People universally enjoy getting something for free. As a industry, it is wise to use that knowledge to benefit the bottom line. Giving out well branded advertising items to either clients or potential customers is a sure way to get noticed and increase corporation.
Choosing the right advertising item is the first step in achieving success. When looking for options consider merchandises that will be useful for the recipient and ones with longevity. An device that is used daily or weekly will remind the recipient of the firm from which it came. Items that are easily discarded are not usually worth the investment. Additionally consider who will receive the promo solution and make the merchandise make sense for them. If the promotional will be given as a keepsake to a valued client it makes sense to spend more for a high end merchandise. For large crowds where hundreds or thousands of objects will be given out the piece should cost less but maintain interest for the recipient. At a baseball game small bats are a hit, at a community festival consider a Frisbee, but for an established client or customer consider a pleasant candy jar or desk organizer.
Every item that is given away should be well branded with a company trademark and contact information along the lines of a website. Well branded promos will remind the recipient of the giving corporation every time it is put into use or seen. This type of top or mind awareness is one of the best benefits of giving out advertising devices. One must be cautious not to overdo the use of logos, however, as it can take a useful merchandise from something that will be applied to something that will be tossed simply because it is overly branded. Keep branding simple and proportionately sized to the promo gadget.
Having branded promo pieces at the ready is a great way to quickly advertise any organization quickly and effectively. A box of pens makes a great donation to a school or charity, to-go coffee mugs are great for client meetings, and refillable water bottles are great for events similar to relays and walk-a-thons. Since these pieces can take several weeks to be produced it is good to have some in a store room ready to use when a last minute event arises. Of course specialty devices should be ordered for specific events and/or clients well ahead of time to allow for production and shipping.