Blog

The legendary wizarding world of Harry Potter has enticed audiences for many years. This mega franchise has books, films, games & even theme parks centered around this huge brand.

One of the most memorable moments in the franchise, is the sorting hat ceremony, where first years are divided up into a corresponding wizarding house which best matches their personality. There are four of these noble houses at Hogwarts, each representing a different set of values.

This element in the series has become increasingly popular with fans taking quizzes on Pottermore and BuzzFeed to see which house they belong to: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff. The reason this part of the novel has become so compelling is its relevance to real life.

As we know, most of the elements of the Harry Potter universe delve into fantasy, but the houses of Hogwarts and the personal qualities needed to be categorised into these houses are based very much in reality.

So how does this relate to the digital marketing space?

Well, the digital marketing office contains many different departments, each with contrasting dynamics and personalities.

Sound familiar?

Despite being different in their own individual rights, the general makeup of most digital agencies remains the same. Commonly, an agency will consist of four major departments; web development, web design, digital marketing and SEO/social.

This article is going to cover these four departments and which ones match the four houses within Hogwarts. However, to be an efficient digital marketer it’s not enough to develop just one virtue. We have to be cross-disciplinary: cunning and bold, compassionate and wise. You’ll want to incorporate attributes from houses Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin.

Ravenclaw – PPC & Programmers

Ravenclaw is a house that values wisdom, knowledge, creativity and wit.

Represented by an eagle, this house epitomizes strength, intelligence and power. Dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, always refining the process and applying their common sense to each task.

It’s due to these properties that we believe Ravenclaw is best suited to PPC and Programmers. Using their analytic brain, Ravenclaws make educated plans to best reach the hearts and minds of many. 

They are often regarded as the quiet types, PPC / developers and in turn Ravenclaws are not renowned for making much fuss or causing drama.

Arguing with a Ravenclaw is futile as the knowledge they possess is beyond the realms of muggles, with their day-to-day being littered with technical issues. It is therefore appropriate that members of house Ravenclaw have to answer a riddle before being granted access to their dormitory…

Slytherin – Social Media & SEO

This cunning and ambitious group of witches and wizards are represented by the serpent, showing off green and silver colours, perfectly highlighting their sneaky, churning and slippery nature.

Often seen as a high-brow house, seeing others as less important, Slytherin can’t achieve glory without its competition from other houses.

Such is the case with much of their fame and strength being based in their heavy competition with Gryffindor.

However, it’s not all as negative as it sounds as the snake also represents stealth, intelligence and power.

This mix of traits allows for some truly great wizards (and some incredibly evil ones).

In relation to SEO & social media, Slytherin is a perfect fit as both require some sort of stealth and intelligence campaigning.

As with the misunderstood Slytherin, SEO can sometimes be considered cunning, sneaky and manipulative; but for the right reasons!

Both geniuses in the SEO game and Slytherin don’t have time for goody two shoes who aren’t willing to take a risk. Alternatively, In the case of social media specialists, they want to be involved in everybody else’s business, just like a certain house in Hogwarts…

Maybe it’s because of Slytherins true blood ideology that they don’t trust anyone else, and therefore have to poke their nose in other people’s affairs.

Essentially this is the day-to-day responsibility of social media campaigners; to be nosey and talk to as many people as possible.

Gryffindor – Digital & Content Marketing

Gryffindor, a house known for bravery, nerve and chivalry is the most famous and recognisable in all of Hogwarts due to its most famous member… Mr Potter himself.

This regal house of gold and scarlet is represented by a rearing lion and the traits of its house members mirror this well.

Brave, calm under pressure, daring and courageous – these are the traits expected of Gryffindor members and showcased perfectly by the title character. Gryffindor members seek to push the boundaries of accepted processes, and seek out new ways to reach their goals.

With this in mind, it’s quite clear that members of Gryffindor would make excellent digital/content marketers.

How exactly?

Well, to be a great digital/content marketer you need to be brave, daring and calm under pressure. In order to obtain the best results in your role you need to be courageous in your approach and be willing to leap into things you’ve never tried before!

The people who excel in this role put the right content in the right places and direct attention to it.

Hufflepuff – Designers & Brand Builders

The final major house at Hogwarts is none other than Hufflepuff. This house is known for its hard work, dedication and patience. These are of course all the traits of a designer and brand builder.

Represented by a badger framed in black and yellow, Hufflepuff are the embodiment of down to earth, relaxed members of the school, not rooted in competition and power but rather hard work, dedication and loyalty.

The connection between Hufflepuff and designers/brand builders is that both are defined by the love they have for their friends, family and profession. Hufflepuff’s live to help people and are very practical, trying to focus on what is actually achievable. This is useful when it comes to web design as a lot of clients make unrealistic demands in terms of what they want to see on their website.

