Events: the marketing promotion that entertains

Plan marketing promotion events that suit your customers' interests and lifestyle. Promotional events can range from a regional golf tournament to an in-store battle of the bands.

I recommend: Get help with marketing promotion details such as event registration and equipment rentals by consulting SalesAdvantage.com. If you have the budget for a high-end sports promotion check out Odds On Promotions.

Small business promotion sweepstakes and contests get customers involved

Design a sweepstakes or contest that awards the winners with prizes that will motivate people to enter.

I recommend: Get ideas for sweepstakes drawings and prizes that would wow your target market, and hire a sweepstakes planner at American Sweepstakes and Promotion. Manage your marketing promotions contest online with the help of ennect Sweepstakes Software, which is geared to small and medium-sized businesses. Promote your contests and events with a text-messaging campaign with Advanced Telecom Services.

Feature your logo on promotional products

Keep your company name in front of your customers by presenting them with promotional products in the form of a stylish complementary coffee mug or other practical product that features your company logo. Include your phone number or website URL if there is room.

I recommend: Vendors of promotional products are continuously introducing creative new gift items. 4imprint and Marketing Promotions provide a seemingly endless selection of promotional products.

Put point-of-purchase displays to work for your marketing promotions

In-store advertising in the form of point-of-purchase displays, also called POP displays, can be a pivotal part of your marketing promotion strategy. Eye-catching POP displays can energize a product launch, revitalize a product line's image and introduce your products to new markets.

I recommend: Avante, which has produced award-winning point-of-purchase displays, promises quick turnaround on display prototyping and manufacturing. Display Smart creates attractive, traditional POP displays as well as interactive kiosks. You can find many more suppliers of point-of-purchase displays at Business.com.