Launch of Funditbynet!

Hold the front page! Here comes the eagerly anticipated launch of Funditbynet! After months of development, the website is now live!

How did Funditbynet come about?
Following an in-house study of our client data from the last 5 years, we discovered that our clients use promotional gifts for two distinctly different reasons. There are those wishing to promote a business or message (advertising) and those wishing to sell the products on to make money (fundraising). Ideasbynet has traditionally focused on the advertising side of the business, dealing with corporate clients and large government agencies. But what about the local school that wants to raise money for a new minibus, or the local football team that needs to raise funds for ref fees and club strips? The problem these small organisations experience when buying products from Ideasbynet is that there is a risk in committing to an order of say, 100 units, particularly if they only manage to then sell 50 units. This is where the idea for Funditbynet originated, developing a risk free way for fundraisers to sell branded products without the possibility of having leftover stock and losing funds.

The idea is that Funditbynet will help these smaller organisations sell products to their members and supporters by providing them with a customised ‘Fund Pack’ – a sales leaflet, poster and pledge page. This pack is put together for free and displays the product they are trying to sell, complete with their logo, enabling the fundraiser to then promote the idea and encourage pre-orders up front. This way they can work out exactly how many they need. The fundraiser can order their stock after having already sold the product, meaning they will never order too many and all the funds raised will go to their good cause.

What exactly is Funditbynet?
The idea for Funditbynet is simple and effective. A fundraising group can go on the website, knowing the amount of money they wish to raise and insert this amount into the Fund Engine along with what they are fundraising for, for example a community group or school. The website will then generate product ideas, the suggested sale and purchase prices and the amount they will need to sell in order to raise their target. The Fundometer allows them to alter their target and in turn indicates the quantity of products they need to sell. Through this they can request a Fund Pack which they will receive through email including a poster, leaflet and pledge page - meaning they can then start to sell the item before making any purchase. They will then input their order when they are clear of the amount of products they require. This way, the fundraising group does not lose any of their funds through leftover stock or excess spend and all their profits can go towards their fundraising initiative.

How Marketing Methods Have Changed Over the Past Decade

Marketing is one of the main ways in which businesses generate sales and promote products and services. Marketing methods have changed over the last decade so make sure you are up-to-speed with the best ways to target potential customers.

Society has changed over the past 10 years and consequently, marketing methods have adapted to suit growing trends and customer behaviour.

Marketing is a business function which helps organisations understand what customers wants and needs are, aids development of a product or service which meets these needs and then gets the goods in front of the customer.

Marketing activities veary hugely and include everything needed to get initially create or develop a product and then get it into the hands of the customer. The function of marketing is essential for every business and can range from developing and designing a product or service to setting a price and them promoting the product appropriately.

In the not too distant past, marketing was a largely paper based activity with print media taking precedence. Technological developments over the past decade have changed the marketing methods now commonly used, so it is important to ensure your business is up-to-date with all the potential ways in which customers can be communicated with. Keeping ahead of these trends can have a profound affect on your business so it pays to be informed.

The majority of households in Britain now have internet access and this has changed the way organisations communicate with customers and market their products.

Marketers are now able to use tools such as social networking and email marketing to target prospective customers. Social media has made two-way communication easier between organisation and customer and is proving valuable when trying to gain more insight into customer’s attitudes and perceptions.

Technological advances are enabling marketing professionals to use more specifically targeted digital channels to get their message across and email marketing is a low cost way to get your message directly to consumers.

Digital marketing may be on the rise but print marketing methods are still of significance and an integrated communications approach which fuses old methods with new is the best way of moving forward.

Customer segmentation is more important than ever as audiences become more fragmented. This has led to an increase in the number of specialist publications, websites and television channels so keeping astride of this is integral to delivering targeted marketing campaigns.

Promotional materials have remained popular over the years and you can purchase branded items which are tailored to suit your audience, whoever they may be.

Promotional materials that customers are likely to use every day can enhance brand image and reputation and gain daily exposure for your company.

