subject: Top 10 Reasons To Use Promotional Products by:Kim Patton [print this page] In these tough economic times, it's more important than ever to keep your business strong. More and more companies are turning to promotional marketing for their corporate branding needs to stay within their tightening budgets while still fulfilling their advertising needs.
There is no shortage of reasons why you should use promotional products to promote your business. As leaders in the promotional marketing industry, here are our top 10 reasons why you should use promotional products.
1. Get thousands of advertising impressions
Promotional products can be created from just about anything you can buy at a retail store. From letter openers to MP4 players, you can brand nearly anything, and the options and prices are endless. Practical and fun items that sit on your recipient's desk and can be used daily are not only easy on your marketing budget, but each individual item gets your logo thousands of advertising impressions. Think about your desk or work area. Do you have a calendar or note pad that you reference daily? When you give customers something they can use or display, you put your logo and name in front of them - giving your company consistent brand exposure throughout the year, at a price you can't beat!
2. Cement your brand's image
With name recognition comes trust and reliability. Get your name into the hands of potential customers with imprinted promotional products. Printed apparel and bags are almost like a walking billboard for your company. When your employees and customers sport your logo, it cements your name and brand as a legitimate company. And when your logo sits on your client's desk all year long, they will remember you when they need your services and products.
3. Drive traffic to your tradeshow booth
Unique promotional giveaways attract potential customers and open up hundreds of sales opportunities. Bold & fun tradeshow items including cool games, bright tote bags and practical desk supplies are a great way to land your name in the hands of future customers. Try raffling off a premium item like a digital photo frame or MP3 player - imprinted of course - for even more sales opportunities and leads. Not only will people be lining up to get to your booth, but you'll have the opportunity to collect contact information from hundreds of potential clients who will all leave with a promotional product neatly imprinted with your name.
4. Attract new customers
Sponsoring an event? Attending a tradeshow? Imprinted promotional products are a great way to attract potential customers. Put a branded pen, sticky pad or jotter into a goody bag for all attendees at an event. Recipients will take your contact information with them, and more than likely, the product will be useful to them in the future. Trying to woo a new client? Leave a gift at a meeting or on a cold call. Promotional products are a great way to impress customers before you've even done business with them!
5. Reward your employees
Happy employees equal productive employees. Keep your employees happy while encouraging internal branding by offering your employees branded corporate apparel, desktop supplies, headwear and awards whenever they reach milestones within your company. No matter how big or small the gift, you are sure to see an increase in productivity and morale among your staff.
6. Demonstrate your corporate initiatives
Does your company have a sustainability initiative? Do you have a group of employees who actively volunteer with a non-profit group? Show your company's corporate initiatives with branded promotional products. Distribute eco-friendly, reusable grocery bags to your employees for Earth Day and printed t-shirts to participants at a cancer-awareness walk. You can even sell branded apparel and bags to raise money for the cause! Encourage participation among your employees while demonstrating your goodwill to potential clients. People want to do business with companies that care. Show your potential clients who you are and what you stand for through your choice of promotional products.
7. Use as an incentive
Sometimes it just takes that little something extra to close the deal. Whether you want to motivate your sales team to bring in more business or encourage your customer to act on that purchase, a promotional incentive can often do the trick. Offer your clients a free gift with purchase or hold a contest among the employees in your office. A promotional product does double duty. It's seen as a prize, but doubles as a lasting advertisement for your company. Boost morale and customer satisfaction while increasing your sales with promotional products.
8. Launch a new product or service
Spread the word about you newest product release or a new service you are offering your clients with a fun promotional product. Have a technology theme? Send a custom mousepad or monitor cleaner. Want to introduce a new mascot? Send them a stress reliever or bobble head in the shape of your mascot! Increase sales and awareness of your newest release when you send your clients a unique, imprinted item. Recipients will appreciate the gesture and have a constant reminder of your company.
9. Express appreciation
Everyone wants to feel appreciated. Thank your clients for their business and they'll keep coming back. Send your clients - big and small - an imprinted promotional product after the close of a deal or at the end of the year. When your customers know that you appreciate their business, they will want to do business with you again. And when you put your name in front of them with a thank you or holiday gift, there's no way that they will forget about you!
10. Everyone loves free stuff!
It's true! Think back to the last sporting event you attended. Think about how the crowd goes crazy when the cheerleaders started throwing out free shirts. You already have tons of tees at home, but still... it's free! Use this logic to promote your own business. No matter the cost of the item, recipients still value free stuff. Expose potential customers to your brand name - and make them smile at the same time!
About the author
Kim is a promotional product expert working in the promotional product industry. Copyright Pinnacle Promotions Inc. 2009