When working as a designer, your job is never done. There are always tweaks to make all the way up to the delivery date.

This behaviour exudes Hufflepuff, loyalty and dedication to the cause.

Conclusion

Turns out the wizarding world isn’t so dissimilar from digital agency’s, who would have thought?

Its the combination of these houses together that make up the strength and skill needed to grow the magical world around them, and the world of magic within digital agency’s.

Creating a marketing strategy that is both cost effective and gives great results may seem like an impossible task. However, if you are well versed in the psychology of your target audience and latest marketing trends, you are likely to achieve results.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a huge brand or a start-up, marketing products in a unique manner is going to earn you lots of attention from customers.

Below are some tips for promoting your products distinctively.

1. Turn your product into a challenge

A huge challenge with viral marketing campaigns is that it’s often difficult to link the campaign back to the companies products. However, this can be offset by using your product as the focal point of the viral content. 

For example, Lays had a viral marketing campaign which asked their customers to create the brand’s next flavour which not only helped them find this new flavour, but also got lots of new eyes on their brand through the process.

If you present your customers with a challenge that they need to solve it will keep your brand top of their mind throughout the process.

2. Sending unusual promotional gifts

Sending out unusual promotional products is a great way to get your brand in the homes of your customers and seen everyday. This cost effective marketing tactic is sure to gain you some more customers and help increase your brand awareness.

If you’re interested in unusual merchandise, a blog post outlining 35 of the most unusual promotional products you can give your customers is linked here.

3. Bringing in another brand

Want a new target audience? More exposure for your brand?

Bring in another brand (not a competitor) to help you meet your goals!

This is a great way for both brands to gain eyes and can create a unique viral campaign.

Take Uber and Spotify for example.

This was where streaming app Spotify partnered with ride-hailing app Uber to create “a soundtrack for your ride.” This is a great example of a co-branding partnership between two very different products with very similar goals — to earn more users.

And this successful campaign did just that…

4. Jump on trends

With the internet everything is always changing, current trends come and go in the blink of an eye and if you’re not up to date your brand can get left behind. 

It’s important to keep an eye out on current memes and trends, and jump on the ones that work for your brand in a unique and creative way .

This ensures your brand continues to stay relevant in the public eye.

5. Teach people something useful

YouTube is one of the biggest platforms in the world where you can learn anything from cutting an apple to building your own company.

Offering your own expertise on subjects you are well versed in will help you engage with viewers and build a community of people who will appreciate your content, making you stand out as an authority figure in your field.

When these same viewers are shopping your brand will be the one they turn to.

6. Start a Tiktok challenge

I’m guessing you’ve heard of Tiktok by now given its huge popularity in recent years. This video app is able to garner millions of views on short videos and spread them around like wildfire.

The thing with TikTok is it loves a good challenge…

If you’ve got a decent budget you can create an official TikTok challenge, but if not you can easily start a TikTok challenge with a good idea and creativity.

Create your TikTok, use a good hashtag, and encourage your followers to pick up the trend.

(it’s even better if your product is the centre point)

7. Reach out to a specific community

Building a large user base doesn’t need to be done from scratch.

If you have a clear understanding of what your ideal customer looks like you can create a piece of content specifically targeted towards this community.

The more specifically you can target this group, the more effective your campaign will be

For example this is the strategy dropbox adopted to go from 5,000 to 75,000 people on its waiting list overnight.

This was done by engaging with the Digg community by creating an explanation video of Dropbox’s key feature filled with inside jokes only the Digg community would understand, showcasing the power of engaging with existing communities.

8. Purchasing unusual sponsorships

Urban living results in some unique marketing opportunities you won’t find elsewhere. If you can think creatively there’s a great opportunity to promote your brand

An example of this is plastering your company logo over rental city bikes for moving brand awareness at a fraction of the cost compared with traditional bus promotion.

9. Offering a free gift with products

Offering a free gift with your product is a great way to show appreciation for your customers and makes sure that they continue to do business with you.

This is even more effective if the free gift has your brands logo to ensure that your company is at the forefront of your customers mind.

if you’re interested in purchasing some custom branded items you can order some here.

10. Guest posting on other sites

Although the SEO value of guest posts is debatable, there is no question it’s a useful way to get your brand in front of a new audience.

A great site to start writing blog posts on is Medium.

11. Business cards

Sometimes going back to basics is key.

Business cards have been around for a long time and are still a great way to get your information out there, you never know who you might meet.

Make sure your business cards contain all your relevant information, including your website address and any social media accounts you may have.

12. Offer mini versions of your product

If you’re able to, creating a mini version of your product or service at a discounted rate is a great marketing tactic.

It will entice new and existing customers to purchase this new mini version and get in on the buzz.

