Becoming a Link!

As a Nationwide agency Linking Promotions needs to be extremely critical with the staff accepted on board and deem worthy of becoming “Links”. Breaking through this industry can be very difficult and in some instances it’s about “knowing someone who knows someone”. These are the top 6 qualities Linking Promotions looks for in aspiring Links!!

Go get it attitude! :
First impressions to any agency are tremendously important and a person’s drive to learn and willingness to work can be a great way to get a foot in the door.

Amazing personality with emphasis on the “ZING”! :

 A front runner in the industry will have that certain quality that helps attract a crowd. If it’s making people laugh, feelings welcomed or confidence, own it!

Professional appearance:
Natural beauty is always a plus, but light makeup is definitely encouraged. Going to a casting or showing up to an event where the agency provides uniform? Do not show up in beach attire, gym sweats or otherwise street clothes. Agencies like to know top quality individuals are being hired.

Timeliness:
This not only includes arriving to events on time, but in returning phone calls or emails same day. Stay on top of voice mails! If the job is no longer of interest, extend professional courtesy by calling back and expressing gratitude in the offer. This leads to the next tip…

Professional Courtesy:
 This includes returning phone calls for job offers that are no longer of interest. This means working the first job accepted, not the one that pays the most. This means keeping ones word because of their work and professional ethics. The agency one cancels on today, might have better opportunities down the line. Do not burn bridges.

Experience:     
Obviously new comers will not have a promotional background but might have had previous customer service experience. Waitresses are big on smiles and consumer interactions and these are qualities staff will need on the field! This is the same for volunteers or babysitters or anything involving team work.

On a personal note Linking Promotions would like to express our gratitude in staff hired this year, those who have excelled in each of the above qualities!

A. Greene :
Greene’s flexibility
and professionalism stood and
 quickly got him front line
 to be offered multiple days
on an on-going program. 

A. Duffey :
Duffey is adamant
 in following booking instructions.
Her eye for detail
and exceptional attitude
 gives her above average marks
 in her booking agent’s eyes.

K. Bailey :
 Bailey’s timeliness
and good attitude
 quickly made her the easiest Link to brag about.




 

G. Castellano:
A pleasure to interview,
 Castellano is detailed
 in her pre-event steps
 for training and confirming booking.
 Her professionalism and appearance
during casting made her
stand out from a pool of staff.

R. Jesseman :

Her charming quality 

and quick response to booking

 gave her the edge she needed

 to become a much

 appreciated Link! 

W. Adams:
Always on top
 of his game and continues to
go above and beyond.
Adams is becoming
 one of Linking’s Superstars! 

The Do's and Don'ts of Demo Tables

The purpose of an in-store demo is to attract guests of the store to the brand you are representing. Even with the limited items provided, there are still ways to make the simplest demo better. All you need is an eye for detail and some creativity. 

The best way to present a product is to do just that: make your demonstration table presentable. Simple ways to dress up your table include:

1.     Make sure you use a tablecloth. A quick way to appear unprofessional is by allowing guests to see the boxes stacked up underneath the table – make sure those stay covered!

2.     When setting up the product table, use some care and come up with a pattern. Organize the display products so it looks neat and clean.

3.     Look around you! What can be used? Is there a small plant somewhere? Ask the venue management before using any products, but most managers will be appreciative of your interest.

It is also just as easy to make a table look unattractive and, worst yet, unprofessional. Make sure to never have on the table:

1.     Your cell phone, or other personal items, such as a purse.

2.     Trash – always keep a bag or box handy, and away from the eyes of the guests.

3.     Logistic sheets, time sheets, or other event material from your agency.

4.     Set up boxes – these should always be under the table, and as mentioned, covered by the tablecloth.

Be sure to visit the Linking Promotions website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

KIA Motors Heads to NBA Championship with the Miami Heat

The Miami Heat has been crowned the National Basketball Association (NBA) Champions, and Miami celebrated Monday with a parade through Downtown. Linking Promotions staff has been representing KIA – whose Optima brand is the official sponsor of the NBA – with automotive marketing throughout the season in the AmericanAirlines Arena. Our promotional specialists have been responsible for speaking with the crowd, conducting quality interactions, and representing KIA in a professional and enthusiastic manner.

