The Pinnacle Blog

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that more and more people are watching television while simultaneously accessing the Internet via their computers and mobile devices. I’ve personally been using my tech tools concurrently ever since I got my first computer. I pretty much couldn’t do my college coursework without my Word doc open and my TV tuned in to my favorite show of the hour. I guess something about the organized chaos has always helped me focus. I guess that’s weird, but I digress…

With the continued growth and popularity of social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, users across the globe are connected to their social networks at nearly every moment of the day. Email, instant messaging, forums and profiles are now just a click away via your computer or smartphone.

While your security settings and preferences help to protect you, your content and your private data, it is no secret that every tweet, status update, comment, “like” and wall posting from each and every social media outlet is documented and logged. These stats are then being used to measure the engagement of users, and have even been used to gage the overall “attitude” of the nation.

With the emerging analytical power and massive amount of data collected by these frontrunners of the world wide social web, we are now able to see the real-time thoughts, feelings, reactions and emotions of the collective social media universe. While we know how this info can be used, it is another thing entirely to actually see these results and their relation to other media channels.

The analytics team at Twitter did just this to gage audience excitement and opinion during the Super Bowl earlier this month. The study showed just how connected and active the social media community is even while viewing a hugely popular, televised event. The Super Bowl is known to be the most viewed television event of the year. This month’s, Super Bowl XLIV, however, became the most watched television broadcast ever with over 106 million viewers.

Click to Enlarge. Image From http://blog.twitter.com/2010/02/super-data.html

(View @kevinweil’s blog post for all the details of this study.)

With this many people actively engaging with Twitter while watching TV programs, it will be interesting to see how this trend continues to develop. I personally predict that we will see this dependency grow exponentially over the coming years as more and more people trade up to smartphones and netbooks. Social media is already almost an addiction to some. I’d liken many diehard social media users to a caffeine addict… I mean, coffee enthusiast… and their favorite promotional mug. You don’t leave home without it, you keep in touch throughout the day and you can never really have too many or too much.

Will anyone really be able to simply watch traditional television with the draw of the Internet so readily in reach? Knowing now what kind of analytical information we can get from social media sites, I’d love to see what this study looks like for next year’s Super Bowl game. How will companies use this growing dependency to their advantage? With their widely popular advertisements during Super Bowl XLIV, Doritos definitely did. Google did too. And now they continue to reap the benefits of their multi-million dollar ads via chatter about their brands on the social media web. How will others capitalize on this research?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Kim
Marketing Coordinator
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On Monday night’s episode of “The Bachelor: The Women Tell All,”* Southern Belle and single mother Ella commented on the behavior of fellow bachelorette (and also the instigator of much of this season’s drama), Vienna, by saying:

“She would do and say things she would not think about before she did them. She may be sorry for them later, but then if you continue that after ‘I’m sorrys,’ it’s not going to fly.”

At the time, I paused and pondered Ella’s statement. Although perhaps not the most eloquently put version of a value that I have been taught from a young age, her honesty and simple interpretation of why Vienna lost her credibility were refreshing. “I’m sorry” can be a powerful phrase, but overusing it may cause the listener to become skeptical of the apologetic individual or party’s sincerity.

A recent BrandWeek article about Millward Brown’s list of “most trusted and recommended brands” brought to light a shining example of the impact of apologies in the corporate world. The list is based on the survey responses of over 20,000 U.S. consumers at the end of 2009. Tylenol, ranked 6^th on the list, happens to have had numerous recalls over the years, including one in 2009, the year in which the data for this study was collected. Eileen Campbell, global CEO of Millward Brown, explained the company’s high ranking by saying, “Doing well in a crisis actually builds trust.”

Toyota, number 7 on the list, only began facing scrutiny in early 2010 regarding the safety of their vehicles, so I am curious to see how the established car manufacturer’s trust rating will fare among consumers in the future. Personally, I think Toyota’s crisis recovery efforts have been outstanding, and by admitting their lapses in quality assurance and promising to improve, they have already begun to regain the respect of many consumers. Think about how you react after you make a mistake: I know that I am overly cautious because of fear of repeating the same error. I guess only time will tell if Toyota will exhibit the same staying power as Tylenol.

As for Vienna, I think her actions have alienated the vast majority of Bachelor viewers, but hey, she still has a chance to get the guy! Maybe he will be more receptive to her apologies than Ella and the rest of her former housemates; if all else fails, she could try imprinting the words “I’m sorry” on promotional products as tokens of her on-going remorse instead of just saying them time and again. :)

* As many of my coworkers know, I tune into a variety of reality shows, from “Say Yes to the Dress,” to “The Real Housewives of ____” (you could fill in practically any city name/season and chances are I have seen the majority of the episodes), to, I’m almost ashamed to admit, “The Bachelor.” Although not the most mentally stimulating, hopefully this blog has proven reality tv’s capacity to teach valuable life lessons to unassuming viewers like myself.