When it comes to choosing what sort of promotional item you wish to brand and distribute, begin by thinking about who your target audience are and what they might do on a daily basis. Items which can be used by everyone are ideal; promotional mugs, pens, bags and notebooks are all excellent examples. But it is always important, when choosing your business gifts, to allow for logistical implications - if you want to mail something out, then promotional pens are a good way to go where printed mugs would not be.

Presenting ‘Tuggz’, the Blatter-friendly snood substitute

Ideasbynet showcase this season’s safer alternative to the controversial snood – ‘Tuggz’.
Promotional gifts giants Ideasbynet welcomed Sepp Blatter’s decision to ban the snood from professional football pitches. The FIFA president claimed the snood, if tugged upon by another player, “can be dangerous, even like hanging somebody”.

The danger Blatter describes is experienced by amateur footballers all over the country. The son of Peter Howarth, Ideasbynet’s Managing Director, is one such amateur footballer. Miles Howarth, 16 year-old sixth form student and aspiring entrepreneur, originally pitched the idea of ‘Tuggz’ to his father several months ago. A prototype has been developed, coinciding with Blatter’s ruling and offering a real alternative to the snood – reducing the danger but not the warmth.

‘Tuggz’ has been expertly streamlined so it is more difficult to grip. If however, another player is successful in taking hold, the garment’s multi-stress ‘Tugg-points’ will cause the ‘Tuggz’ to detach and come away from the neck, without the risk of choking.
‘Tuggz’ is manufactured from closed-cell foamed neoprene with a micro-fleece lining, making it comfortable, warm and water-resistant; perfect for a football season in England. The innovative Tuggz will stay firmly in place during a high-octane game, only coming loose when tugged – hence the name.
 
Byron Metzger-Edwards, member of the Ideasbynet team and keen footballer states, “I would definitely use Tuggz over a Snood – if someone does grab you it detaches straightaway, and conclusively shows the referee who’s in the wrong!”
‘Tuggz’ will eventually be available in a range of sizes so young fans of Carlos Tevez or Samir Nasri will be able to emulate their heroes; stylishly and safely.

Getting your brand into peoples hands

By focusing on promotional materials that offer true practical value, you can develop positive associations between your brand and your customers.

The recession taught many businesses the value of cost-effective promotional strategies, with companies that spent large amounts on television and billboard advertising campaigns often failing to boost their earnings sufficiently to warrant such expensive marketing practices. However, advertising doesn't have to be big and brash to be effective, and promotional items such as office stationery are still among the best ways to increase recognition and loyalty for your brand among consumers, employees and other associates.

Brands are present everywhere we look in our daily lives, from the prominent designer logos of clothing and cars to company names on carrier bags. Many people may be acting as promoters for companies without even being aware of it, enhancing visibility of the brand name everywhere they go, which can be a lot more vital in enhancing your brand perception than less useful objects that end up in the trash.

That's why businesses are encouraged to produce practical promotional material that people are likely to use every day, rather than printing flyers and posters that may improve your brand's visibility, but won't serve to develop the same positive associations. By branding your logo onto useful items such as pens - items always in high demand, and often gratefully received - your existing customers will tend to think of your company highly, and this connection can be passed onto others who use it too.

Promotional pens are not the only form of effective promotional material, of course, but they are one of the most enduring, and can also help towards creating a stronger identity within your company, if workers at all levels are issued with matching pens, notebooks, mouse mats, umbrellas and other useful objects. Another advantage of office stationery is that it's relatively inexpensive to produce, even in large quantities, and you can usually find a range of options - depending on the type or colour of pens and other items you wish to distribute, and what best reflects your company's image and slogan.

Improving awareness of your brand will only be effective if your company's logo, slogan and other featured designs are truly memorable, and this is where a design revamp can be useful before undertaking a major marketing campaign. People are more likely to remember and respond well to eye-catching or emotive designs than bland typefaces and uninspired slogans, and if you're investing in a wide array of promotional materials, you'll want to be sure the message you're sending out to potential customers is as enticing and up-to-date as possible.

