Put Pen to Paper - The Official GiftsIn24.com Blog

Coincidence?

The Christmas shopping season is a hectic time of year. It is also a great time of year to think about family and friends. While I was shopping for gifts this year with my wife, we happened into a clothing store that had a kiosk set up near the register that contained stationery that you could personalize. The idea of the kiosk was that while you were shopping and thinking of family and friends for the holiday personalized stationeryseason, order some personalized notes to keep in touch or to give as a great gift. This caught us by surprise because we had just happened to have that exact same thought and ordered our own custom  stationery the week before from Giftsin24.com to keep in touch with our loved ones. We always like to comparative shop so we were curious to see what this store provided. They explained to us their process: you picked out your name in the font of your choice, the pattern and color and in three weeks, your personalized stationery would arrive at the store for pickup. We thanked them for the explanation and left shortly after. As we made it back to the car, we started talking about the differences we both noticed. The store’s kiosk had a very limited set of patterns and designs and the idea that your order would take three weeks was a complete surprise to us. Giftsin24.com provided us with a superior product with a much better design selection that was truly customizable. It was delivered in 24 hours as well with the prices being pretty much the same. As we left the mall, we felt great knowing that we had made the right decision to order our personalized note cards from Giftsin24.com.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Reddit
  • Technorati
  • Twitter

Personalized Thank You Card

Did you know the key to happiness is being appreciate of small things that linger in our lives. Generosity is a small gesture that can be a sentimental element that is the pinnacle in human life. Without generosity, generations of human beings can never build prodigies that continue to exist today. Lending a hand to Personalized stationerysomeone in dire need is the most supreme form of alms-giving. The bounties that are blessed upon us are abundant and are true reflection to celebrate life. Reaching salvation from within is achieved through helping others before oneself. The idea of sacrificing one’s own desires to make someone cheery is an idea that is almost non-existent in this modern century.

Dig within and show your affection of some one with a beautiful Personalized Thank You Card. It is a small gesture that can truly make someone feel appreciated in times of hardship and calamities. It solidifies relationship and allow us to be content with any condition we are inflicted upon. Cool their eyes with a personalized notes and bring back the feeling of joy that has been lacking. Indeed, nobility is only achieved through the goodness of heart that defines the benevolence of humanity.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Reddit
  • Technorati
  • Twitter

333 Nina Salerosa

I have always been a fan of marine life. Since I was in middle school, I have wanted to become a marine biologist. Catching  any nature show regarding sea life was a passion of mine. I could only imagine what it would be like to swim in the blue waters of tropical locations and observing nature at its brightest colors.

Another passion of mine is music. Especially classic and acoustic sounds. My father is now a retired band director, but loved to show his boys how to appreciate the intricacies of each piece of music. From large complex symphonies to the mystical and personal solos and duets. You can almost think of each song as a dance of notes, complimenting and lifting each other to achieve a harmony that pleases the mind.

Now, with the blue colors of the sea and gorgeous marine life, to the beautiful music of the Tex-mex band Chingón performing the well known spanish song Malaguena Salerosa, you can see a wonderful video filmed and edited by Joe Romeiro.

If you can, wait till it gets to about 3 minutes into the video, you can see how scuba diver Cristina Zenato (expert shark handler) can get very comfortable with these shark.

Absolutely riveting !!!!

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Reddit
  • Technorati
  • Twitter

Are you hiring?

Unfortunately for a lot of people, the job market at the moment is in a constant fluctuation.  In this personalized calling cardsera of record unemployment, job networking is more important than ever.  Reaching out to clients, coworkers, friends and business acquaintances is an important part of business today.  The old adage, it’s not what you know but who you know, is more important today than it has been in the recent past.  Job opportunities are at a short supply and the few quality positions that are available get inundated with an overwhelming number of job applicants.  So in this current job climate, how do you stand out from the crowd?  With handsome, well crafted personalized calling cards from giftsin24.com, this task becomes a little bit easier.  It puts you a step above the rest and gives them a reason to remember you.  Pass them out at the next job fair, present them after an interview, and enclose them in your thank you letters.  It is one way to get positively noticed, and that can lead to nothing but good things.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Reddit
  • Technorati
  • Twitter

School Days

Sending your child off for their first day of school is a bittersweet moment for many parents.  It Personalized Note Cardscertainly was for my sister as she sent my niece off for her first day.  She explained to me that the elation of the moment was coupled with apprehension and trepidation.  The idea that her baby was now old enough to attend school was a little hard to accept at first.  As the first day turned into the first week, and then into the second, I asked my sister how she was handling the changes.  She mentioned that she was still adjusting to the idea that her daughter was growing up so fast, but that she was proud to see her taking to school so well.  One thing she described to me was that she had started the practice of including a personalized note card in her daughter’s lunch every day.  It was just a little something special that she used to convey well wishes, thoughts of encouragement or daily affirmations.  It allowed her to feel a part of her daughter’s day when she couldn’t be there.  While my niece seemed to love the surprise of a new note in her lunch everyday from her mom, I think my sister benefitted from the practice the most.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Reddit
  • Technorati
  • Twitter

The Most Memorable Detail

I just got the phone call. My sister is pregnant!

