Since it first reared its ugly head, COVID-19 has been a consistent disruption. This is especially true in business, forcing an unwelcome pause that has not only threatened the livelihood of countless people all over the world but also interru...
14 April, 2021Hi. Yes, it is that time of the year, when we are eagerly waiting for the start of 2021. We hope you are continuing to stay safe and taking care of your near and dear ones. At Allegra, we have put together a series of......
21 October, 2020Greetings from Team Allegra! As summer starts to spread its sunshine, we hope you are continuing to stay safe and taking care of your near and dear ones. We have titled the series “Marketing in Challenging Environments.” For many of you, these might ...
22 July, 2020Dear Fellow Canadians These times are unprecedented. It is an anxious time for all of us. We want you to know that we are doing everything possible to ensure you can keep counting on us. Our mission is to help your business grow through the......
27 March, 2020Before we can focus on the solutions, we need to identify the problems. One of the highest reported reasons for a poor conversion rate is due to the ‘Lead Data Quality’ with a low quantity of leads following closely behind. Of course, finding quality...
25 February, 2020
Direct mail marketers capitalize on mail’s physical qualities that enable human connection and drive action. While the mailing list will always have the most impact on the success of the campaign, having strong content can improve direct mail ROI by ...
02 February, 2017
According to a 2017 report from Content Marketing Institute and MarketingProfs, 8 out of 10 business-to-business organizations say lead generation will be a content marketing goal over the next year. Other channel marketers – direct mail, email and d...
26 January, 2017
Life affirming, zesty and lush. The Pantone Color Institute recently announced its Color of the Year for 2017 as Greenery, a refreshing and revitalizing shade that’s symbolic of new beginnings, according to Pantone. Will Greenery find its way into yo...
19 January, 2017
It’s pretty safe to say there are few things on which you’d be unable to affix your company name or logo. But just because you can, doesn’t necessarily mean you should! To narrow it down in terms of practicality, the types of promotional products, br...
12 January, 2017
Having a strong online presence is a critical component of a marketing strategy for most organizations, regardless of business size or industry – in particular, for those who rely on local customers. In fact, Google revealed that 97% of consumers use...
05 January, 2017
All businesses survive and thrive on their ability to generate new leads and turning those leads into qualified prospects. With 2017 right around the corner, now’s the time to revamp your lead generation strategy for the coming year. According to Hub...
12 December, 2016
From logo gifts to personal notes, regular customer appreciation activities are an essential part of doing business. Without a doubt, reviews – good and bad – spread fast. Positive word-of-mouth (42%) is even more important than a sale or promotion (...
24 October, 2016
Health and wellness promotional products are strong contenders among the year’s trendiest logoed items. That’s great news for marketers in search of a memorable giveaway that offers people what they value most: practicality. Seventy-seven percent of ...
17 October, 2016
For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) as well as many organizations and nonprofits, the fourth quarter is prime time to develop your marketing strategy plan for the upcoming year. And it’s the same period when countless other priorities come call...
10 October, 2016
It’s fair to say for most businesses, the eyes of your customers are upon you. Some, in fact, may be taking a closer look to see if you’re “doing the right thing” in terms of social responsibility like nonprofit sponsorships . . . and they’re......
03 October, 2016
Whether you’re considering a trade show appearance, event sponsorship or participation in a local street fair, one of the most desired elements of event marketing – strong attendance – also creates one of the biggest challenges: being noticed in a se...
26 September, 2016
A word to the wise when marketing to millennials: They have to see it to believe it. As regular viewers of visual content like videos, live streaming and Snapchat, this large and influential generation are challenging marketers to re-think their tact...
19 September, 2016
No one likes rejection, including marketers. While the sense of “approval” that comes with seeing marketing emails opened and the links clicked can make anyone smile, there is a seemingly unpleasant flip side: email unsubscribes. Every email you send...
12 September, 2016
Every company, regardless of the products sold or services performed, is in the relationship business – with customers, employees, business partners and the communities where they’re located. Marketing efforts across multiple channels, including prin...
05 September, 2016
While there has never been a shortage of options in logoed merchandise, marketers looking to take their promotions to the next level are seeking an even wider selection with dual- and multi-functionality. A trendy, useful and relevant-to-the-campaign...
29 August, 2016
Any small or mid-sized business (SMB) can publish content without heavy investment to try to build a loyal audience. However, random acts of marketing are seldom as effective as creating a content marketing strategy. According to a 2016 benchmark rep...
22 August, 2016
When formal and informal recognition is built into your company culture, it can help you to attract and retain top performers while deepening commitment to your organization. Using promotional products to recognize employees can lead to increased sat...
16 August, 2016
Nearly 8 out of 10 business-to-business marketers report using video marketing as a content strategy, says a 2016 report from Content Marketing Institute (CMI), though just 62% call it “effective.” The gap is far from surprising. Many marketers test ...
