Drop the "h", Bich

Every new company goes through the struggle of naming itself. We did - we wanted something that was part of a whole, something that was universal to all (since we work with every type of industry). We ended up with O2 (you can't live without us!) Marketing + Design. Other companies' names have evolved over time. In the 1940's, the Bich pen was changed to Bic based on fear that people would mispronounce it as "Bitch". 3M was originally Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. 7-Eleven changed from U-Tote'm in 1946 to 7-Eleven to reflect their newly extended hours, 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Reebok was named after an African antelope - alternate spelling of rhebok (Pelea capreolus). You can check out other etymologies here.

Boring Vs Ridiculous

We are frequently asked for the latest interesting promotional handout...something that no one has seen. "We've already done that; it's boring." No one wants to be boring! An insult! However, being new or the latest doesn't necessarily make something great. You can turn to fashion for some great examples of new things gone bad. How to avoid this? One suggestion is to take a successful product or idea and make it better or more interesting. Take the iPod, for example. There were mp3 players on the market before the iPod, but Apple made it amazing. In deciding how to motivate and engage your audience, think about the products and ideas they already use and like. Coffee mugs are boring in theory and you can't give one that is made of wood with spokes sticking out of it (ridiculous but interesting). You can, however, make a cooler one! You can give one that people actually want to use! Don't want to be boring? 30 ideas here.

A Pumped Up Banner

A banner that's happy to see you? Nah, it's a balloon! When you're looking for ideas to catch people's attention in a tradeshow, retail or convention situation, remember the mighty but cheap balloon! They are festive, colorful and biodegradable. Did I mention that they are cheap?

Stop Buying Bottled Water!

The good news is that Americans are drinking a lot of water. The bad news is that we are buying it in plastic bottles. Consider filling up your reusable water bottle at the home or office. Consider giving your friends, customers and family a stainless steel bottle that they can take on-the-go. Save money and save energy! Check out 5 reasons not to drink bottled water for more information.

Are You A Professional Marketing Tool?

A tool? That's how I read a subject line in an email: Name - Professional Marketing Tool. Clearly, the sender meant that they were offering a professional marketing tool but the juxtapositioning of the name and the subject sent a different message. I'm sure you've seen others. Here are some unintentionally funny signs. Some favorites: Loose Senior Citizen Center, Dead End (in front of cemetery) and Used Toilet Paper Rolls in Good Condition. Watch your words or Your words watch (click here for options)!

Ultra Thin Memory & Photos

Super cool gizmo: credit card size digital picture frame with 1 GB usb flash drive! Great incentive or referral gift. $29.99 each (call or email for quote)

Variety is the Spice of Life

If something is not working for you, try something new! If your message is boring, you might want to spice it up. People love to be entertained and surprised. How can you do that for your customers? Can you create a game out of identifying widgets that you send them? Can you send them a jumbo size calculator to help them save big? Can you send them a birthday card in the MAIL? (When was the last time you got one of those?) Mix it up - cards, gifts, emails, blogs, twitters,...surprise and inform. Keep them interested in your message and more likely to do business with you when the time comes.

An office desk has 400 times more bacteria than a toilet...maybe we should all hand out customized office wipes: We'll clean up your (fill in the blank) problems!