by tradesmeninsights | Mar 8, 2016 | Events/Trade Shows, Marketing Tips
By Sandy Bucher, Media Engineer, Sonnhalter
Photo courtesy of Viega LLC
Digital display advertising is one way to drive traffic to your booth at a trade show. Depending on the size and location of the trade show you’re exhibiting at, the venue may offer this option. A client of ours recently took advantage of this opportunity at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The digital display ads appear on various screens located throughout the venue, usually near the high traffic areas such as main lobbies and secondary lobbies, entrances to meeting rooms, near the info desk or near escalators.
Here are some tips when creating your digital display ads to get the best effect:
- Make the Text Big – designs should be simple, clear and easy to read
- Use Bold, Non-Serif Fonts – avoid decorative or serif fonts
- One Message – don’t present a complicated message or numerous images
- Use Bright, Bold Colors – and design with high contrast
- Lose the White Space – increase your logo, font sizes and images
- Be Short and Sweet – your ad will appear for a few seconds each time, so you want it to be a quick read
- Booth Number – be sure to add it to the ad so people know where to go
Enforce your brand, showcase a new product, offer a giveaway – digital display ads can get your message into the minds of the trade show attendees to get them into your booth where you want them.
by tradesmeninsights | Feb 16, 2016 | Events/Trade Shows, Marketing Tips, Marketing Trends
By John Sonnhalter, Rainmaker Journeyman, Sonnhalter
I’ll be one of the guest speakers at the Whizard Summit in Boulder, Colorado in April. Mark Mitchell, CEO of Whizard Strategy, has put together a jam-packed, 2-day conference for manufacturers of building materials on ways to address issues with architects, builders and contractors.
Here is a taste of what you’ll learn step-by-step in this two-day event packed with insights and strategies you can use immediately to generate sales:
- Find out what builders REALLY want along with 3 simple ways to make sure you give it to them.
- The #1 reason architects keep ignoring you – and a simple shift you can make to get specified.
- The biggest challenge facing most contractors and a proven strategy that will make them WANT to do business with you.
- The secret to selling Commercial Building Facilities Managers and Design Build Contractors – an often-missed step that stops the sales process dead in its tracks.
- A growth blueprint you can share with lumber and specialty dealers that will make you a welcome visitor any time.
- How to take the intimidation out of “Big Box” selling and finally get your products and services the respect they deserve.
Guest speakers include building materials experts in market research, SEO, online content and video, marketing automation, builder and contractor sales.
To register, visit http://seethewhizard.com/summit/. You’ll receive an additional $200 discount if you use the code “Sonnhalterclient” before March 1st.
by tradesmeninsights | Dec 23, 2015 | Events/Trade Shows, Uncategorized
We’ll be taking some time off and will be back after the first of the year. Enjoy the Holidays with your Family.
by tradesmeninsights | Dec 3, 2015 | Events/Trade Shows
By Chris Ilcin, Account Superintendent, Sonnhalter
via Fabtech on Facebook
Fabtech Expo wrapped up another great show last month in Chicago. Presented by AWS, CCAI, FMA, SME and PMA, it truly lives up to its billing as the largest metal-forming, welding and finishing event in North America.
There are many great wrap ups of this show, including Fabtech’s own, but I want to share a few personal observations:
- Chicago is a great host city for any show, but especially this one, given its rich history of amazing architecture, manufacturing and Midwest hospitality
- There was an HUGE number of students and educators there, great news for the future of our industry
- In the North Hall, the “Big 3” welding companies each had impressive and expansive booths, each playing to their strengths, and full of new products
In fact, new products ruled the day in both halls. We truly are on the verge of a 4th industrial revolution. Every booth seemed to burst with new, and most importantly, integrated products, system and solutions. The buzz on the floor and in the seminars was that to survive and thrive, manufacturing needs to embrace new technology.
The common perception used to be that manufacturing wasn’t an “early adopter” and that the old ways were best. But the smart companies are now realizing that the two are not mutually exclusive. Look at products like WeldRevolution, where a little-out-of-the-box thinking has led to significant gains in productivity and quality. There are a hundred more examples from any given aisle, but the message was clear: the manufacturing floor of the future will put productivity first, and results will be seen in real-time, in the palm of your hand.
Make plans to attend the 2016 Fabtech in Las Vegas, it’s sure to dazzle.
by tradesmeninsights | Nov 23, 2015 | Events/Trade Shows, Uncategorized
As the Thanksgiving weekend approaches, we’d like to say thanks to the many friends and clients we’ve had the good fortune to come in contact with over the years. We’re all running in several different directions all the time, and this time of year we need to slow down a bit to appreciate the things around us.
So this weekend, don’t take your briefcase home, and your emails will still be there Monday morning when you get back in the office. Recharge your batteries this weekend. Play with your kids or grandkids, visit an old friend or watch some football. We take a lot of things for granted sometimes – our Families and Friends.
Enjoy the weekend. We can get back to the rat race next week.
by tradesmeninsights | Sep 9, 2015 | Events/Trade Shows, Traditional Marketing
By John Sonnhalter, Rainmaker Journeyman at Sonnhalter
Being socially responsible goes beyond individuals. Companies, no matter what size, should support communities where they draw its workforce from.
Plans should be well thought out and be in line with your company, customers and employee’s goals. Although most people think of financial donations as the primary way of showing support, there are many ways to get the entire staff involved like volunteering at a food bank or shelter or building a house for Habitat for Humanity.
A company’s greatest asset are its people. Studies have shown that employees perform better when there are locally supported programs. They are proud to be associated with a company that gives back.
Here are 5 results of developing a community program:
- Creates better morale among employees
- Helps create a more efficient business process
- Builds a strong public image of your company (and is a good recruitment tool)
- Better employee loyalty
- Attracts new customers
The key to success in my opinion is to get the employees involved with suggestions on where the money would be better spent. Let’s face it, they probably have a better handle on where the greater needs are.
Here are a few examples:
We have a small manufacturing client that has a clear-cut plan for where a portion of the funds will go, but they’ve added a twist. Each employee has control of $1,500 of the company’s money that they have 100% control over where it goes. Talk about engagement!
Since we focus on reaching the professional tradesmen, we have supported the local Habitat for Humanity with an annual tool drive to raise money for them. We are fortunate that many of our clients choose to participate by giving tools and other accessories that can either be used on a project or sold in their ReStore where the money is used for future builds.
These are just a few examples. I’d love to hear how/what your company is doing to support the local communities.
