Over the weekend I decided that it was high time to go through the dreaded junk drawer in my kitchen.  It’s the first place where I look if I need anything small and miscellaneous…batteries, coupons, twist ties, change, lighters, and the list goes on.

As it turns out, I happened to find that I have a large collection of many different personalized pens.  It was interesting to look at all the different businesses that had their names on these pens.  Some I acquired from being a customer of the business and it was given as a token of appreciation.  However, there were a number of pens where I recognized the company on it, but have never used their products or services.  Where did I get these pens from?  Did I pick them up a trade show, or did someone I know leave them at my house?

The reality is, personalizing your business or practice information on pens is a great way to expand your network and potentially bring in new customers.  They’re a useful giveaway that people will hang on to and share with others.  Who knows, your pen might land up with someone who is looking for products or services you offer, and conveniently, will have your contact information at hand.

For a limited of time, get 250 appointment cards FREE when you make an order any of our personalized BIC pens.  Quote promo code P1111D.  Hurry, this special offer expires on November 30, 2011.

Ordering is easy! Shop and personalize online at e-sharper.com or call 1-800-561-6677 and one of our product consultants will be happy to help you place your order.

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It’s easy to see why February was chosen as Heart Month…all the promotions and advertising surrounding Valentine’s Day is a constant reminder of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and the impact on the heart.  However, did you ever think about how good oral health impacts the heart? When I first heard about this assertion, I must admit, I was a little skeptical and decided to do a little more research on the topic.  As it turns out, I found several articles referencing the association between oral health and heart heart.  Here’s an excerpt from the Mayo Clinic website*:

Your mouth is normally teeming with bacteria.  Usually you can keep these bacteria under control with good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing.  Saliva also is a key defense against bacteria and viruses.  It contains enzymes that destroy bacteria in different ways.  But harmful bacteria can sometimes grow out of control and lead to periodontitis, a serious gum infection.

When your gums are healthy, bacteria in your mouth usually don’t enter your bloodstream. However, gum disease may provide bacteria a port of entry into your bloodstream.  Sometimes invasive dental treatments also can allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream.  And medications or treatments that reduce saliva flow or disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your mouth also may lead to oral changes, making it easier for bacteria to enter your bloodstream.  Some researchers believe that these bacteria and inflammation from your mouth are linked to other health problems in the rest of your body.

Cardiovascular disease. Research shows that several types of cardiovascular disease may be linked to oral health.  These include heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke.  Although in some research periodontal disease seems to be associated with heart disease, more studies are needed before the link can be confirmed with certainty.

*http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dental/DE00001

How are you showing your support for Heart Month?  Please share some of your stories by leaving a comment below this post.

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Follow us on Twitter or become a Facebook fan to receive great promotions, news, marketing tips and industry updates that only social media subscribers will receive.

The addition of a pet usually takes on a whole new meaning of the word family.  It’s funny to see how quickly pets adapt to the routine and culture of its surroundings.  I’m always reminded of my childhood dog,  a Shih Tzu named Tulip, who somehow was the one who trained my dad to get up every night at 3:00 AM to be let outside.  Not that my dad minded it, he often was a restless sleeper who would have got up anyway.  My relationship with Tulip was as a friend who was always around to play – whether she liked it or not.  After the first time I dressed her up in my doll’s clothes, she would recognize the box where I stored the clothes, and then immediately retreat to another area of the house…inevitably changing the game to hide and seek.

Yes, no matter the reasons for getting a pet - whether it is for companionship, working purpose, etc - they become involved in all aspects of a person or family’s life.  Next time you know someone who takes on the responsibility of a new pet, be sure to congratulate them on their new arrival!

For veterinarians and pet care professionals, a congratulations card is a great opportunity to inform those who are new pet parents about the importance of preventive care such as vaccinations and regular checkups.

This February, educate your patients on the importance of good oral health while promoting National Children’s Dental Health Month.  It’s the perfect opportunity to visit schools and connect with the community.  Make it fun by providing kids with personalized Sqwiggly toothbrushes, activity sheets and a tote bag.  You’ll make a memorable impression, and when it comes time for a dental appointment they just have to look at the contact information on the toothbrush you gave them!

Thank you to all the dental professionals who are making a difference in kids lives by participating in National Children’s Dental Health Month!

We would love to hear how your practice is helping to promote children’s oral health this month.  Please share your stories with us by leaving a comment below this post.

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Join  Sharper’s Social Community!

Follow us on Twitter or become a Facebook fan to receive great promotions, news, marketing tips and industry updates that only social media subscribers will receive.

Every year we take our favorite card designs and display them on our Christmas Tree. This is an inexpensive alternative to traditional glass balls and really creates a unique look. Best of all, we enjoy sharing positive messages for the holiday season and the New Year with everyone who looks at them!

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Follow us on Twitter or become a Facebook fan to receive great promotions, news, marketing tips and industry updates that only social media subscribers will receive.