As the oldest of 6 girls, the who’s-who of who could be pregnant is a crapshoot. By the age of 37, I have already given my parents 2 grandchildren to dote over. I was done. So now the pressure was on the rest of the tribe to follow suit.

And thank the heavens above when it actually was my second–oldest sister making this huge announcement.personalized party napkins

So as the oldest child in the family, everyone turned to me to throw my baby sister an amazing baby shower. Having “been there, done that” a couple of times already, I was more that willing to take on this challenge. After sitting down for a few hours with my other sisters to discuss the details (and a few bottles of wine later), we designed the perfect party:

1.      A huge guest list – The more the merrier!

2.      A color scheme – She was having a boy, so blue it was.

3.      The theme – She loves zoo animals, so tigers, monkeys and giraffes were more than appropriate.

4.      She loves ‘snacky’ food. Instead of throwing out a huge meal, tapas and sangria are the perfect fit.

5.       Personalize everything – since we already knew what the baby’s name would be, we special-ordered the banner, cake, plates, cups, chocolate bars and party favors adorned with my future nephew’s name.

But there was something missing. After reviewing the extensive list we created, I realized one of the most important details that was missing: personalized children’s napkins!  I have always been impressed when I’ve seen them at other baby showers, so I thought, why not?! They would add the perfect touch to this wonderful occasion. Aside from the baby gifts and delicious food, if people remember the personalized napkins, then I’ve done my job being the perfect hostess.

After all, my sister is only going to be pregnant once. Or twice….or possibly a third time. Guess we’ll see how smooth this one goes first.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Reddit
  • Technorati
  • Twitter

The Allure of Personalized Wedding Napkins

Think about it. When you walk into a reception hall, what are the first things you notice? Perhaps the size of the room. The room temperature. Exactly how many people are present. The location of the dance floor, or more importantly, the location of the bar. And of course you’ll always be painfully aware of where you’re sitting from the head table.

Sound familiar?

Or perhaps you’re the type of person that pays closer attention to the finer details, such as the lighting.  You might notice the type of music that fills the ambiance. The smell of fresh cut flowers. The subtle sounds of conversation. Once you find your table, you only then notice the bouquet of flowers that adorn each table. The proper setting of each glass and utensil. The take-home treat waiting for you on your plate. The color scheme of the tablecloths and napkins that complements each other.personalized party napkins

And yet when you look further, you notice that every napkin at each place setting is just not an ordinary napkin. They are all embossed with the bride and grooms name and their wedding date. The fact that they themselves paid close attention to detail completely changes the experience.  It has now become personal.

When you’re planning a wedding, there are so many details to think of.  Between picking the venue, bride’s dress, color scheme, reception location and wedding party, the details are enough to drive anyone crazy. But one thing is for sure; you want to make this an event all your own. Sometimes it’s the small details that really make a big impact.

Personalized wedding napkins are the perfect way to show your guests that you cared enough to pay close attention to the simple things and want them to remember this moment in time with you by personalizing it as much as possible. That every time they use that napkin throughout the night, they will always remember you and how special this event truly is.

The fact that the bride and groom paid this close attention says a lot. It tells you that this isn’t an ordinary reception, and that they aren’t just a commonplace couple.

Nothing says romance more than a wedding, and personalized wedding napkins just add to the allure. Whether you choose embossed or foil-stamped lettering, your napkins are sure to make an impression. The font you choose can be either simple and understated, or elegantly monogrammed, depending on your personal style.

Sure, it may not be the most significant event of the evening if people ran up to you praising your personalized wedding napkins.

But hey, what if it was? They actually noticed!

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Reddit
  • Technorati
  • Twitter

Handwritten notes have power

A recent survey of marketing executives revealed that most business leads come from referrals and personal connections, with email and a website being effective, and in spite of the declining mail volume these days, direct mail marketing was still viewed as an effective lead generator.

Of course, as a direct response marketer and copywriter, I was pleased to see that news. I know how difficult it is to generate profitable results with sales letters, postcards and such so I thought I’d share a “lost marketing secret” that you can apply to your direct marketing efforts today. That secret weapon is the use of handwritten notes in your marketing communication.