09 August, 2016
One of the primary ways of promoting your nonprofit is by sponsoring an event. With fundraising as a universal goal, it’s no surprise that nonprofit organizations hold more events than B2B and B2C companies combined. According to 2015 research by the...
02 August, 2016
Today’s competitive business environment demands a multi-channel approach to even the most traditional marketing campaigns. Seasoned multi-channel marketers have learned the value of a marrying a print channel, like direct mail, with digital assets t...
25 July, 2016
One of the beauties of digital printing technology is how it can be used with traditional marketing direct mail to make a bigger impact and drive greater response. Take personalization, for example. Variable data printing technologies allow marketers...
18 July, 2016
A hospital network was set to open a new 63,000-square-foot facility, dedicated exclusively to children’s care. The organization was seeking to drive patient referrals by building relationships between key hospital staff members and area physicians a...
11 July, 2016
The value of a robust customer data file cannot be overstated. The more you know, the easier it is to plan and execute campaigns using targeted mailing lists that deliver the right offer to the right type of customer at the right time – when......
04 July, 2016
Getting your direct mail marketing into the hands of those most likely to buy is job one. And that’s all about your list. Bad data equals poor results. Have a quality list? Then it’s time to drill down to make a great offer with attention-getting......
27 June, 2016
A detailed business plan is important for any small business, as it confirms your vision and business direction for you, your employees and your customers. It’s what drives your marketing plan (the outline of specific marketing strategies and tactics...
20 June, 2016
When used effectively, custom point-of-purchase (POP) displays and signage can influence buyer decisions and increase sales. In fact, consumers are more likely to purchase a good or service when they are at a store, or point of sale, more than at any...
13 June, 2016
Need a hard-working communications channel that’s targeted, personal, flexible and measurable? Look no further than direct mail. A full 85% of consumers in a recent study say they’ll open mail if it “looks interesting.” Dimensional mail is a great wa...
06 June, 2016
“Building a brand is hard; it takes many, many positive actions to establish a unique position in the marketplace,” says Dave Taylor, founder of Taylor Brand Group. Competitive analyses, strategic planning and smart investments aside, sometimes seemi...
30 May, 2016
Retailers who discount color psychology and its influence on sales could be singing the blues. When prospects first walk into your store, they make a subconscious judgment about your retail environment and its products within 90 seconds. How much of ...
23 May, 2016
Americans now spend more than 100 hours a year commuting to work, with a nationwide drive time average of 24.3 minutes, according the U.S. Census Bureau. Any way you slice it – for professional or personal reasons – we all get our fair share of......
16 May, 2016
A landmark study by Millward Brown found that when people interact with something that can be touched and felt, the content leaves a “deeper footprint” on the brain. This suggests that printed marketing messages are understood and remembered more rea...
09 May, 2016
Nearly 80 percent of consumers say that they will act on direct mail that interests them immediately, while less than half say the same thing about email. Direct mail has strong potential to be a key component to most multi-channel marketing campaign...
02 May, 2016
According to Cone Communications, 54 percent of people made a purchase decision that was influenced by a particular cause. When done correctly, cause marketing can have a powerful impact on your brand’s reputation and your success. The struggle for m...
25 April, 2016
Getting the attention of your potential leads at a trade show is only the first step. The key to seeing financial success from your events is capturing that lead, maintaining their attention and converting them. Following up with prospective customer...
18 April, 2016
An estimated 83 percent of marketers say that promoting brand awareness is a high objective for their trade show booths. With displays in every direction, it is easy to see why brands want to make sure that their visitors have something to remember t...
11 April, 2016
Trade shows can be a valuable networking opportunity to meet business contacts and potential new customers. An estimated 99 percentof marketers say that they find unique value from attending trade shows that cannot be replicated elsewhere, such as me...
04 April, 2016
If you’ve thought that trade show marketing no longer has a place in today’s highly connected, digital world where you can add new friends or contacts at a click of button, think again. As much as communication changes, nothing has replaced the power...
28 March, 2016
Nonprofit organizations face a multitude of marketing challenges: raising awareness to grow your base of supporters and volunteers, promoting fundraisers and driving new donations . . . all while on a budget. Many strategies boil down to the tactical...
21 March, 2016
Your brand is your promise. It’s the message that you send to your customers about what they can expect from you. It is an important step in establishing a relationship with customers. Building your brand, however, requires consistency across your ma...
14 March, 2016
The massive surge of millennials as powerful buyers in the marketplace has forced companies and industries alike to re-examine everything they thought they knew about marketing. While some skeptics may wonder whether or not this approach is overkill,...
07 March, 2016
Email marketing can only be as good as the quality of your email list. Each year, there is a natural decay in email marketing lists that reduces the effectiveness of your outreach. According to HubSpot, about 25% of your email data is out-of-date aft...
29 February, 2016
Are you planning any events this spring as a fundraiser, an annual golf outing or to launch a new product or service? Now’s the time to get a plan in place to not only get people to your spring event, but remember you long after......
22 February, 2016