Partner Article

Marketing with promotional products

Marketing you business and services is becoming increasingly difficult and competition in all industry sectors is tough.

Promotional products and corporate gifts can be really useful marketing tools and they can raise awareness of your brand if used correctly.

As you would with any marketing activity you will need to research and think about what you want to achieve before you go rushing into marketing with promotional items.

Why should you consider using promotional items?

• They will provide you with much needed brand exposure in today’s market. Recent research by the British Promotional Merchandise Association has shown that on average recipients with keep a promotional bag for an average of 8.6 months, giving you much more exposure than say a newspaper ad that potentially will only be seen for one day.
• Promotional items have a higher acceptance than some other forms of advertising like leaflets and flyers which are very often disposed of. Giveaways such as pens or mugs are far less likely to be thrown away as they are useful to the recipient.
• Stand out from your competitors, TV and press ads or online ads are great but they are not original. You can be really creative with your use of promotional giveaways.
• Promotional products are far less expensive than you think and often more cost effective than some traditional marketing methods. There is a giveaway to suit almost any marketing budget.

How can you use promotional products for marketing?

• Promotional products can quickly spread the word about your brand. People love anything for free and if the item is useful BPMA research shows that on average promotional giveaways are kept for 6.9 months serving as a constant reminder of your brand or services.
• Reward loyal employees, improve morale or use a corporate gift to recognise outstand achievements within your business.
• Use promotional items to say thank you. Ensure repeat business by sending your valued customers a useful item like a branded umbrella or a desktop calendar. Rather than just sending a follow up email to a potential client you met at an exhibition or trade show send them a USB loaded with company information or a printed pen with your contact details so they will always have your information to hand.
• Be creative, for example customise the message inside branded fortune cookies with a voucher code, competition or announcements for product launches. There is no limit to how creative you can be with promotional items.
• Use your promotional items as prizes in competitions. By using your own branded goods you’ll give winners prizes and generate goodwill while exposing your brand at the same time.
• Sell promotional items and you could raise much needed funds for your charity or non profit organisation.
• Use branded merchandise to encourage membership to clubs and organisations. Giving customers an exclusive gift on sign up may just encourage them to join your club over your competitors.

How you can distribute your promotional products

• Trade shows and exhibitions are a great place to giveaway promotional products and could potential draw people to you stand and help them remember you.
• Mail outs. If you’re mailing out a company brochure why not include a printed pen or sticky notes that will sit on that customer’s desk for months to come continually reminding them of your business?
• Company conferences and business meetings will allow you to talk to customers face to face and giving them a corporate gift at the end will ensure they remember you above your competitors.
• Giveaway at product launches or opening events to reinforce your message and maybe print an exclusive discount for their next visit or purchase.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Brand That Promotional Products .