13. Take advantage of forums

No matter what you’re doing, there are plenty of forums and communities out there to join.

Many people use forums to find answers so if you have knowledge to share you may attract new clients.

Don’t forget to add links to your website in the posts to make sure people know who you are and where to find you.

14. Create and give away stickers

Most people don’t think of stickers as a great marketing tactic but in fact they can be an extremely cost effective way of marketing.

You can create a giant user base by simply placing stickers of your brand in public places where people can see them.

This strategy was actually adopted by the site Reddit, in which the founder spent $500 on stickers, which was the only investment the company made in their marketing.

By giving away these stickers and putting them in visible places Reddit’s brand awareness grew exponentially and helped it become the huge site it is today.

15. Listening to your customers

Probably the most underutilized marketing tool… listening.

Every company is desperate to create, post, snap to giant attraction from new customers, with very few companies actually take the time to listen to their existing clients.

If companies took the time to pay attention to those who already love them, they would find a wealth of marketing opportunities!

Don’t forget your SEO

Although doing SEO isn’t unusual it’s still hugely important when it comes to people finding your website for your products and services.

It’s essential you make this a priority, you can either hire an SEO firm to help or even do it yourself!

A great tool to help manage your SEO campaigns is Moz.

Conclusion

Hopefully this list gave you a good idea of some unique marketing tactics that you may have not employed. Remember, you don’t need a huge marketing budget to garner a large audience, just some hard work and creativity.

There was a time where “working from home” was only done by a select few, but in today’s world it’s a phrase everyone has become accustomed to. Although working from home has its benefits, it’s a new thing for a lot of us it’s going to take a toll on our mental health. Below highlights 10 ways to try and protect your mental health while home working.

1.Check- ins and virtual socialisation

Having a regular check in with employees is not only great for making sure everyone meets their targets, but also can be helpful to make sure people are coping and have someone to talk to.

Having an online space is a great way to allow people to be vulnerable and express their feelings. There are so many platforms that this can be done on, from Slack, Zoom, WhatsApp and many more.

Utilising these services is a great way to communicate with employees and see how they’re doing/feeling.

2. Provide your employees with resources and equipment

While working from home it is important that employers provide their employees all the resources necessary to complete their jobs.

Workplaces have now opted to include dedicated therapy services such as TalkSpace that provides secure and anonymous online therapy, from mental health professionals.

Company gift boxes are also a great way that employers are showing appreciation to their work from home workers. We have some available here!

3. Encourage physical fitness but also rest

When working from home, the line between work and home can easily become blurred. Many people forget to go outside and exercise, or their regular in person training classes may have been cancelled.

However, during the pandemic there has been a boom in online workout classes that can easily be done while at home.

4. Celebrate your employees

When working from home and trying to balance their home life with their job in the middle of a global pandemic, the confidence of an employee’s ability to do their job well can drop.

Celebrating your employees’ achievements and providing them incentives for continuous great work can go a long way to show them that they are appreciated, boosting their self-esteem and ensuring a happy employee.

Showing appreciation doesn’t need to involve a grand gesture, it can be a so-called small thing such as an email saying “good job”.

Providing employees with bonuses for completing a project, or a birthday is also a good way to keep employees happy and therefore causes them to keep providing excellent work. 

As said before, sending employees gifts is a great way to show appreciation while they are working from home. These gift boxes are available here.

5. Trust workers

Trusting your employees is more important than ever right now. You need to trust that your staff will get the work done while at home.

If they were good, productive employees in the office it’s likely that they will be the same at home.

Many people are trying even harder while working from home, out of fear that their bosses don’t trust them, and fear losing their jobs.

6. Acknowledge the fact that it’s okay not to be okay

Toxic positivity is something that’s not talked about enough.

It consists of the assumption that despite a person’s emotional pain and turmoil, they should only have a positive mindset. When feelings of stress and anxiety present themselves, we feel the best strategy is to pretend that our negative feelings don’t exist.

We try to convince ourselves that our negative emotions aren’t important.

An important first step to improving your mental health while working from home is understanding that it’s ok to not be ok.

Take a deep breath, focus on what you can change with the resources you have. The biggest mistake is to stress out on situations that are not under your control.

7. Try to look for the benefits rather than the negatives of being at home

Although there can be downsides from home working, there are also a tonne of positive benefits of working from home!

• Spending less money on going out, save it for something you’ve always wanted to do or buy, or donate to a good cause.
• Less time commuting.
• Reading that book you’ve had for ages or watching a series you haven’t had time for before.
• Time to learn something new (language, skill etc)
• Catch up on overdue DIY projects.

8. Make time for things you enjoy

As outlined above, working from home can cut down time from commuting among other things, and therefore give you more time to enjoy all the things you love. It can be going out with friends for drinks, watching a movie, playing games or any activity that you can get lost in.