Dana
Team Lead – Social Media
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Picture from www.beachbody.com

A few months ago my husband and I were watching television when an infomercial caught our attention, for a workout program that claimed to get you “absolutely ripped in 90 days.” We watched this informercial the whole way through, and learned about muscle confusion™, the 12 sweat-inducing workouts, the strict nutrition plan and, best of all, the results in the form of before & after pictures.  These people went from normal to ripped in just 90 days!  It was almost too good to be true… and with just 3 payments of $39.95 and a 90-day money back guarantee, who could go wrong?

Heather
Marketing Manager
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After I saw Disney’s Up, I left the theater inspired by the touching story, but also curious about its message. More specifically, I noted that the little boy was chubby and adorable and how that association perpetuated our society’s growing problem with obesity. What did his extra pounds add to his character or even the story line as a whole? Nothing.

I shared my ramblings with my mother as we walked out of the theater. Her response? “You’re such a soc major!” And, she’s right. I chose to study sociology in college because I have always been fascinated by people’s stories and moreover, how those stories relate to society.

Thus, there’s no better field for me than marketing; I get to spend a lot of my day thinking about social media and learning about the constantly evolving industry tools. Last week, as I was reading through articles from some of my favorite marketing sources, I happened upon the so-called “Mommy Blogs.” These blogs, mostly written by mothers working from home, range from reviews of promotional products to intimate stories about children and marriages. And, no matter what the topic, I am hooked. Ask anyone in the office and they’ll readily agree that my fondness for Mommy Blogs is bordering on obsession.

Partly I love reading the stories, yet I am also intrigued by the fact that these women share personal details of their lives so readily on the Internet. These blogs are social commentaries about how we share information in today’s digital age and they relate to Acree’s discussion about consumers’ trust and whether or not it’s on the decline. Personally, I don’t think that trust is declining but rather it’s changing forms. I’m not only listening to my friends or to well-respected news sources, I am also checking resources such as Mommy Bloggers. Although they may be complete strangers, their online openness and transparency encourages trust in an increasingly global world.

I encourage you to set aside your marketing or human resources “hat” and think about your consumer instincts for a minute. Do you make purchasing decisions based on a brand’s transparency? I know I do. (When you’re done reflecting, please take a moment and enjoy a clip from Disney’s Up :) )

Sarah
Marketing Coordinator
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/extraketchup/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Sneezing, runny nose, scratchy throat – yes many of us know all too well the symptoms that correspond with acute viral rhinopharyngitis, or a “cold.” In fact, the common cold is indeed so common that it is the number one cause of lost work time (about 150 million workdays), followed closely by diarrhea – but that’s a remedy for another day. Of course there are several ways to avoid being stricken with the cold virus, and if you do happen to catch it, ways to make yourself better. And surprise – there’s a whole bunch of promotional products out there that can help you feel and get better too!

Promotional Hand Sanitizer – Avoid getting sick to begin with by using hand sanitizer. Available as a gel, spray, or even a wet wipe, you can promote your business while encouraging recipients to keep their hands clean and stop spreading germs.

Promotional Tissue Packs – Okay so maybe your hand sanitizer recipients didn’t really use the product as often as they should have, and indeed they have a cold. Well then they are certainly going to make use of plenty of tissues and promotional tissue packs make it easy to have them handy at all times.

Promotional Sports Bottle – Make sure to keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water – and remind yourself to do so by keeping a promotional sports bottle at hand! Water helps loosen congestion and combat dehydration that is a common side effect of over-the-counter medications that can dry you out.

Well I am off to blow my nose in my promotional tissues, drink some water from my promotional sports bottle, and clean my hands with my promotional hand sanitizer. Here’s to a healthier tomorrow!

Jaime
Team Lead – Multimedia
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So today’s blog is inspired by the upcoming new release, The Crazies.

If you know me, you know that I have a slight fascination with all things zombies. Now don’t get me wrong, there are many people that take this a little bit further than me… but I won’t name names here.

I’m not sure what causes this morbid interest in all things undead. Is it the staggered walk? The violent nature? Or the trigger that causes these bodies to rise from the grave? Whatever it is, it’s pretty darn intriguing to me.

So with that said, my colleague, Acree, politely addressed an issue that I have that intrigues her, not unlike my curiosity regarding the walking dead. The issue that arouse during conversation yesterday was my undying, love for promotional products.