One of the best ways to get your direct mail opened, read and acted upon is to use genuinely produced handwritten addressing. Results don’t lie. I have been proving it for almost 18 years now in hundreds of direct marketing campaigns from clients and for myself. Going beyond this, a handwritten sticky note on a letter or a handwritten note card can have dramatic impact on the marketing and sales results that you seek. How do you react when a handwritten addressed envelope comes in? You place it at the top of the pile or you open it immediately.personalized stationery

Yes, there are automated services that use computer-generated fonts to give the illusion that you took the time to write a real note. Hogwash for the most part, if truly memorable, personalized communication is the goal and you are trying to influence your prospect with a warm message. Computer-generated handwritten fonts do have their place in direct marketing and I have used these services in past campaigns, but it is all dependent on the campaign objectives. Actual handwritten notes will always be more effective.

Here are some of the benefits of using handwritten notes in your marketing.

Powerful follow-up: A handwritten note is the best way to follow-up on an initial lead, and it’s a powerful tool in your lead nurturing process. Whether that note is on a Post-It Note, written on a sales letter or a personal note on a thank-you card, it will deliver impact. Consider a handwritten “P.S.” at the bottom of a letter, or a handwritten note with an article of interest forwarded to a prospect.

Great relationship builder: It conveys a message to your client or prospect that you care enough about them to take the time and recognize them as an individual who is important to the sender. A handwritten note tells the recipient that they were on your mind and that you value the relationship.

Show your gratitude: Pay attention to this one. One of the easiest ways to let your customers know how much you care, and value their business is to send a handwritten thank-you note on your custom-designed stationery. Case in point: We have mailed out more than 300,000 genuine handwritten thank-you notes to loyal cable customers for a client who needed to fend off a competitor’s new fiber optic alternative. You can say thank you to your customers either annually, or triggered by a purchase.

A lost customer rejuvenator: A handwritten note campaign to inactive or lost customers can create a stampede of business for a cash flow infusion and restart revenue streams that were once lucrative.

A true differentiator: A handwritten note positions you above the others trying to do business with your prospect.

If you are a consultant, salesperson or a solopreneur, consider having a custom-designed card on hand, as well as a roll of stamps and drop a handwritten note in the mail immediately after meeting your prospect or customer. Be prepared, make it a habitual part of your sales routine and stick with it. Make it part of your stay in touch system. You will be amazed at the response. It is a great way to close deals and generate referrals. People will be impressed. If you are a business owner, handwritten notes will be among your smartest marketing investments.

Don’t overlook this marketing secret weapon. I’ve used it to sell cars for dealerships, sell consulting services for myself and others, sell enterprise software, caskets, industrial components, food products and more. Now it’s your turn to start writing.

Of course, the words themselves matter greatly. If you would like a copy of our report “Seven Ways To Achieve Great Marketing Power With a Pen” send an email with “Seven Ways” in the subject line. Include your address and this report will arrive by U.S. Mail.

Thanks for reading. Now go write a note to a customer.

Bob Martel is a Marlborough-based marketing consultant, direct marketing copywriter and author of the book “How to Create All of the Business You Can Handle.” He can be reached at 508-481-8383 or by e-mail at bobmartel@jmbmarketing.com.



Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Reddit
  • Technorati
  • Twitter

College

Freedom, independence and excitement of the unknown were the main feelings I experienced as I left home and embarked on my first semester of college.  I couldn’t wait to start my post high school academic career, meet new friends and truly be on my own for the first time in my life.  I viewed it as a milestone achievement and a right of passage.  personalized stationeryWhile it was everything I thought it could be, it was also a bit overwhelming.  Like many students that go away to college, I started experiencing feelings of homesickness.  Those feelings grew little by little as I began to comprehend that the support network of family and friends I had relied on for the first 18 years of my life were no longer there.  Before those feelings grew beyond control, I received my first care package from home.  My parents sent me the obligatory junk food, personal items and well wishes from home that I sorely needed, but more importantly, they provided me with my own personalized cards.  It was this that I came to appreciate the most.  I used that personalized stationery often to keep everyone I cared about updated on my life while I was away.  It was my lifeline back to my family and friends that I had to leave behind.  It kept me connected until my next trip home, and that made all the difference in the world.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Reddit
  • Technorati
  • Twitter

It’s the little things that count

With the environment being such a hot topic these days, everyone wants to go green.  An idea that always seems to get mentioned when you start talking about the environment is the paperless office or home.  Society has shifted to e-mail and texting for communication, and e-books for reading personalized cardsentertainment.  These are steps that some believe are in the right direction.  However, there is something tangible that is lost when we abandon thoughtful, handwritten correspondence.  You can still order your favorite personalized stationery, thank you cards, and personalized note cards while still being environmentally conscience by utilizing the eco-friendly line at Giftsin24.  It allows you to be green while still enjoying all the wonderful products that you have come to know and love.  So do your part and become eco-friendly in the New Year.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Reddit
  • Technorati
  • Twitter