Taking time for yourself helps us put things into perspective.

While you might have had a stressful day at work, doing something you love can ease the stress you feel and improve your mental health.

9. Create a WFH schedule and set boundaries

Office work usually has a fixed schedule. You get into the office to start work at 9 and then finish at 5. After that you can do all the other activities you enjoy.

However, working from home doesn’t work that way…

When working from home it’s crucial to create a WFH schedule and set boundaries. Be clear to your co-workers about your availability times.

Setting boundaries will help you organise your life better and keep your mental health in check.

10. Be kind to yourself

The most important thing you can do for your mental health is to be kind to yourself. Remember, this is an unusual situation and things will not feel normal.

Be realistic about what you can achieve given the circumstances, and relax when your work is done.

Conclusion

Due to recent events it is clear to see that working from home is here to stay. That doesn’t mean it’s all bad though as working from home can have clear benefits over being in the office 5 days a week.

However, because the effects of working from home has on our mental health is still relatively new for all of us, it’s important we take measures to protect it the best we can.

This can be done by:

• virtual socialisation 
• Having the right equipment
• Physical activity
• Celebration
• Trust between employer and employee
• Acknowledge its ok to not be ok
• Look for the benefits
• Doing things you enjoy
• Creating a schedule
• Being kinder to yourself

When’s the last time you saw a big brand without a logo? Can’t think of one? That’s because there aren’t any…

Your logo has a major impact on how customers perceive your brand, so naturally you want it to be outstanding. But how do you get there?

Don’t worry! This blog post will teach you the fundamentals for designing and creating the perfect logo for your business.

First things first, what is a logo? Well, for starters:

A logo isn’t:

• Your visual identity

You don’t just need a logo, you need a brand identity. Logos are part of the picture, but they’re not the entire thing. They’re just one image within a larger visual system that includes your colours, typography, photography, visuals, layout, etc.

• Your brand

It’s common to think of your logo as your brand, but it isn’t. Your brand is an intangible thing; it’s your reputation – what people think of when they hear your name, and what they tell others about you. Your brand is built from a thousand touchpoints with your customers—not from a logo.

• An indicator of success

Your logo isn’t going to make or break your business. Two Men and a Truck is a billion-dollar company, yet its logo is a stick figure drawing designed on a napkin by the founders’ mother. The best logo in the world can’t save a corrupt business, nor can the worst logo hold back an honest one.

How to design a logo

1. Self Discovery
2. Research
3. Design
4. Refine
5. Maintain

Step 1: Self Discovery

Self discovery isn’t always easy, luckily we aren’t asking you to have an existential crisis but before you even think about what your logo will look like, take some time and ask yourself what the story behind your company is.

When thinking of a beverage like Coca-Cola, we don’t see a brown, carbonated drink, but instead polar bears and thick white script letters.

Take a look from the outside on what your company does and convey why it does it. That “why” is the root of your story, and it should come through in the shape, colour, and typeface of your logo.

Step 2: Research

With so many options for design it can be quite daunting, but start simple and google basic design principles. There’s great research on colour theory which is very helpful for logo design. Different colours evoke different emotions and behaviours, helping you create the desired emotional response with your logo.

Take blue for example, it inspires trust, dependability and authority. Why do you think it’s the most popular choice for banks, credit cards and software?

Green however, evokes feelings of peace, growth and health. Great for companies like BP and Whole Foods which want to communicate a level of care for the planet.

Remember that one of the best forms of research is looking at your competitors. What sorts of things are they doing? Do their logos have something in common? Start looking at your broader industry for further inspiration.

Take notes, what elements stand out to you, both good and bad.

Step 3: Design

Pencil and paper

Sometimes sticking to the basics is the best thing you can do. Sketching some preliminary ideas is a great place to start.

Don’t over complicate this. Design is an iterative process and you will most likely keep refining your work for a while until you’re happy with it. Even if you can’t draw, creating rough sketches of ideas in your head will force you to think creatively which is the mindset you need.

Graphic design software

The industry standard for vector graphics editing software is Adobe Illustrator—but it doesn’t come cheap and isn’t necessarily starter-friendly. However, You could try out similar free tools like Inkscape and Vectr.

Different Logo Ideas

• Word mark : Some brands have no graphic symbol and decide instead to place their company or organization name front and centre.
• Brand mark : Also known as “pictorial marks,” brand marks are the graphic symbol in a logo
• Combination mark : This type of logo combines both a symbol and a wordmark, creating the more traditional logo “lock-up” we’re all familiar with.
• Abstract logo mark: As their name suggests, abstract logo marks are less recognizable and usually more geometric. 
• Monogram Logo: Great if your name is long or clunky. You can choose to either abbreviate your name or just use your initials.