Ways to Use Promotional Travel Mugs to Advertise Your Company or Charity

Using promotional travel mugs to advertise your company's products or services can be a really smart move and a great investment for your business. With a minimal amount of effort and a minimal investment upfront, you can ensure that your company's name is becoming well-known in the surrounding community. Giving logo imprinted travel mugs as gifts is only one way to achieve this goal.

You can include custom printed travel mugs with other promotional materials, informational materials or packets of promotional items as incentive or drawing prizes. This will entice new clientele and will also help gain the loyalty of current clientele. The primary reason for this is because promotional travel mugs are useful items, which makes them ideal for gifts. Everyone appreciates useful gifts, even if they are logo imprinted, because it shows that a business or company is willing to go the extra mile to meet their product or service needs.

Offering logo printed travel mugs to local charities or city events that your company helps sponsor is a great way to show community spirit and demonstrate that your business truly cares about people and their locality. This is especially good if the promotional travel mugs are included with free samples of food items, coupons for useful items or included with logo printed sweatshirts or jackets. If your company works closely with events that go toward the betterment of the community, demonstrating further care is always a good idea. Custom printed travel mugs will help that - people can always use a good travel mug - while getting your company's name out into the general public. Travel mugs are also great as fundraising ideas – if you need to raise funds for your organisation you could get travel mugs printed with your fundraising message and sell them to supporters of the organisation. Since you can purchase the travel mugs at bulk rates you can sell them at normal high-street retail prices – without ripping anybody off – which would leave a profit per unit that can go straight into your fundraising kitty.

Why Promotional Sticky Notes Are a Great Way to Advertise Your Office Supply Company

If your company is in the office supply industry, whether you directly distribute office supplies or are in some other part of the industry, your business should consider using promotional sticky notes to advertise your products or services. Custom logo printed items have become an increasingly popular method of advertising products and marketing services in recent years, it only makes sense to apply them to your business as well. When using logo printed sticky notes to market a product or service, your company can reach many different groups of people and types of clientele with minimal effort.


Using promotional sticky notes can give your business more exposure for your advertising dollars. This is due, in part, to the fact that a simple gift of sticky notes can be a very appreciated item. Who doesn't occasionally need to write something down? Giving potential clientele something they can - and will - actually use, is a great way to make a lasting impression on them, which will help ensure that they keep your company in mind for their future product or service needs or wants. Custom printed sticky notes are a simple and inexpensive way to give them something imprinted with your company logo, which is better than simply handing out fliers or business cards.

Giving your clientele promotional sticky notes during transactions or consultations is a great way to say "thank-you" to them for considering your company or trying your products and services. You can also give custom printed sticky notes to other businesses, when at conferences and meetings - this helps them look on your company favorably, and makes them more likely to utilize your products or services in the future. With a low-cost per piece, logo imprinted sticky notes are a great investment for your company and will give you the most advertising exposure with the least amount of effort.

Why Use Promotional Keyrings to Promote Your Auto Business

Using promotional items to help advertise a company's products or services is an easy way to help spread the word without using pushy sales techniques, making "cold calls" or resorting to more expensive advertising methods. You can use promotional keyrings to advertise your auto business and its products or services. Logo printed items, especially keychains, can be custom printed to suit your company's needs. You can advertise specific promotions, products or services with a minimal amount of effort and time.


Promotional keyrings are a great way to say "Thank-you" to already existing clientele for their patronage of your business. You can include custom printed keychains in informational or promotional packets that are given to already existing customers or give them out during initial visits to your business location. If your auto business sells vehicles, then you can give your clients the keys to the vehicles on brand-new, logo printed keyrings. Your clientele will appreciate the gesture and know that they are valued by your company.

You can gain new clientele by giving out custom printed promotional keyrings during special events at your business or during city events that your company helps sponsor. There is no better way to show your company's generosity and dedication to quality and good customer service than to give away items that people can actually use. Giving logo imprinted keyrings to your employees is also a great way to show your appreciation for their hard work. In turn, your employees will feel valued and be more likely to refer family and friends to your company for their product or service needs. An auto business - in any part of the auto industry - simply can't go wrong by using custom printed keychains.