by Sonnhalter | Aug 9, 2017 | Tradespeople Insights
By Matt Sonnhalter, Vision Architect, Sonnhalter
Denso drew people into their Automate booth with a cookie making robot
So, you’ve planned for the show, booked the space, developed the booth graphics and made the travel arrangements. Now it’s show time…how do you ensure the actual trade show days are a success? In this Part 2 of a 3-part series on successful trade shows, we’ll look at the 5 during-show activities you should be doing to make your next trade show a success.
1. Booth personnel meeting
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by Sonnhalter | Aug 8, 2017 | Events/Trade Shows, Marketing Tips, Tradespeople Insights
By Matt Sonnhalter, Vision Architect, Sonnhalter
Submit for speaking opportunities well in advance
For most companies, trade shows are still a key component to the marketing mix. But these shows can be a significant investment, between the booth space, the booth itself, graphics, collateral, travel costs and the personnel to man the actual booth. So it’s critical to maximize the return and success of your trade show. In this Part 1 of a 3-part series on trade shows, we’ll look at the 5 pre-show activities you should be doing to make your next trade show a success.
1. Remind people you are attending the trade show
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by Sonnhalter | Aug 2, 2017 | Uncategorized
Today we have a post from Andrea Olsen. Andrea started her career in the tech start-up world, and has brought much of that innovative thinking to her work as the CEO of Prag’madik, an operational strategy consultancy, specializing in the industrial and manufacturing markets.
What’s Holding US Manufacturing Back?
There has been an ongoing national conversation about bringing manufacturing back to the United States. The government, states, educators, and organizations have been pushing a resurgence through, addressing many of the roadblocks facing these organizations, including: lack of skilled labor, decreased sales, advancing lean manufacturing, integrating additive manufacturing, robotics, IoT and Big Data.
The middle-market manufacturers – primarily in the Midwest, in the range of $50-$500m in revenues, employing 10-800 people – face a unique set of challenges. While the advancement of things like 3D printing and robotics will undoubtedly change the manufacturing landscape, these manufacturers face much more basic challenges to compete – and more accurately – survive the next 3-5 years.
This isn’t about the “skills gap,” or “robots taking jobs,” or “offshoring” or even “regulation burdens.” Those challenges are further downstream for these manufacturers. Today’s issues are much more fundamental. The advancements in digital technologies, communications platforms, and simply the Internet, have dramatically impacted business operations and overall competitiveness. The “blocking-and-tackling” of things like: embracing change, utilizing technology platforms, digitizing information and fostering an innovative culture, are the true essentials for US middle-manufacturing growth. Here’s a short list of those essentials: (more…)
by Sonnhalter | Aug 1, 2017 | Events/Trade Shows, Tradespeople Insights
By Rachel Kerstetter, PR Architect, Sonnhalter
Today is August 1st, at Sonnhalter it’s basically a holiday because it’s the start of our annual tool drive to benefit Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity does fantastic work building and rehabbing homes for those who need them in an effort to eliminate homelessness and substandard housing. I’m amazed year after year at the work this fantastic organization does and the support that we receive for this tool drive from our clients, vendors, partners, community and even strangers!
Our Tool Drive was born in 2010 (more…)
by Sonnhalter | Jul 26, 2017 | Social Marketing, Tradespeople Insights
By Chris Ilcin, Account Superintendent, Sonnhalter
Brian Solis is an interesting person. Digital analyst, anthropologist, and self-described futurist. One of his key areas of focus is the effect of disruptive technology on business and society. In 2008 as a part of that research he decided to map the social media landscape in what he called the “Conversation Prism,” coming up with a few categories that neatly classified the landscape as it was when Iron Man, The Dark Night and Twilight were in theaters.
Times sure have changed…
2008
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by Sonnhalter | Jul 19, 2017 | Public Relations, Public Relations, Tradespeople Insights
By Rachel Kerstetter, PR Architect, Sonnhalter
It feels good to win an award. But beyond being able to bask in the glow of recognition, can awards help you reach your marketing goals?
Entering for awards is one tactic we work into the public relations mix for our clients. Winning an award, or even being nominated for one, can go a long way to boosting brand recognition and can act as an endorsement for your product/service/organization.
5 Questions to Ask Before Entering
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