The AmericanAirlines Arena is an ideal concert venue, as well as an award show venue and host of many wrestling events. The Heat brings in a rather large crowd, filling an average of 19,935 seats for each home game. They had a grand total of 657,855 fans in attendance for the entire season.

The Miami Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder this year after five games. The last time they won the championships was in 2006 verse the Dallas Mavericks.


Linking Promotions would like to thank all of the KIA dealerships in the South Florida area: Braman Kia, Coral Springs Kia, Esserman International Kia, Gunther Kia, Hollywood Kia, Kendall Kia, Phil Smith Kia, and Miami Lakes Kia. Please visit the Linking Promotions website for more about our company: www.linkingpromotions.com

Cupcake Vodka and FlipFlop Rum, Demonstrated at Yelp! Party on South Beach

Yelp's Jet Set Fete at The National Hotel took place this past Thursday, April 5, and featured drinkables and edibles from a large variety of vendors. The event was free, but party-goers were encouraged to donate $10 for the Humane Society of Greater Miami's Young Professional Group, PetNet, and all proceeds went towards homeless animals.  Linking Promotions staffed five promotional models and one bartender for Cupcake Vodka, Cupcake Wines, Flipflop Rum and Flipflop Wines at the poolside bar. Guests were entertained by DJ Cockpit, JC on the Electric Violin, and live performances by Shameless Burlesque.  Students from the Art Institute of Design presented a fashion show of hand-crafted and personal designs based around the 1940's and 1950's style, which coincided with the theme of the event.

Cupcake Vodka comes in many unique flavors, including Vanilla and Ginger Snap, as well as the six-times distilled flavorless vodka. Guests were given cards displaying recipes to make with these flavors, along with a barcode that, when scanned by your phone, can provide the consumer with more recipes. One quick and easy recipe included the Root beer Float, which is the Cupcake Vanilla with Root Beer. Similarly, Flipflop Rum is available in either Silver or Spiced. It is recommended that the Spiced Rum be combined with 1 to 3 parts orange juice to taste. The wines for both of these brands includes a wide selection of whites, reds and bubbly to fit with any consumers desires.


Be sure to visit the Linking Promotions website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

Miami HEAT and Kia's Family Friendly Activation

The Miami HEAT Family Festival took place March 11, 2012, and raised over $455,000 for the community. The NBA players roamed the event with their wives and children, and interacted with guests. Kia was in attendance with a contest the crowds could not resist: a chance to win $1,000 towards the Family Festival Silent Auction for whoever can correctly guess the number of basketballs inside of two ice sculptures. The sculptures were part of the Ice Luge Photo Op display where families and guests could pose with their favorite HEAT players. Along with this contest, Kia donated $1,000 to the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund.

Three promotional specialists from Linking Promotions handled the activation, encouraging guests to enter the contest and informing them about the Kia Optima that was on display. HEAT/Kia rally towels were given out as well. At the conclusion of the contest, our specialists distributed the contest’s basketballs on a first come, first serve basis. The activation focused around lead collection, and an interactive contest with great giveaways, such as this one, is always a good technique to bump up your lead generation!

Be sure to visit the Linking Promotions website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

Buick Heads to the Miami Beach Sand with Linking for the 2012 SobeWFF

For the 11^th consecutive year, the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE, the largest food and wine festival of its kind, hit the sand of Miami Beach for four days. Celebrity chefs from the acclaimed television network hosted demonstrations and parties throughout the past weekend, and Linking Promotions staffed for Buick inside the Grand Tasting Village. Culinary demonstrations took place throughout the day featuring personalities such as Rachael Ray, Emeril Lagasse, Bethenny Frankel, Anne Burrel and Anthony Bourdain. The Grand Tasting Village featured food from restaurants such as Rosa Mexicano, Fratelli La Bufala and Fogo de Chao Churrascaria. Liquor sponsors included Skinnygirl Cocktails, Cruzan Rum and the Robert Mondavi Winery.