Step 4: Refine

Once you’ve got a good logo design it’s time to evaluate your designs. Ask yourself this question:

What makes a great logo?

A great logo is:

• Simple
• Memorable
• Evocative

Designs change. Trends come and go. But the value of your logo will only get stronger as time goes on. Consider how long you see your logo lasting.

Step 5: Maintain

The two main ingredients to maintaining the integrity of your brand identity are quality and consistency.

With your logo being used in a range of places, and used by a large number of people – it’s important to define a set of rules and guidelines for how to treat it.

To start, consider any guidelines you may have about your logo’s size, colour, layout, treatment, positioning, orientation, etc.

Ask yourself:

• Can your logo be used on top of photography? If so, can you change the color to help it pop?
• Are there only certain color backgrounds your logo should be placed against?
• If you have a combination logo mark, can the elements be separated in certain contexts?

Conclusion

As we’ve learned, logos are an extremely important part of a business to communicate the companies beliefs and values with their customers.

A good logo grabs attention, makes a strong first impression, is the foundation of your brand identity, is memorable, separates you from competition, fosters brand loyalty, and is expected by your audience.

Promotional merchandise is all the rage in this day and age, but what are some unusual promotional items you can give potential clients & employees?

1.BBQ Grill Set

A BBQ set consisting of a spatula, fork and meat tongs, is a great summer giveaway product or retail item. Who wouldn’t want to grill some burgers with these bad boys!

2.Cork Yoga Mat

Aligning your brand with a healthy activity is always good. A yoga exercise matt is a great item that can be easily carried and taken on the go.

3.Gourmet Chocolate Pizza

Did someone say pizza! Look… pizza is great, but chocolate pizza is even better! A branded chocolate pizza is a great memorable confectionery giveaway or employee gift.

4.GPS Tracker

Have you ever lost your keys, bag or even yourself? A branded GPS locator can be easily attached to keys and bags, complete with a printed company logo on the side.

5.Mini Phone Fan

This funky little gadget is small and lightweight, so it’s easy to transport large quantities for giveaways to different events and as something more unique, it’s sure to gain interest. Also popular as an in-house gift to help battle hot days in the office, the mini phone fan is a lot of fun.

6.Promotional Rock (Sweets)

Branded promotional rock is a great choice of branded confectionery. Reliving the nostalgic childhood memories of trips to the seaside, promotional rock is both quirky and retro.

7.Custom USB sticks

With everyone using computers all the time a cool lightweight USB stick with your company logo is a great gift! We even sell some here.

8.Drawstring (Cool Bag)

An innovative promotional gift for people that like to take pack lunches to school, work, or even the beach!

9.Custom Deck Chair

Custom printed deck chairs are useful and long lasting  products that are perfect for targeting clients at the beach, outdoor events and beer gardens. With a large canvas to print on, deck chairs offer great brand design opportunities.

10.Eco Cutlery Set

A great choice for those who are environmentally conscious, this small set can be kept in your bag or desk drawer and reused for years to come.

11.Mega Multi-Tool

Mega Multi-Tool has 13 functions: tongs, wire cutter, 3 screwdrivers, reamer, file, can opener, cap lifter, fish scraper, hook removal tool, knife and screwdriver. Perfect to have on hand should a situation where you need it arise!

12.Mini Plant Cube

This biodegradable flower pot in recycled packaging makes the perfect eco-friendly promotional gift for those on a budget!

13.Branded Cooler

This portable cool box is perfect for family picnics and outdoor events to ensure your drinks stay cold.

14.Wood Sunglasses

Wooded Branded Sunglasses offer both originality and incredible value for a product with a high-end appearance. Highly customisable and lots of fun, these shades make a big impact.

15.Branded Champagne

Who doesn’t love a nice bottle of champagne? Appealing to both your smell, taste and with a look of elegance, a personalised bottle of our Signature Grande Reserve makes a wonderful corporate gift or addition to a company party. 

But what are some of the most popular promotional products sold today? *Click here to browse over 2,000 of our conventional promotional products*

16.Salad Pot

Looking to print your logo on a unique promotional gift that shows you are health conscious? A salad to go pot is the product for you!

17.Advent Calendars

With Christmas fast approaching, a branded advent calendar is a perfect gift for the festive season!

18.Health Tub

Promotional snacks with a healthy focus that come printed with your logo, perfect for those that are health conscious!

19.Seedsticks

Seedsticks give a long lasting, eco-friendly memory of your corporate message.

20.Tape Measure

A very handy piece of equipment printed with your company logo is a great promotional item.

21.Flashback Backpack

This backpack is a great employee giveaway or retail item for school, colleges and clubs. With a large LED remote controlled light you can always remain visible when you need to be.

22.Custom Mould Charge Buddy

These personalised products are very useful, offer high levels of customisation while generating brand awareness and great value for money!

