With the dizzying array of promotional products available to today's marketers, how can you know when you've found the right one? While this decision isn't exactly a science, you can use a few tips to decide upon an effective giveaway product. What are some of these tips?
Determine Use Value
The best promotional products are the ones that get used regularly. A tote bag with your logo and brand that gets carried around is free publicity. A branded calculator tucked in someone's bottom desk drawer, on the other hand, isn't going to win new customers.
Useful items aren't the same for everyone. Their use value depends on many factors, including your customer base. If you try to drum up business with road warriors, for instance, try something related to their mobile devices or travel needs. If your base is largely retired folks, they might really enjoy a big, beautiful, branded wall calendar.
Choose Something That Lasts
The last thing you want is to put your hard-earned advertising money into something that will break down or wear out quickly. First, you waste the potential face time a promo product offers over a period of time.
Secondly, your product could end up giving your company a bad reputation. A faded and smeared logo on an old toy doesn't exactly spark people's interest in giving you their business, after all. Opt for high-quality items and those that will pass the test of time.
Go Modern
Think about what customers actually do in their work and home lives these days. Some giveaway items, like pens, are always relevant and fairly timeless because people always need them. Others, like old-fashioned pencils, have generally outlived their day.
Keep up with modern needs by opting for technology-based samples, like chargers, styluses, and USB drives. Or pay attention to fashion trends by opting for a drawstring backpack instead of a fanny pack or giving away chic sunglasses instead of a baseball cap.
Look for Something Fun
Don't be afraid to have a little fun with your giveaways. Test out a few desk toys among your staff, and see what they find entertaining enough to keep on top of their desk taking up precious space. Include a little joke, a pun, or a clever phrase on the items.
Are you staffing a booth at an outdoor fair in the summertime? Then why not give away branded drinks or snack packs to refresh customers? While these might not last, they will provide excitement and create buzz.
Make Sure It Fits
A promotional item should fit your company in two ways. First, it should fit the personality and tone you want to convey. If you specialize in clean and green products, you probably shouldn't give away one-time-use plastic items. Want to appeal to executives with a professional company appearance? Then maybe skip the plastic visor or rain ponchos, and give out Bluetooth speakers or umbrellas.
The giveaway items should also fit the audience. The best way to do this is to use more than one type of promo gear at your disposal. At a trade show, for instance, you probably aren't going to get a customer out of everyone who wanders into your booth. So this is a good time to get out those free pens, fidget spinners, or magnets.
But when you do have a more likely customer, impress them better with a higher-tier promo product like quality totes or USB power banks.
What type of promotional products can accomplish great things for your business? No matter whether you're looking for fun, big buzz, or a long-lasting product, the marketing pros at InkSpot Printingcan help. Call today to learn more.
