by Kirby Hasseman
At Hasseman Marketing, we believe the best way to battle business challenges is through learning and hustle. I know the term “hustle” is sometimes over-used right now, but the reality is, your effort is one of the things you can truly control. It matters. In addition, when times are changing and challenging (as we can all agree they are right now), looking for ways to grow is one of the best ways to make sure you are prepared to adapt. That is why we have been so focused on providing education during this time (like this FREE 5 Day Marketing Course).
That is why we are so excited to host Hasseman Marketing MasterClass.
Yes it will take some time. It will take some effort. But we hope this event will be well worth it! If you are still on the fence, we wanted to give you 5 reasons to attend the first ever Hasseman Marketing MasterClass.
Amazing Keynote Speakers
Bill Petrie and Bobby Lehew are two of the most talented speakers in the marketing world. Both are industry professionals for sure. But each has wonderful perspective on story-telling and a track record for marketing success. I am thrilled they have agreed to share their talents with us. Each of their sessions will be well worth the price of admission as you plan the rest of your year.
Real World Breakout Sessions
As great as the speakers are going to be (and they are going to be awesome), I am really fired up about our Breakout Sessions. We will be tapping into our speakers (in a session about creating content), our team and even our customers. We have asked our team and customers about topics that would help them move the needle and responded. So we have a session on improving your website, how to maintain company culture during this time, changing your marketing during changing times, and more! We are adding more speakers and sessions all the time…so be ready to be inspired!
A Virtual Trade Show
As we discussed doing this event with some of our customers, one thing came up again and again. “We still want to be able to meet with your suppliers!” After over 15 years of hosting a successful trade show for our customers, we have created a demand. Great news. Some of our best supplier partners will be joining us virtually to show you the best and brightest year end gift ideas, apparel options, and branded merchandise to help you move the needle and end 2020 strong.
Innovative Learning
We have all heard it until we are blue in the face, “we are living in unprecedented times.” While it’s true, I am tired of hearing it. That being said, these times call for innovative solutions. We have a fun interactive platform and an energetic way to keep the learning going. It’s not going to be “just another zoom meeting.”
Inspiration For Year End
We are being bombarded with negative news every single day. Whether it’s CNN, FoxNews or your Uncle Joe on Facebook, it can be hard to escape. This event is designed to provide information and inspiration to help you take control of your marketing and your organization. We will be hearing from real people that have implemented real ideas to help them navigate this time. I mean, one idea might be, “How to host a virtual conference so we can continue to do business!” Just a thought!
Bonus Reason (for a limited time)…Great Box of SWAG
You know we love our swag! This is for a limited time, but for the first 100 to register, you will get a box of branded merchandise that will be more than worth the price of admission.
We are fired up about this event. If you want to learn more, please head here to read and and register. The cost is only $10 and I guarantee you will get your money’s worth.
by Kirby Hasseman
I love going to events that educate and inspire me. For me, it’s a great way to get out of the whirlwind, and learn and create ideas. One event I had the chance to attend this year was Skucamp. I talked about 5 of the takeaways from the event here. I was also honored to speak at the event with my good friend Bill Petrie. Bill and I took on the topic of Content Marketing in pretty raw form. We were honest about how we got started, and our struggles in doing so. And hopefully we were a little funny too! Here is a link to the presentation. This presentation is for: *Anyone that wants to do Content Marketing…but is not sure how to start. *Anyone that is not sure Content Marketing actually works. *Anyone that has tried Content Marketing in the past and failed. Bill and I also dig into our overall philosophies about Content Marketing. Feel free to check it out and let us know what you think! Make sure you never miss an update. Sign up for the VIP Newsletter here.
by Kirby Hasseman
I love to go to educational events. Whether in or out of my own industry, I enjoy digging in and getting new ideas…and getting inspired. So this week, when the Commonsku gang put on their 2nd Annual SkuCamp event, I was in my element!
Skucamp was a 2 day intensive event designed to entertain and inspire entrepreneurs in the Promotional Products business. I know the goal was to provide great education and networking opportunities. I know their goal was to have a packed house, with a cool vibe and an awesome environment. That’s every event’s goal, right? But the culture of people around this event might be it’s real special sauce.
The Commonsku team has created a sandbox where some amazing industry pros want to come and play. But what did I learn? The answer is…a lot.
Here are just a few key takeaways from #Skucamp2018.
There is no “one way” to do it
There are many people doing really cool things in our industry that gathered at Skucamp. But it was amazing how different each business and business approach is. Some people were super focused on e-commerce. Some business owners had no interest in that. Some businesses were diverse and some were niche. There is not one formula that leads you to success.
Vulnerability is cool
You never learn anything (or at least anything good) when you think you know everything. Skucamp was a place where a lot of really smart people admitted that they didn’t know everything. It wasn’t a weakness. It was a strength.
You Grow By Saying No
You don’t have to be for everyone. I talked about that here. Opening speaker Mike Michaelwicz talked about this in his opening talk. He discussed the idea that you don’t need to be for everyone…in fact that might be a bad thing!
Bring A Big Idea
I love this concept from speaker Caryn Kopp. She had a great session about getting the door open to companies and opportunities you wanted. But this simple idea really resonated with me. If you are meeting with a client, bring one BIG idea that could be huge for them and you. Are you doing that consistently? When I asked myself that honest question, the answer was “no.”