The typical day here at Pinnacle naturally involves working with a large number of promotional products from a variety of product categories. Yesterday, Acree came across a tumbler during her daily duties that raised a question. Being relatively new to the industry, she wondered about one of the features of the Spirit Promotional Tumbler.

Being one of my favorite pieces of promotional drinkware (on my continuously growing list of favs), I have an intimate knowledge of this peppy little piece. I answered her question in a snap, followed with a chuckle-inspiring tale involving my husband, dancing, the term “lifesaver” and the Spirit Promotional Tumbler.

This story was followed by her question, “just how many promotional products do you have?!”

Ummm. This my friends, was an eye-opener.

I think I might just enjoy promotional products a teensy bit too much. But then, I’m not really ashamed. I have a case of the promotional product crazies. And I’m okay with it. I might never know why. I might never get over it. I just fancy some products, and I’ll keep on saying it!

With that said, if you ever need to know about a promotional product found on our site, I might just be able to help. And you might just get a little story along with it too :).

Now for your viewing pleasure, here’s The Crazies trailer. Watch at your own risk. It’s a creepy one!

Kim
Marketing Coordinator
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Every day when I arrive at work and turn on my computer, I am met with my desktop background of a sandy white beach, crystal clear ocean, and palm trees swaying in the breeze… Sadly, as soon as all of my icons and folders finish loading, I am reminded that I do, in fact, have a job to do and can’t afford to fantasize about an imaginary trip to the Bahamas all morning- the serene photo is as close as I am going to get to oceanfront R&R anytime soon!

For one lucky Pinnacle customer, the warm weather and peaceful lull of the waves await- congratulations to the winner of our Mexican Getaway Contest, Anna Glasa from Royse and Brinkmeyer!

Anna will enjoy 6 days/5 nights in beautiful Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, courtesy of Pinnacle Promotions. Her prize includes airfare for two & accommodations at a luxury condo in Playa Del Carmen, plus a Pinnacle Vacation Gift Pack full of beach-themed necessities.

I don’t know about you, but I am definitely jealous- hopefully Anna will take lots of pictures of her once-in-a-lifetime Mexican Getaway experience to share with us. Regardless, have an amazing trip, Anna, and to all of our customers/blog readers who are now green with envy: keep an eye out for more incredible contests from Pinnacle Promotions!

Dana
Team Lead – Social Media
view my bio!

This promotional matchbook became a breakthrough clue in tracking down the family from the abandoned house. Photo by Adam Beckman, flickr.com/photos/thisamericanlife.

We talk a lot around here about the ubiquity of promotional products. Inevitably when someone outside work asks me what I do, I am able to point to some object in my hand or theirs — a coffee cup, branded pen, or t-shirt — and say, “I market those.” They are everywhere, including — as I discovered last night — in my podcasts.

(more…)

Friends, marketers, raving fans: As of 6:00 pm today we’ll be on hiatus from blog writing as our friends in Tech launch our new promotional products website. They’ve told us we are not under any circumstances to make any changes to the site, so that means no blogging.

We’ll see you back here on Wednesday with our regularly scheduled programming. In the meantime, leave us love in the comments, on Twitter and Facebook. And have a great weekend!

Ahhh, love.

Can you feel it in the air?

It’s unavoidable today at Pinnacle Promotions. And I mean that in the best possible way.

Our mailboxes are overflowing with Valentine’s Day wishes, sweets and chocolaty goodies.

Oh, and I do mean mailboxes. Not our inboxes. But the good ol’ fashioned type. Our fabulous bringer of cheer, Deidre, fancied up mailboxes akin to those used in elementary schools across the nation every February. Just the perfect size to hold an abundance of happiness in candy and Valentine card form.

As you can probably tell from the Fun Stuff section of our website, as well as all of our Facebook shenanigans, we here at Pinnacle love to have a good time. No matter how big, or how small, we can make a party revolve around just about anything. While the immediate satisfaction you receive from a fun-size candy bar may only last a minute or two, the impact of this small gesture lasts.

Keeping the atmosphere of your office energized and positive can often be challenging. The hustle and bustle of the workweek can at times be stressful and even disheartening for your employees. Keeping the attitudes on the up and up your workplace should always be an “A” priority on your ever-growing list of to-dos.

Consider implementing an awards program or distributing promotional products to your team on a regular basis. Even the smallest gesture can make a difference. We all know that smiles are contagious. Whenever you get a chance to make someone’s day a little better – just a little bit more positive – you not only spread the positive energy, but your efforts can actually be life changing.

Now I’m not saying you have to exchange store bought Valentines to do this. A simple “thank you” for a job well done will often do the trick. Just remember to keep it up. Spread the love at Valentine’s Day and throughout the year. You’ll help make the world (or at least your office) a brighter place.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Kim
Marketing Coordinator
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