Six Keys To Marketing In A Recession

Here are six action steps to creating a marketing plan that will see you through the recession:

Don't cut your advertising budget, increase it. When you increase your spending you increase your share of voice. When competitors cut back, your message grows even stronger.

Develop a plan - don't waste money advertising the wrong message in the wrong place to the wrong audience. Promotional products deliver your personal branding message to your targeted audience of choice.

Achieve greater media efficiency by using the most cost effective advertising medium - promotional products (less expensive per impression than almost any other media).

Keep your friends. Keep in touch with loyal customers and let them know what you have to offer. Use branded gifts to say thank you as part of a customer loyalty program.

Reassure customers. Buyers need to feel they are minimizing risk by doing business with you. Show your strength with a promotional gift that says, "We are still here and ready to help."

Maintain continuity. The key to advertising is frequency and repetition. If not reminded about your brand, people will forget you. Promotional items are kept on average for seven months and many are used multiple times every day...that's almost constant brand exposure