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Ways to Give Gifts That Make a Big Difference

Have you ever stressed out about giving gifts that matter? Sure, everyone says “It’s the thought that counts,” but think back to the last time you were disappointed by a crummy gift someone gave you that was obviously picked up at the last minute with very little...

John Ruhlin | Gift·ology (Episode 567)

John Ruhlin (@ruhlin) returns to share some of the best network-enriching tips from his book Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Retention — just in time for the holidays!

How To Give Incredible Gifts That Gain Customers

I’m going to open up with a pretty harsh statement: Bad gifters are often careless people. Is that you? Are you a bad gifter? Are you the guy or girl who shows your appreciation of others through bad ideas and weak gestures? If so, today’s guest is going to give you a lesson in thoughtfulness.

5 Hacks That Will Help You Reclaim Your Personal Time

The outlook is pretty grim for professionals seeking work-life balance. Thirty-three percent of business owners report working more than 50 hours per week, while an additional 25 percent say they work more than 60 hours a week. Seventy percent also work at least one weekend on a regular basis. The average executive keeps a similar schedule.

Are You a Strategic Gift-giver?

John Ruhlin, gift-giving expert, professional speaker, author of Giftology and EO St. Louis member, was a recent guest on EO 360°, a podcast by Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). We asked Levi Pruss, EO South Florida member, CEO of Yzag and co-founder of MindOS, to review the episode and provide his biggest takeaways. Here’s what he had to say.

If you follow department store legend Harry Selfridge’s example, you’ll see that the key to building strong relationships of all kinds is thoughtful gift-giving.

Nothing in business happens in a vacuum. Actions inspire reactions, and success relies on the quality of the relationships we build. Modern companies want to be more than just faceless vendors, with 56 percent of U.S. consumers saying they want brands to understand them and their priorities, according to a Wunderman study. And entrepreneurs need to build networks to get their feet in the door.

7 Corporate Gift Ideas That’ll Make You Unforgettable

In 1985, one of the poorest countries in the world became known as one of the most generous. Despite nearly 50% of its population living below the poverty line the Ethiopian Red Cross sent $5,000 to Mexico for humanitarian aid. Our neighbors-to-the-south had experienced an 8.1 magnitude earthquake which left 10,000 people dead, 30,000 people injured, and 250,000 homeless.

Why You Shouldn’t Send Business Gifts This Holiday Season

By now, you’ve probably ordered and shipped gifts to your clients, joint venture partners, and other stakeholders.

But that may not be the best way to give gifts, according to John Ruhlin, strategic gifting expert and author of Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Retention.

How to Guarantee Success With Your Launch-Party Swag

When Xiaomi launched its Mi Max phone in India over the summer, it warmed up the crowd with a little gift. Event organizers handed out free T-shirts, and the swag was a hit — until the supply ran out. Those who hadn’t received shirts were irate and refused to calm down until the New Delhi police intervened.

A Professional Gift-Giver Tells How To Get A Meeting With Almost Any Decision-Maker

John Ruhlin is in the business of giving gifts. But not just any gifts. John gives the kind of gifts that can change an entrepreneur’s fortunes forever. Here’s a story to explain: One of his clients needed to get a business meeting with the President of Target’s electronics division. They’d been trying to get a meeting for years with phone calls, notes, fliers and everything else with no luck. So John and his team at The Ruhlin Group got to work.

6 Hacks to Drive Massive Referrals

Referrals and gifts are huge in business, but they’re often handled in all the wrong ways. Attempts to elicit referrals sometimes seem forced or in poor taste and can do more harm than good.

The Secret to Selling to Big Companies

When you pull up to the headquarters of a Fortune 500 company to make a pitch, you may feel a twinge of panic. That’s completely normal; after all, landing this sale could be a big win for your company. The budget for just one of its side projects could cover your payroll for the year.

The 3 Main Reasons You’re Not Closing the Deal

When I was first getting started in business, I regularly struck out. I sold knives to companies as gifts, and while I closed my first corporate sale within two weeks, it was to my girlfriend’s father — the sale didn’t feel like it really counted.

Avoid These 4 Business Gift-Giving Faux Pas

In the business world, gift-giving provides incredible intrinsic and financial rewards. But finding the perfect gift takes a considerable amount of thought — even for those of us who develop gifting plans for a living.

5 Tricks to Help You Stand Out at a Trade Show

For all the innovation most companies preach about in board meetings, they sure do find a way to fit in during trade shows. You’ve seen the standard approach: a company buys the biggest booth it can afford, gets its logo printed on some trinket and sets up dinner with a key client at a local steak house.

5 Alternatives to Cash Bonuses That Will Show You Care

They say money talks, but what does it say? In theory, cash bonuses should boost employee motivation and morale. In reality, however, bonuses often evaporate almost as soon as they appear, especially if they’re simply included in employees’ direct-deposited paychecks.