The Buick tent featured many giveaways for this star studded three-day event. Our promotional models offered guests an opportunity to enter to win a free Buick of their choice, up to $65,000 in price, and get a firsthand look, as well as an opportunity to ask questions about the Regal GS and Enclave SUV as demonstrated by product specialists. Copies of the party planning book, Mermaids and Martinis, were given away with each entry. The book is a first for New York event planner, Hilary Pereira, who was on site signing the copies. Mermaids and Martinis officially hits stores April 24, 2012 and will feature planning ideas for a wide variety of events and holidays. Along with the book and car giveaway, guests were greeted with a Buick Blue Ice Margarita, a blend of tequila with sweet blue mixers such as blue curacao, for a refreshing drink in the hot Miami sun. People continually came back for more, some claiming it to be the best drink they had at the festival. On Saturday, a sand castle builder came to make a unique and custom Buick sign to attract guests and lounges were available by the booth so people could relax while flipping through their books and sipping their margaritas.


Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

KIA Motors Activates for the NBA Season

KIA Motors is setting up activations in various basketball stadiums during the NBA season and Linking Promotions is joining them in Miami, at the American Airlines Arena, and in Orlando, at the Amway Center. As the KIA Optima is the official car of the NBA, it is only expected that the giveaways from the car brand be plenty: and they have been. In Orlando, during the Orlando Magic game, a fan could participate in a contest with the prize being a car. The contest required the fan to shoot and make three free throw shots and a half-court shot. Activations in Miami for the Miami Heat games will begin this Sunday and Linking Promotions’ promotional models will be giving away prizes for participating in interactive contests as well.

Training for the Orlando activation was prepared by Linking Promotions at the KIA of Orlando. On display in the Amway Center is the Kia Optima, and in the American Airlines arena there is a Kia Optima as well as the Kia Sorento. The Kia Optima is a sporty and modern 4-door car that features a heated steering wheel and bio care heated seats for those cold days. The Kia Sorento is a SUV that has a panoramic sunroof and a 6-speed gate-type auto transmission which can help save the driver up to 12% in fuel compared to other auto transmission styles.

Linking Promotions has been at the Amway Center for the entirety of the season so far. The Orlando Magic currently has a record of 13-9, with their next game being tonight at home verse the Cleveland Cavaliers. Joining Kia for the first time this season, Linking Promotions will be in attendance of the Sunday evening Toronto Raptors game, the old team of Miami Heat starter Chris Bosh. The Miami Heat currently holds a record of 16-6, with an away game this evening verse the Philadelphia 76ers.

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

Linking Promotions Staffs for a Special Vodka and Whisky at a Wine and Food Festival

The first annual Downtown Miami Wine and Food Festival took place in Brickell’s Central Park Miami on Sunday, January 22^nd, introducing an array of vendors and wine tastings to the constantly growing city. Along the line of participants were Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.  Linking Promotions staff assisted in the activation, giving samples to the eager festival guests that awaited a taste of these unique and flavorful brands.

The Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka lives up nicely to its name, achieving the sweet tea taste that blends well with the likes of lemonade to mimic an Arnold Palmer cocktail. The Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is a whisky with a spice and a slight bite, perfect for the crowd that visited the festival.

The Downtown Miami Wine and Food Festival began at 1 p.m., featuring wine tastings until 4 p.m., cooking demonstrations and musical performances. With the growth of the Brickell area in Miami, nine restaurants plus Johnson & Wales University participated in the festival. A portion of the proceeds benefitted Jorge Posada Foundation, which supports and provides awareness for Crainosynostisis, a condition that affects the growth of an infant’s brain.   

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

Our Tips for a Successful In-Store Demo

Here at Linking Promotions, we specialize in the activation and planning of promotional events of all types: trade shows, conventions, brand development, sporting events, automotive, retail, entertainment, and food demos. One of the many types of events would be sales driven demo that normally located in retail locations.

With eight years and countless successful events behind us, today we would like to share some our tips for a successful in-store demo.

DEMO TIPS
1. Professional and appropriate attire. Depending on the type of demo that it is, there are different wardrobe requirements. Some may ask for gloves, hair nets or aprons. Any part of the required outfit is important, and missing one part of it may appear unprofessional or even unsanitary.

2. A hospitable attitude. The ideal candidate for a demonstration is somebody outgoing that enjoys talking with people. The job demands demo models to be friendly and attentive to each person that approaches their station.