23.Collapsible Bottle

This unique bendy water bottle is a collapsible water bottle featuring a screw cap and rotary outlet. A space saving and innovative water bottle ideal for those trying to help reduce single-use plastic waste.

24.Techy Multicharge Lanyard

This handy gadget is a great gift, specifically for those in the IT and Tech worlds! The cable has a standard USB connection and a 3-in-1 connector (Micro USB, iOS and Type C).

25.Collapsible Coffee Cup

These popular branded collapsible silicone coffee cups are a great  retail  or giveaway item for eco-conscious companies, hospitality companies and event.

26.Paper Wristbands

Whether it’s at a festival, concert, bar crawl, sporting event, or museum, wristbands have proven to be a more convenient proof-of-purchase than carrying around a loose ticket. Eco seeded wristbands are able to be planted, so when attendees are ready to discard their wristbands, they’ll turn into something beautiful as opposed to ending up in a landfill.

27.Reusable Branded Metal Straws

Metal straws that are made from stainless steel can be used again and again for years to come. A great item for brands trying to reduce their plastic waste.

28.Compact Done

This eccentric compact size drone can be printed with your logo or design to keep your brand flying high.

29.Custom Socks

High quality socks knitted with your logo are a perfect gift all year round!

30.Virtual Reality Glasses

Who wants to live in this reality when we can live in a virtual one?

31.Logo Printed Condoms

 ????

32.Chop & Cheese Board

A high end cheese board is a great promotional product for thank you gifts and corporate Christmas presents.

33.Football

A simple branded item that will be used countless times and for years to come.

34.Picnic Blanket

Great for those summer days when you want to relax.

35. Desktop Bag Toss Game

This wood desktop game comes with six mini bags, making it perfect for employees to keep on their desks. Who says you can’t have fun at work?

Conclusion

Hopefully this list gave you some idea of great unique promotional products that can be sent to your clientele! Remember you can get a wide range of promotional products at our concise media branding store, or if you’re looking for some more quirky promotional products they can also be purchased at brandelity.

WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE! Well… not exactly. I mean eventually, but probably not right now. Unless you’re reading this while eating a New York cheesecake because those things are to die for. So…what was I talking about?

The truth is our planet is in danger, whether it’s the increasing CO2 levels causing global warming, or the countless space used in landfills it’s time we start making small but vital steps to help.

Recycling

Recycling first and foremost saves energy and cuts back on the pollution we create, by conserving our natural resources.

I mean, it’s great, we can use the same materials over and over again rather than creating more waste. What’s not to love! By doing so we are taking vital steps towards a circular economy and helping preserve our planet for future generations.

The subject of going green is a huge topic of conversation with prominent figures such as Greta Thunberg keeping discussions about the future of our planet at the forefront of people’s minds.

Trivia

“Did you know?”

• 26 million tonnes of waste is created by British households each year, yet only 12 million tonnes are recycled.
• Recycling a single glass bottle will save enough energy to power a laptop for half an hour.
• 2.5 million plastic bottles are thrown away every hour in America

Different Types Of Eco-Friendly Promotional Products

What exactly is “Eco-Friendly”? We see this term used all the time but it’s used in so many different ways that it can be confusing to know what it really means.

So how do you see through these false claims of “eco-friendly” promotional products?

Remember that there are five common categories that sustainable promotional products fall into: 

1. Recycled Fabrics – Common fabrics we see used are recycled fabrics & cotton
2. Natural Materials – Bamboo, hemp, wheat straw and cotton are all-natural and biodegradable
3. Giveback Items – Products that support sustainable causes are becoming more and more popular
4. Reusable Products – Plastics that can be reused such as water bottles, straws and bags
5. Sustainably Made Products – How does the company do business? Do they have policies to ensure their factories are safe?

Switching To Recycled Merchandise Makes Your Brand More Attractive

One very easy way to demonstrate that your business takes its corporate social responsibility seriously is by investing in eco- friendly promotional products.

Whether you want the items for prospective clients, employees or just to revamp your office, recycled promotional merchandise instantly connects your brand with that which cares for the environment.

At ConciseMediaBranding we try to provide the very best eco-friendly promotional products to match your business’ needs.

Browse our range of eco-friendly promotional merchandise here.

The Three R’s Of Eco Friendly Promotional Products

At some point in our lives we’ve heard about the “three R’s” of sustainability: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.

The overall goal of the “three R’s” is to prevent waste and conserve natural resources by implementing green practices at company facilities.

So what do we specifically mean when we talk about reduce, reuse and recycle?

Reduce

Less cheap stuff and more high quality, retail inspired, useful products that add value to your brand, customers life and to the planet.

Reuse

By creating high quality items that your customers can reuse again and again is far more sustainable than recycling old products into new ones.

