without the computer, without the slides and without the visual aides. Print out our Power Point to pass around and use for reference as an extra measure. If you can, use a white board - but we want to note that when you erase, you should erase up and down - not side to side. When you erase side to side, your butt shakes in front of the audience. :)

Trends that are Electric!

In this industry to be successful you have to show people products that excite them and leave a lasting impression. It's important to know the difference between a passing fad and which products clients really want. The following are the results of brand-building experts going out to the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas. The latest and greatest electronics are all there!

Flip Video

Trend # 5: Streamline Your Life
People want things that are simple and easy to use. Things like the Flip Video with a built in USB are making the consumer very happy all of the time. There is no need for wires and its converts the files fast. Garmen, in the GPS category, is the first and only GPS to offer features for the avid golfer. It measures the yardage of shots, includes an odometer, and comes with more than 14,000 pre-loaded U.S. and Canadian golf courses. Some less expensive but still just as popular items are the multi-device charging stations. For example, the IDAPT I4 can charge up to 4 devices simultaneously using a set of six interchangeable tips and USB ports. Life doesn't get much more stream lined than that!

Zikmu

Trend # 4: The Freedom of Wireless
Blue tooth and wireless are the way to your clients hearts. A company currently blowing the rest away in this trend is Parrot, a leader in wireless devices for mobile phones, entertainment and automotive multi-media connectivity. The Zikmu wireless speakers feature a dedicated iPod/iPhone docking station as well as Wi-Fi and Blue tooth technology. This is the hot new thing for any client with a budget.

TurboDyne

Trend # 3: Eco-Friendly Tech
Today's Eco-conscious electronics use less energy, often use alternative power sources and offer more features than ever before. The Eton Soulra offers a complete solar powered sound system for iPhones and iPods that includes a charging dock and rechargeable lithium battery pack. Eton also recently unveiled it's American Red Cross TurboDyne Series. This series includes weather radios with a self-powered hand crank AM/FM radio, NOAA weather band, optional battery and AC power sources, a USB terminal for mobile phone chargers, and a built in LED light source.

Trend # 2: Seeing 3-D
Once seen as a novelty, full high-definition 3-D televisions are ready to emerge as an industry leader as the number of features and availability of 3-D content grows. All of these televisions require use of battery powered active-shutter glasses for 3-D viewing, and enable consumers to watch both 3-D and traditional 2-D content.

Dell Tablet

Trend # 1: Tablet Fever
With over 17 million tablets sold in 2010 it is no wonder that tablets were the most popular items at CES with brands like Dell, Motorola, Samsung and BlackBerry all demonstrating the power of the tablet. One of the hottest new tablets included the Samsung Galaxy Tab, which lets users connect to anyone at anytime via 3G connectivity, Wi-Fi and Blue tooth wireless technology.


Your mission, should you chose to accept it, is to appeal to your client using ideas like these. Get them their 3-D glasses with a logo on them. Tell them that you will help brand the blue tooth. Get them stream lined and assist them in stream lining the lives of their clients. So what if there is no money in the budget for a new GPS. There might be money for a USB. Who cares if you aren't buying all the members of the team a 3-D TV? You can get them all tickets to the next big 3-D movie. These products and ones that come along like them will be the items that keep you in the fore front of their minds, keep them happy and coming back to you for more.

In Full Swing

Golf events are swimming with promotional products, providing suppliers and distributors with hundreds of opportunities to make a lasting impression.

There are almost 29 million golfers in the United States according to the most recent Golf Participation report published by the National Golf Foundation. A search on YouTube for "golf" alone found 520,000 results. Add "lessons," "instructions," "tips" and analysis" and you will get tens of thousands more. Bring it a little closer to home and an ESP search yields tens of thousands of golf-related promotional products too.

www.fariwaystyles.com

Digging in the Duds:

A huge part of golf is the apparel that the players wear on the course. Broder Brothers recently reintroduced the Ashworth brand to the ad specialty industry. As one of the most recognizable brands in professional golf, Ashworth brings a lot more flexibility to golf apparel. "There are many cotton based options, which can be worn from the office to the course," says Deirdre Ruttle, director of marketing at Broder.

"So we characterize that as a lifestyle brand."

The current trends? A good mix of traditional colors with bright fun colors, solids and stripes and even houndstooth-checked outerwear. Men and women are dressing very similar too. They both want a "comfortable fit that allows flexibitly and athleticism."

Can't Beat the Brands:

Golf is a very brand oreinted sport. Clients want the best clubs, the best shoes, the best everything. What is the easiest way to ensure the quality of the products? Stick a well known name on them like Titleist, Taylormade and Nike. These three are among the best but the competition is getting fierce and any company wanting to rise above its competitors will need to offer products that replicate what the pros have. 

Show Me the Money:

A 2009 survey of American golfers conducted by Golf Magazine found the average golfer will spend $2,776 per year to satisfy their cravings for the links. The bulk of the money is spent on the equipment and seeing as a set of 10 clubs can cost more than $1,000 it's no wonder gold is called the rich man's sport. However, there is also a lot of money to be made. Golf Invite offers a hole-in-one and putting-competition packages for clients who want to space up their normal tournaments. They include prizes such as a Harley Sportsters, BMW 3 series, British open packages for two, Hawaii trip packages fir two and custom packages that can be created by the client. 

You Do the Work:

Nothing impresses a client more than when a company can handle all aspects of their promotional needs for an event. Listen to your clients idea, grasp the details of what they want to include and then come up with a solution for an event and the exact products to use. If you do this and do it well, you will have a never ending list of repeat clients. 

Get Inside their Heads:

Everything from divot fixers and golf hats to shoe bags and awards. It's your job to select the products that they will want. If you know it's supposed to rain, try wind shirts and umbrellas. If it's normally a beautiful time of year, try moisture wicking polo shirts and visors with sweatbands. Talk to your client so that you understand them but take all the external factors into account in your decision making as well. 

Fun Facts:

1. The first gold tournament was played at Prestwick, Scotland, in 1860 and is now called the British Open. 

2. The first 18-hole course in the United States, the Chicago Golf Club, was founded near Wheaton, IL in 1893.

3. There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball. 

4. According to a study published in 2009 by the National Golf Foundation, there were 28.6 million golfers above the age of 6 in the United States. 

5. The first golf balls were made of thin leather stuffed with feathers. Feather balls were used until 1848.

6. Golf balls travel significantly farther on hot days. 

7. The longest drive ever recorded was 515 yards. The longest putt was a monstrous 375 feet.

8. The chances of making two holes-in-one in a round of golf are one in 67 million.

9. The highest golf course in the would is the Tactu Golf Club in Morococha. 

10. Approximately 23% of golfers are women.