SanMar Radio

Given the wide variety of social media platforms out there—Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and even Instagram—it can be difficult to figure out which sites you should prioritize, especially if you have a small team. Luckily Josh Storey, a social media writer at SanMar, knows the answer and is happy to dish out some tips on SanMar Radio.

In this episode, Josh discusses the unconventional career path that brought him to SanMar, how smaller companies can take advantage of the platforms available to them, and why you should be careful posting on both professional and personal social media accounts.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE:

• What Josh does as SanMar's social media "guru" and how theater ultimately led him to the role.
• SanMar's social media goals.
• Why Instagram is Josh's favorite social media platform.
• The kinds of content that most resonates with people.
• Josh's top three tips that will help mid-sized companies make the most out of their resources and social media platforms.
• How authenticity benefits social media brands.
• Online strategies for living up to SanMar's "Be Nice" values when other people are not being so civil.
• Where Josh think social media is headed in the near future.
• How frequently Josh schedules content across the various social media platforms.
• The dangers of social media cross-posting.

QUOTES:

"The content I enjoyed seeing online was something that taught me something, that told me something I didn't know."

"I need to give [customers] something they can use to make their day a little easier."

"I'm not quite sure where it's heading but I think that awareness is gonna take it to a good place."

"Determining what your goal is, as with any marketing campaign, that's the most important thing."

LINKS:

SanMar U homepage - http://www.education.sanmar.com/

SanMar's Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/

SanMar's Twitter - @sanmar_corp

SanMar's Instagram - @sanmar_corp

Emily Gigot is SanMar's social responsibility specialist. In her role, Emily works to ensure that SanMar leaves as small an environmental footprint as possible and that everybody along the company's supply chain can work comfortably and is treated well.

In this episode, Emily dives into what corporate social responsibility is, why it's important, and how SanMar operates ethically and sustainably.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE:

• How Emily's social responsibility role at SanMar works and what her primary goals are.
• How her experiences in Thailand pushed Emily to take up a corporate social responsibility position.
• Why supply chains are currently not equitable and how companies can better working conditions all the way up and down the line.
• What is SanMar's specific role in social responsibility?
• How can we get people to care about switch over to environmentally friendly fabrics?
• The steps SanMar is taking steps to live its values, support local communities, and do right by the environment.

QUOTES:

"What's the right match between what people care about and what you can really be effective at?"

"[Thailand was] an opportunity to see the other side of the supply chain."

LINKS:

SanMar U homepage - http://www.education.sanmar.com/

SanMar's corporate responsibility page - https://www.sanmar.com/aboutus/corporateresponsibility

Sustainable Brands - https://sustainablebrands.com/ Global Reporting Initiative - https://www.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

Welcome to SanMar Radio, where Tara Wingo and Lisa Terry talk to the experts and dig into the promotional products industry to find the answers and inspiration you need to grow your business. Their first guest is John Lindgren, SanMar's tradeshow expert, knows what it takes to have a successful presence at a tradeshow - he's been doing it for decades.

In this episode, John discusses his time working at SanMar's tradeshows, explains why no amount of technology can replace people, shares his stories of fire and floods, and gives helpful tips and tricks for a successful tradeshow experience.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE:

• John lists the various "hats" he's worn throughout his time at SanMar and what it was tradeshows were like 20 years ago.
• What being and working at a tradeshow is like, and how these shows can truly benefit businesses.
• How SanMar's tradeshow presence has changed over time.
• Why John is hesitant to factor technology into SanMar's tradeshow exhibits.
• What "road shows" are and why they may be beneficial for some exhibitors.
• John's tips and tricks for those planning on visiting a tradeshow.
• Why even just attending a show can require as much planning as exhibiting at one.
• The Dallas Convention Center Incident.
• How John measures success at tradeshows.
• Next episode: We speak with Emily Gigot, SanMar's Social Responsibility Specialist.

QUOTES:

"It's those little journeys I laugh at because I'm still doing them but in a totally different way."

"When folks come to our SanMar booth, they want to see people - they want to talk to us."

"Be smart about how you walk the floor."

"You never know what could happen, including fire, rain or earthquakes."

"We can't just show up and expect these shows to come to us or the people to come to us. We have to make sure we're doing our due diligence of making it worth their time."

LINKS:

SanMar U homepage - http://www.education.sanmar.com/

From tips on tradeshows, to the keys to corporate social responsibility, to the best way to handle your social media accounts and more, hosts Lisa Terry and Tara Wingo have got you covered. They talk to the experts and dig into the promotional products industry to find the answers and inspiration you need to grow your business. SanMar Radio premiers in January. Subscribe today!