3. A knowledge of the product. People will ask questions about the product, and a demonstrator that is unaware of how to answer their question may turn somebody away from what you’re selling. Be sure to read and learn all informational tools that may be useful to your product.

4. An attractive set-up. A person casually walking through a supermarket or liquor store may not immediately notice a table with samples on it, as they are probably shopping with a specific purpose outside of what you’re trying to sell. Make sure that the table set-up is presentable, eye-catching and professional. This includes using tablecloths and brochures or signs of the product.

5. Punctuality. As important for any job, keep in mind that as a demo model you need to be on time! The less time that you are in the stores, the less people that will be approached to buy your product. As the saying goes, time is money!

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

SVEDKA Promotion Showcases Brand's Limited Edition Look

FLORIDA – Along with the excitement of the December holidays, Linking Promotions was offered the opportunity to staff for a number of liquor and wine promotions in cities throughout the state of Florida. Some brands included Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Constellation Wine, Banfi Rosa Regale and Crown Royale Canadian Whiskey. Some events took place in over 30 different locations in the state.

Our most recently staffed holiday promotion was with SVEDKA Limited Edition. The bottle sported the standard and recognizable blue SVEDKA logo, but in its opt-art design style, blue and white wavy lines circumference the otherwise clear bottle. The bottle is meant to be the brands “party bottle” for this festive wintertime season. To support the SVEDKA brands futuristic “2033” image, the bottle features the QR technology (the use of a barcode) so smartphone users can receive drink recipes formulated by the vodka company.

Linking Promotions with also be providing staff for additional upcoming promotions including a New Years Eve Smirnoff handsell and continue working the Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio demo in January.

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

Linking Promotions Celebrates the Holidays

Miami, FL – To celebrate the wintertime holidays, the Linking Promotions and Linking Events staff left the office Friday, December 23, to spend some quality time with their co-workers. The office enjoyed dinner at a nearby restaurant and exchanged gifts with their Secret Santas. The company party also included dessert to celebrate the birthdays of Lyndsay and Mari.

The Linking Promotions staff wishes you a very happy holiday season and a successful and enjoyable 2012!

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

Linking Promotions Staffs for KRAFT Display at AYF Championships

KISSIMMEE, FL -- In attendance at the American Youth Football Championships the first week of December, the Kraft Sampling Experience was designed to drive awareness to the new and existing Kraft brands. Linking Promotions staffed the street team that consisted of a labor crew, multiple brand ambassadors, back-ups and two costume characters: the popular Kool-Aid Man and Stuffy, a giant Oreo.

Jade, a first timer as a mascot, played the role of the Kool-Aid Man. Claiming she would participate in this event again “in a heartbeat,” Jade comments: “I enjoyed seeing all of the smiling faces and it was rewarding to know that I was a part of that.” She describes her responsibilities as: “I walked around the event fields and interacted with children and families, posed for pictures and got the kids excited by interacting with them through dancing, high-fives and hugs.”

In 2010 and 2011 we had the pleasure of being associated with events of this caliber by providing staffing for these family-oriented brands. The events have been thrilling and innovative - enjoyable not only for the guests but the staff as well.


Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

Linking Staff Visits His House Children's Home

MIAMI -- To continue the season of giving, the Linking Promotions office staff headed to His House Children's Home to spend time with some of the children. They enjoyed some quality time playing, making penguins and placemats, and eating a pasta dish with a chopped up salad that was perfect for the children to enjoy. After their dinner, they devoured a dessert consisting of doughnuts, Christmas cookies and oreos. The sweets made the children hyper, and the children jumped on and played with the Linking volunteers while watching a movie. At the end of the evening, the children begged for their visitors to read a bed time story, so of course they did not disappoint: the Linking staff read the stories Matilda, The Lion King and Three Little Pigs.

Linking Promotions looks forward to continuing these service efforts well into the new year, and encourages others to give back.

Linking Staff Visits the Residents of Bay Oaks!

Linking Promotions closed their office early Monday, December 5, to spread love and joy for the holidays. Bay Oaks, an assisted living home in Miami, welcomed the Linking office staff yesterday afternoon to assist the residents with wrapping presents and decorating the tree. After an enjoyable time, the staff allowed the Linking volunteers to partake in dinner and enjoy their delicious hot apple cider. As a departing gift, the Bay Oaks staff gave a goodie bag with cranberry cookies.