Nice People Finish First
In a world where we are under a constant barrage of negative, it was a wonderful reminder that good people are out there doing amazing things. One of my biggest takeaways was just that…good people are doing great. You don’t have to be a jerk. You might not be perfect (I know I am not). But you can be a good person and grow an amazing business.
Finally, it was a true privilege to get the opportunity to speak with my buddy Bill Petrie about the power and importance of Content Marketing. Thanks to the gang at Commonsku for having us…and thanks to Bill for making me look better than I deserve.
Make sure you never miss an update! Sign up for our VIP newsletter here. We are creating new content every day. It’s a lot. Once a week we email you a list of all of it one place. Oh…and if you head to our blog each day, you can find new content there as well.
by Kirby Hasseman
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Welcome to a super awesome new blog post series for Hasseman Marketing called:“Brand-ecdotes!” Each week we will talk to a branding all star about what make the Promotional Product advertising media so special! This week we talk with Bill Petrie. Bill (as you can see from the picture above) is a Branding Rock Star. He is a veteran of the Promo industry and is currently the President of PromoCorner. 1. What is your all time favorite Promotional Product and why?I’d have to say it’s “Van Halen-ized” Aurabox 2.0 from Origaudio. I travel quite a bit and bring a Bluetooth speaker with me everywhere I go. Outside of my family and work, music is my passion and by bringing the music with me, I can mentally transport anywhere. Plus, it’s got WAY cool Van Halen stripes. 2. Can you name a Promo Product that you have that STILL reminds you fondly of an event, person, organization? If so, can you tell us that story?I remember back in 2014 when I started brandivate – it was a time filled with both excitement and anxiety. The strangest thing about beginning my own business is that it didn’t feel real…until I received the first promotional product with the brandivate logo on it: a padfolio from Hit. Immediately, brandivate felt real, tangible, and concrete – and that’s the real power of promotional products: the ability to turn ideas into reality. Even though I sold the company to PromoCorner in 2017, I still keep that padfolio as it reminds me of the power of my own dreams. 3. What is the current product you use all the time?
Call me old school, but I still hand-write notes in meetings. As such, I’m a sucker for a great writing instrument such as this one from Goldstar. I’m picky when it comes to pens and always gravitate towards the ones that write really well. This one, writes REALLY well. Plus, it’s powered by pumpkin spice so you know you can’t go wrong. 4. What is an idea/product that you think organizations UNDER use?In a mobile society, people live on their phones. As such, the best branding opportunity – the one that will kept, used, and remembered – is a high-quality power bank. While I’m partial to the TenFour from Origaudio, there are a number high quality power banks that will keep portable technology powered so you can share that picture with a distant friend, post a live video from a wedding a loved-one couldn’t attend, or simply just finish that game. 5. What do you think is the best thing about Promotional Products as an advertising media?Promotional products (which I think is an outdated term, by the way) is really tangible, experiential marketing. The logoed backpack you take with you everywhere, the writing instrument you can’t bear to lose, the speaker that keeps you sane on the road, or that padfolio that instantly takes you back to when you started your business – all of those things make marketing tangible in ways more traditional forms of advertising simply can’t.
And…that’s the another edition of Brand-ecdotes! Thanks to Bill Petrie for taking the time to jump in on this brand new project!
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by Kirby Hasseman
It’s hard to keep track. In today’s cacophonous echo chamber of content and constant “news,” it’s hard to know what to listen to. It’s hard to know what is worth clicking on. So many of us default to the the latest trending topic or soundbite. It’s understandable, but it’s reactionary. I think it’s more important than ever to be intentional about the voices we allow into our head (on a regular basis). Just like we become more like the 5 people we hang out with the most, we start to parrot ideas we hear on a regular basis. So here are some voices that I seek out as I try to “fill my head with good ideas and thoughts.” Jeff Haden: If you are in sales or an entrepreneur and you are not reading Jeff Haden already, check him out now. He is a leading contributor for LinkedIn and Inc.com. He is a really good writer (and a good dude). Every time I see something that he has posted, I read it. Here is the latest. Bill Petrie: This one is a little self-serving since Bill and I collaborate a lot. But his Monday blog posts are great. Bill is a veteran of the Promo Industry and understands the idea that we are all “media companies.” Read his latest piece here. Gary Vaynerchuk: If you have not seen or heard of Gary, I am surprised. But he is a huge motivator for me. I can’t listen to all of his content (I have other stuff to do!) but it seems I get a nugget each time when I do. He is direct and foul-mouthed and awesome. He is best on Youtube and you can find that here. Bobby Lehew: If you are wanting thoughtful insights and wonderful interviewing, you need to listen to Skucast with Bobby Lehew. Bobby is with Commonsku and is their Chief Content Creator. He also often gets to interview Mark Graham…and you just won’t find two brighter minds in the Promo Industry. Listen to an example of Skucast here. Seth Godin: One of the leading minds in marketing, Seth Godin is a true thought leader. Want motivation and education every day? You need to read his blog. Yes he posts every day. I am also super proud to have had the chance to have him on Episode 100 of Delivering Marketing Joy! John Lee Dumas: I would be lying if I said I listened to all of his podcasts. That’s because JLD interviews a new entrepreneur EVERY SINGLE DAY! John is an inspiration on how to build an entire business around content. He is also a great person to help you blow your “don’t have time excuses!” Check his site out here. There are MANY other great content creators I read, watch and listen to…but this is a good start. Who have I forgotten? What other great content creators are out there that we should listen to? Let us know! And if you never want to miss our content, sign up for our VIP list! Each week we make sure you see our latest content and get some special offers too.
