Promotional products or branded products play an integral part in your marketing strategy. A 2014 study by the Advertising Specialty Company found that promotional products had an 85% recall by the consumers surveyed. Keeping that finding in mind, you should choose how and when to use the promotional products effectively. A promotional product is a walking billboard to the community, whether it’s a wearable item or a useful gift such as a mug or USB drive.
Branding products keeps them in your potential client’s mind. You do exist, if not, you are out of their minds and out of consideration for the project. Branding improves loyalty. It doesn’t have to be an expensive product, just one where your potential customers feel appreciated.
One idea is to use promotional products that carry high usability. Products might include lifestyle items that are functional; water bottles, USB drives, tote bags. These are types of products that your customers use often and will keep your name at the forefront of their minds. Target your audience with fun, creative products that will imprint that your company “actually gets them.” An example of this is being a sponsor of a road race. Your company provides tee shirts, water bottles, cooling towels, or other items that will promote the beneficiary of the road race and also promote your company.
Maximize your return in investments of your promotional products. What is the purpose of using these products to external or internal consumers? The more that it relates to the consumer, the more likely it is that they will use your products in repeated transactions. The more a brand has a higher resonance with the consumer, the more the likelihood of an increase in the effectiveness of your product.
In a survey of why recipients thought that they had received a promotional product, the answers were to 1) thank you for their prior business and hope that the relationship would continue or 2) to make me aware of the company and the services and products they supplied. They considered the promotional product, no matter what the cost of it, as an incentive to continue to do business with the company. It shows that the company appreciates their business and wishes to continue doing business with them.
Branded promotional products are either viewed as a gimmick or as an incentive. The most kept products are the ones that have quality and purpose built into them. They will not be tossed aside or thrown away. These promotional products will keep your name in your client’s mind, even long after the event. These corporate merchandise products will improve your bottom line if they are done in the correct way.