Recycle

There is a reason that recycling is at the end of the list and not at the top, and for good reason, it encourages greater thought than “its ok, this thing can be recycled next week”.

Although recycling is more beneficial than creating whole new things, it’s still not without its problems.

For instance, when recycling plastics, the process of melting them down to form new products releases harmful fumes into the environment and adversely affects air quality, producing carbon dioxide. So while we may reduce waste and landfill we end up contributing to global warming instead!

Recycled plastics are also “downcycled” by this process, in which the quality gets a little bit worse and creates a lower quality product. Therefore, recycled products are not suitable unless a significant amount of virgin polymer is added to the mix to restore some of its chemical properties.

However, a lot of the problems with recycling have to do with plastics and not cardboard so it’s still important to recycle at every chance you get, and if you have plastics that are reusable make sure to keep using them! (*hint* you can get branded reusable plastic bottles here)

Conclusion

Turns out you don’t need to be a superhero to save the world. If we all start doing small bits like recycling more and producing more eco friendly products then we can all with a combined effort save the planet.

As we know, not all disabilities are visible. Globally, 1 in 7 of us live with a disability, and of those, 80% are invisible. That is 1 billion people who are living with a non-visible disability.

First used at Gatwick Airport in 2016, the Sunflower Lanyard is now a nationally recognized symbol. Beyond that, it’s even being recognized in other countries around the world! But what exactly is the Sunflower Lanyard, and who is it for?

The Sunflower Lanyard is a green lanyard that’s decorated, as you might have guessed, with yellow sunflowers. This lanyard is a sign that the wearer might need some extra support and to raise awareness of any hidden disabilities. It’s up to the discretion of the wearer when they want to be recognized or not to indicate to people that they may need additional support, or a little more time.

Which hidden disabilities are eligible for a sunflower lanyard?

The types of hidden disabilities that are eligible for a sunflower lanyard include:

• Autism and Asperger’s
• dementia
• learning disabilities 
• mobility problems (e.g. arthritis, MS, ME, chronic illness)
• visual or hearing impairments
• mental health issues.

 

How does the sunflower lanyard help people with hidden disabilities?

The extra support that can be provided with a lanyard includes:

• making others aware that a person may be struggling or have behavioural issues.
• packing your bags
• more time at the checkout
• speaking face-to-face to allow lip-reading
• using clear and easy-to-understand language
• help with hard-to-reach products

How did the sunflower lanyard get its name?

Opinions on the sunflower lanyard

Below are some opinions from people with a hidden disability about the initiative.

Where to get a hidden disabilities lanyard?

There are two ways to obtain a hidden disability lanyard, either in store or online.

In Store

You can simply pick up one from any participating store, airport, venue or station at a customer service desk for free. You don’t need to provide proof of your disability.

Lots of supermarkets now stock the distinctive lanyard, including Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Argos, Tesco, and Morrisons. You should simply be able to collect one from their customer service desk, however it’s worth calling in advance to see if they do indeed stock them. You can check out which places are participating in the sunflower scheme here.

Online

Alternatively, you can also purchase one online from the hidden disabilities store.

In the digital age blog writing is an important way to increase traffic to a webpage, and aside from the SEO benefits one huge advantage of blogs is that it allows you to build and control your online identity as a brand. The information people receive from your blogs will help them to get to know your online identity better and grow your brand awareness.

How do I create a blog?

First things first you need to know what blog content you’re going to write about. Hey, it’s cool you’re into socks, but I don’t think many people are going to read through a 10 page essay about why socks are the greatest invention since sliced bread.

You need a promotion plan

So you’ve just spent ages planning, doing research and now want to get the ball rolling. Well, unfortunately the planning doesn’t stop there. Before you start actually writing the blog you need to have a promotion plan ready, because without it all the hard work you’ve put in so far will go to waste. What’s the point of a blog if no one reads it?

Blog Creation

#1 Ensure you create high-quality content

It’s important to create high quality content that’s grammatically correct and makes sense. An easy way to do it is by making sure to thoroughly check it using content tools such as a spell/grammar checker. While it’s important to create content that can be read all year round, content based on seasonality, trends and recent news can ensure your brand is continuously relevant and leads to interesting high quality posts.

#2 Create visuals to complement blog posts

#3 Make your blog searchable

Before you write a blog post it’s important to do keyword research, this can be done using a variety of different software or sites and is used to identify high ranking terms to allow for natural integration throughout your content.

Using this method of optimisation allows for readers to discover your content organically, and is much more cost-effective than paid promotion.

Blog Promotion

#1 Build links to your site

Once you know the ins-and-outs of the content you have, you can start to build organic links. Building links is a great way to ensure you’re developing a good, long term SEO strategy for your blog.