I love the holidays…yummy food, beautiful decorations, and spending time with friends and family.  Everyone just seems to  be in a better mood when December rolls around…that is, until one ventures out to the mall and is confronted by a mob of people all vying to get the items checked off their to-do list.  This year, I’m planning to do most of my holiday shopping online in the comfort of my home with a big glass of egg nog.

If your planning to send out holiday cards this year on behalf of your practice or business, why not order online through Sharper?  We have a ton of designs to choose from and personalization is free!

Here are some of my favorites:

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SHARPER’S BEST PET HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST 2010!

Halloween is quickly creeping up on us  – nine days to be exact – so we thought, what a great way to celebrate the festivities than with a costume contest!

We’ve all seen – and probably many of us have participated in one – Halloween contests for the best costumes.  But, this year, we want to make it a little bit different.  And by different, we mean getting your pets involved!

This year, we’re looking for the best pet Halloween costumes.  The winner will receive a $25 Gift Certificate from Sharper and a spot in our Facebook Hall-of-Fame photo album.  Furthermore, we will tweet the winning pet costume on our Twitter page, once a day for the whole month of November!  We will also feature the winning costume on our Blog.  And to make this an ever-lasting experience, we will send you a Sharper™ designed card featuring your pet and its winning costume.

Please submit your photos to Jerry Nguyen via email at jnguyen@e-sharper.com.  In your submission, please include a picture of your pet in its Halloween costume, your full name and contact information as well as your pet’s name.  All submissions will be accepted until November 3rd, 2010.  The winner will be chosen and contacted no later than one week after the contest closing date.

Good luck and Happy Halloween!

The holiday season is a perfect opportunity to build loyalty, generate referrals and to say thanks to patients and colleagues.  At Sharper™, we also want to say thank you.  Choose from a wide variety of personalized communication and promotional products to grow your practice or business.

This month:

Spend $100, get a $10 gift card*

Spend $250, get a $25 gift card*

Spend $500, get a $50 gift card*

*To be used on your next purchase.

Hurry…this promotion ends November 30, 2010.

Quote promo code P100E

I’m always inspired when our customers are working towards a good cause or organizing a charitable event. Recently, a dental practice  told me about how they were participating in ”Operation Gratitude”, sending care packages to American military.  I thought it was a really great idea -  the dental practice is going to buy back candy from children after Halloween trick-or-treating, and in return give them a bag filled with healthy treats and a toothbrush. The practice is then going to package up the treats, along with letters from the children and send them as holiday packages to soldiers stationed in war zones.

What a great way for a dental practice to get children involved in a positive charity while promoting good oral health!

More and more businesses are turning to email as their preferred method of communication with their customers.  Although inexpensive and fairly easy, there are a number of benefits that are lost.  Here are some advantages of using direct mail such as postcards when compared to sending an email:

•Generate Referrals – when a patient or client receives a postcard or folding card, they will most always put it in a place where it is visible to anyone who comes to visit…by just sending an email, it doesn’t get your company name out there for other people to see.

•Personal Touch – Receiving something in the mail other than bills  is always fun and memorable.  It will help practices’ and businesses stand out in the mind of their target audience.  It shows that someone is taking the time to do something special.

•Build Brand Image – The style and message of what practices or business send to patients or clients helps establish brand image. For example, using postcards with cartoons and bright colors sends the message that the practice or business is fun and family-oriented. Or in another instance, using lifestyle imagery presents more of a professional, high-end message.

I always get excited when we send out a new catalog to our customers…and I’m especially proud of the selection of new products we are offering.  This year, we’ve really focused on creating new ways for dental professional to connect and build loyalty with their patients.  We’ve used some of our best selling postcard designs to create new 2011 calendars, developed new holiday cards and giveaways, expanded our product line to include Halloween and New Years, and added to our already fabulous collection of recall cards.

Shop all our  new products online at www.e-sharper.com/dental or call to request a 2010 September catalog at 1-800-561-6677.

Here is just a sneak peak at all our new dental products!

Advertise your services year-round with personalized 2011 calendars from Sharper™. These economical promotional products can be handed out to patients or clients in the office, slipped into a plastic tote bag, or included when sending out an invoice or seasonal reminder.

We have a wide range of different formats including appointment, bookmark, magnet, promotional, tri-fold, and wall calendars.

Right now, receive 20% more 2011 calendars FREE with a minimum purchase of 100 calendars.

Hurry, this offer expires September 30, 2010.

Quote promo code P90C.

Sending personalized birthday cards is an easy and effective way to make patients or clients feel special and encourage lasting relationships. Use these cards as a unique and memorable way to send promotional offers and keep patients or clients coming back.