A Letter from the Linking Promotions staff:

We want to thank the Bay Oaks staff for being such gracious hosts to us, and the lovely residents for welcoming us into their home. Our experience was one we will never forget and one we could never replace. We hope you have a wonderful Holiday season!

Linking Promotions and Chevy Work with NASCAR

Miami Beach, FL – Between 8^th and 9^th street in Lummus Park on Miami Beach, sponsors of the 2011 NASCAR Ford Championship Weekend filled the sand on Thursday November 17 and Friday November 18. For the second year, the Outdoor Fan Festival featured many interactive booths, an outdoor bar and this year Blake Shelton performed a free concert on the beach. Linking Promotions provided eight enthusiastic promotional models for the interactive Chevy car display, which featured four of the company’s cars – including a stylish Corvette and the flashy convertible Camaro – alongside two race cars.

Promotional models ran the booth; they collected leads through a computerized system, which asked surveyors a series of questions to determine interests and favorite cars. Once complete, anyone that took a survey was given a Chevy t-shirt as a token of appreciation for participating. Two girls managed the photo taking – people were welcome to pose in front of the decked out race cars and get their picture taken by our models.

Throughout the two days, the girls worked together to collect over 1,000 leads. The event welcomed travelers from all around the world, and proved to be a great success!

Pay it Forward for the Holidays!

From the Linking Promotions and Events office:

As a “thank you” to our clients that allow us to coordinate events for them year round, and thus allowing for our company to constantly flourish, we have decided to demonstrate our gratitude by spreading happiness to those less fortunate. Our biggest project for the holidays is with His House Children’s Home.

His House’s sole mission is to restore joy in the lives of children, whom range in age from newborn to 17. The 230 children served by this program have been abused, neglected and abandoned, and Linking Promotion’s in-house staff is going to help put smiles on their faces by donating some time and some gifts to the children. More information on this program can be found at www.hhch.org

The Linking Promotions office has also made arrangements to assist some seniors in wrapping their Christmas presents!

Linking Promotions has been blessed by the work our clients give us and because their generosity has helped us, we believe it is time to help others! The giving does not just end with the holidays though: we have made it our goal to help others all throughout 2012. Thank you all again, and we wish you a happy holiday season!

Fresh Batch of Promotions during the Holiday Season

FLORIDA -- With the winter holidays fast approaching, Linking Promotions has welcomed a large number and wide range of new promotions.

Linking Promotions is thrilled to be providing staffing for a Parmigiano Reggiano promotion taking place throughout the November and December months. This promotion is based in stores extending through Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. Team leads can expect cheese packages valued at hundreds of dollars to be distributed to store-goers by themselves and their team of brand ambassadors. Along with this in-store demo, the company is providing staffing for many liquor promotions ranging among a variety of different products, including Sam Adams, Bailey’s and Mike’s Hard Lemonade, as well as staffing a promotion for Ole Smokey’s Apple Pie Moonshine this past weekend.

Beyond in-store events, Linking Promotions is taking part in multi-day events based in Orlando for Kraft and Maxwell House products. The staffing for this event is not limited to only brand ambassadors: Kraft requires two mascots, four cheerleaders and a set-up and breakdown crew.

Applications are now being accepted for all events and our agents are hard at work conducting interviews.


Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

Linking Promotions Welcomes All New Hires!

Upon the arrival of the holiday season, Linking Promotions is excited for all the promotions currently being executed, as well as those coming up in the near future. With over 180 locations for a three-day wellness and health event in November, the nationwide staffing agency has been introducing many new links into the consistently growing database.

New hire, Lea Ring, is a marketing student and an experienced brand ambassador. “My first impression of the company was that it was very organized and held to a standard,” Ring said. She compliments the company’s communication skills and comments that she looks forward to working on her upcoming promotion.

This past Wednesday kicked off the start of the state-wide wellness event in collaboration with Diabetes Awareness Month. The promotion showcased brochures and information about the disease and our brand ambassadors were enthusiastic about the snack bars and shakes handed out for the event.

On behalf of the Linking team, we are happy to welcome all the new hires. With the winter holidays among us, keep a look out for all the new promotions and events!

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com.