#2 Share your posts on social media

One of the easiest ways to promote your content is to share it on social media. It’s important to cultivate a strong social media presence so that engagement with your content is high.

#3 Post on Reddit

Reddit is a great place for sharing your knowledge via subreddits relating to your specific field, with a large audience always looking for more information.

#4 Answer questions on Quora

Just like Reddit, Quora can be a great place to share knowledge and answer questions related to your expertise and provides for a great promotion opportunity. The best way to do this is to create a Quora account and make it a goal to answer questions daily.

#hellomynameis Explained

At 29 years old Kate was told that her condition was incurable, she described the experience of getting news as psychologically scarring. She had no personal relationship with the doctor who told her, neither did the doctor give any support after telling Kate the news. From this experience she started the #hellomynameis campaign. As a result of campaigning many health workers started to wear personalised ID card holder with the statement “hello my name is” followed by their full name and a nice smiling picture of them. The health care staff that wear these ID cards were now able to become more personal with their patients. This is very important for terminally ill patients such as, Kate because they know they don’t have long left to live, having a friendly doctor can go such a long way to making that patients day.

“Introductions are about making a human connection between one human being who is suffering and vulnerable, and another human being who wishes to help.”

Dr Kate Granger

As of February 2015, the campaign has been endorsed by more than 400,000 doctors, nurses, therapists, receptionists and porters across over 90 organisations, including NHS Trusts across England, NHS Scotland, NHS Wales and the NHS in Northern Ireland.

Dr Kate Granger MBE had also raised and donated proceeds from the sales of her two books, and sponsored events such as a tandem skydiving jump, to cancer research. In total she raised over £250,000 for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre.

What is a Fake ID?

An Eastern European crime ring were jailed for a total of 27 years in 2019 for running a forgery factory in Stratford, East London. They had printers that produced tens of thousands of bogus documents at a time and the gang offered custom made paperwork to clients as well. The national crime agency officers managed to seize more than 3,000 completed identity documents, 3,500 passport-style photos, and 300 construction skills certificates, as well as enough material to create 40,000 fake bank cards. Read more about this particular case at The Standard.

Fake ID Punishment in the UK

What happens if you get caught with a fake ID in the UK – Using fake ID is the same as identity fraud with a fine up to £5000 and maximum of 10-year imprisonment. If the use of Fake ID is for the purpose of theft then this carries a lower minimum sentence.

Using false or borrowed ID to gain entry to licensed premises or to buy alcohol has the same punishment as above, yet the reality most people just get their ID confiscated. As with most of UK law, it’s quite complex depending what your Fake ID is used for.

Is Fake ID Cheap

ID cards can be produced on a ID Card Printer but unless the card printer has access to security features it can be spotted as fake. Most ID cards have a special layer with holograms only seen under UV light to prevent them from being copied.

There are people selling Fake ID cards and Passports for £500, so yes I’d say this is cheap for a new identity.

How to Prevent Fake ID’s from effecting your Business

Importance of Business Security

Protecting your business from fraudsters and criminals should be a number one priority, as you don’t want unauthorised personnel gaining access to your company buildings. They could take peoples personal items and information to use in organised crime, such as, committing crimes in your employee’s name, but more likely criminals will want to steal your companies’ IP/data and equipment to use against you for blackmail, hacking and to sell on your company data to other criminals. 

Also, if there’s an event like fire, you’ll be able to track your staff easier, this will also help to know which employees have access to certain rooms and buildings for their job departments.

However, as well as criminal attacks on your business you should be aware of the most dangerous attacks that come from employees of your business. A research report on data found that 75% of employees say they’ll have access to data they shouldn’t and 25% of employees are willing to sell data to a competitor for less than £8000. Restricting employee access to certain departments is very important to stop the important information of your business getting to the wrong employee’s hands.

Monitoring who goes in and out of specific office buildings and rooms using ID Cards will allow you to easily pick out the individual if a security breach was to happen so you will be able to restrict their privileges and make sure they don’t give away that important data to your competitors or criminals. Most people wear an ID badge with a card holder attached to a lanyard.

The best way to carry out this monitoring would be to give each employee an ID card that is programmed to only allow them to gain access to the areas you want them to. Proximity cards do this best as you as the company can encode the cards to how you want, this in turn stopping criminals being able to create fakes of these ID cards.

So, having ID cards for your employees specific to your business will eradicate any risk of allowing criminals into the business through fake passports, driving licences or any identification that can be recreated to act as if they are one of your employees.

Spotting a fake ID can be difficult due to technology in printers being so high level in this day and age. Just remember that having ID cards for your business will help reduce the security breaches you get significantly as you have the power to personalise and encode your businesses ID cards. Please read our article on Proximity Cards which explains how they’re coded that gives you the access around your building.