My First Blog

This afternoon I decided to join the millions of other people on the www by creating a blog. I have been meaning to do this for a while but I must confess that I have this horrible disease - procrastination. I understand that it is not an uncommon disease but I feel that mine might be worse than most. I wonder why the pharmaceutical companies haven't tried to create a pill for this. But I digress.

Since I own my own business, www.blueriversign.com, my customers always come first; after my husband and 4 1/2 year old daughter; and writing a blog (or I like to think of it as my own opportunity to live a life long ambition of becoming a reporter) has been low on the list. In speaking with my clients on how to advertise their business and what items will best work for their current promotion I decided that the time is now. My knowledge of the Promotional Products industry needs to be shared, along with all the other promotional blogs out there. But how do I make my self standout in the crowd? That will be a life long goal.

I have sat here staring at my laptop screen trying to decide what my first blog will be about. I am sure many of you out there have had this same brain draining ordeal. What will the readers of my blog want to read? Does it need to be technical? Does it need to fascinate and make them just sit at the edge of their seat? The bad part is I don't know the answers to most of those questions and I don't know if I really need the answers. I have an easy going personality and hope that my wit and sarcasm will come out. I always try to counsel my clients on the items they are looking for - just because they like an item doesn't mean that it will work. I look at myself as an employee of their business - how can I make the business succeed with the least amount of cost compared to the overall bang!

Buying promotional products for your company, wedding, bar mitzvahs, grand opening, golf tournament, etc. is a very personal decision. I don't think most people think of it that way and they should. The first question you need to ask is - what would you like to personally receive if you attended the function? Does it have to be expensive or can a moderate to low priced item work just a well? You always want good quality in anything you buy especially if you have your name on it but don't it doesn’t have to be the most expensive item.

There are over 750,000 items out there to place your name on. You can find anything from a band-aid dispenser to Waterford crystal bowls. There will also be items you will look at and wonder why anyone would want to place their name on the item and how it could be used in a promotion. Other items are always good staples - pens, calendars (always the best item to buy because of the ROI, Return on Investment), business cards, etc.

I am very fortunate to be a distributor for Kaeser & Blair, Inc. out of Batavia, Ohio. Because of this association I am able to offer great discounts on many promotional items.

My other blogs will focus on a specific promotion or a specific item. Promoting your business in a positive way must always be the focus – using the right item(s) for your promotion must be high on the list as well.

Well, I can’t believe I have finished. It didn’t take as long as I thought! I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Now comes the fun part of deciding what I will write about next – oh my! I just had the idea pop into my mind. That was kind of exciting and enlightening. I won’t tell you what it will be. You will have to wait until my next blog – but I can tell you this: I am getting ready to write it now.

Please post your comments as I want to hear from you billions of people that will want to know what I have to say. Yeah I know I am living in a dream world in my little town of Prague, Oklahoma (Birthplace of Jim Thorpe, voted the greatest athlete in the 20th century and home to the Prague Kolache Festival, First Saturday in May).

Well until next time – be great to each other, tell your friends and family that you love them, and pray for our country and the men and women who put their life on the line everyday to defend our freedoms (Armed Forces, Police Officers, Firemen, etc). God Bless the United States of America!