Here are just a few of the many birthday card designs you’ll have to choose from at Sharper™:

Dental birthday cards

Orthodontic birthday cards

Chiropractic birthday cards

Financial birthday cards

For the month of June, 2010….buy 100 birthday cards and receive:

Quote promo code P60CE
Offer ends June 30, 2010

Sharper™ through the years…

People often ask how Sharper™ began. Twenty-five years ago there were few options available for patient and client communications. Sharper Cards was created with one purpose in mind – to provide professionals with quality patient and client communication cards that were both friendly and effective. Our first advertisement was a one page flyer with 12 card designs! Since then we have grown to a customer base of over 40,000 worldwide and have expanded our product line to include personalized dental birthday cards, dental calendars, massage therapy business cards, veterinary appointment cards, and many other promotional products.

As a special thank you during the month of May, you can receive a $25 gift card. Click here to find out how you can participate.

Plus – all orders will be entered into our birthday celebration draw to win their purchase!

Hurry, this offer expires May 31, 2010.

Help your patients or clients find the perfect way to celebrate their mothers by offering them personalized gift certificates for your services. Double the impact by inserting coordinating massage therapy business cards or personalized magnets in the die-cut slots of the gift certificate.

We have a wide selection of beautiful designs for massage therapists, chiropractors, and other contemporary health professionals. Designs can be mixed and matched in lots of 25, so be sure to keep personalized gift certificates on hand of the holidays, Valentine’s Day, weddings, graduation, birthdays, and countless other occasions.

It’s sometimes hard to justify increasing your advertising budget when your not experiencing growth in your practice. However, now is the time to stand out from your competitors and focus on dental patient acquisition.

“The sales of companies who had kept advertising during (a) recession had risen 256% over those who had not.”
— McGraw-Hill Research

Right now you have an opportunity to redefine what advantages you have to offer patients, so when patients and potential patients are ready to increase their spending, your practice will be poised to be top of mind.

Send a postcard to advertise specialized services such as teeth whitening or cosmetic dentistry:

Or, send a postcard focusing on the demographic you want to attract – cartoon designs are great for the whole family, and classic dentistry designs appeal to more of an adult audience:

In addition to dental patient acquisition, improve loyalty with dental birthday cards and other personalized products from Sharper™.

Reinforce the need for your chiropractic services by sending personalized birthday cards to your patients. Not only is this a nice gesture, but it also reminds patients that you are an essential part of their lifestyle and quality of life. Get the most out of your chiropractic birthday cards by including tips or a special offer.

A few of my favorite designs are:

New – All Sharper™ birthday cards are now available in a large size. The mailing cost of this size is the same as our standard version, plus you will have more room to include additional information…so order the large size and make your chiropractic marketing more effective!

Create your own marketing network with Sharper™ business cards. Referrals are an effective and low-cost way to grow your practice or business. Make it easy for your patients to recommend you to colleagues, friends, and family by supplying them with several of your business cards after each appointment.

Receive 500 business cards for $5….
Click here to find out more details.

Sharper™ has a wide range of:

o Dental business cards

o Orthodontic business cards

o Chiropractic business cards

o Massage Therapy business cards

Here are some tips to keep in mind when ordering business cards:       

Use a logo
If you provide products or services that can be represented with a symbol (for example dentistry, massage therapy, dog grooming, etc), the logo should symbolize that product or service in some way. Sharper™ has a wide variety of logos that you can use free of charge when ordering business cards. If you already have a company logo, we can print it on your cards for a small fee of $45, regardless of quantity of business cards ordered.

Utilize the back of your business cards
Don’t lose out on advertising space! You can include things such as a short listing of services, mission statement, hours of operations, or anything else that will help your patients or clients remember your practice or business.

Make your card readable
Use font sizes that are big enough to be easily readable without using a magnifying glass. Be sure the type color stands out against the background of the card, too. Light gray type on a white card makes it hard to distinguish letters and numbers.

Stand out from the rest of the pack
Yes, your business card may wind up stuffed in a desk drawer with a stack of other cards. Make it stand out from the rest by using designs with full color.

Have your business cards printed on good card-stock
Sharper™ full color business cards are printed on premium matte 100 lb stock.

April is National Oral Health Month in Canada. Let Sharper™ help you educate your patients on good oral health with our wide selection of dental promotional items including personalized toothbrushes, brushing timers, floss, lip balm, dental tote bags, brochures, and more. Not only will you be encouraging proper oral hygiene practices, but personalizing these products is a fantastic way to increase the success of your dental practice marketing. In addition, this month is a great opportunity for dental patient acquisition – send a large postcard to the community surrounding your office to generate awareness and traffic to your practice.

My refrigerator at home is more than just an appliance that keeps food cold…it’s also my photo display board, scheduler, and reminder system.

When friends and family come over to visit, we naturally congregate in the kitchen and they always are checking out what’s new. That’s why I love Sharper™’s selection of dental recall cards – whether my dentist sends me a funny cartoon card or a beautiful contemporary style card, they all are deserving of a place that is sure to be seen.

In the past, I’ve received a letter version of a recall notice…it sat on my desk and I nearly forgot to schedule an appointment. So, if you want to generate referrals and improve your dental patient acquisition, choose a recall card design that will stand out and get noticed!