There are many different kinds of promotional items you can use as part of your marketing campaigns. They range from cheap and fun items like pens and keyrings through to expensive executive gifts like golf accessories. Which items to choose will depend on your target market and what you are trying to achieve. Pens and keyrings are great give aways for trade fairs, while conferences offer a great opportunity to customise, brand and distribute things like bags and folders. This article gives you a guide to some of the most popular promotional merchandise available and how it can be used.
Pens are the number one most popular promotional item and this doesn't look set to change. They're cost effective, useful and people hang on to them. People will be reminded of your logo and message day after day. There's a huge range to choose from, from cheaper disposable options through to something a little more classy and expensive that could be used as a corporate gift. Something you could to a trusted supplier or to recognise an employee achievement. Pens are easy to customise and engrave. Turn around times are quick, so if you need something in a hurry they are ideal.
The main reason people hang on to a promotional item is because it's useful to them. Long after you've returned from a trade fair and thrown away all the junk you picked up, chances are you'll hold on to something practical. Like a calculator or a mouse mat for example. Brand these types of desk and office items up with your logo and message and you have a great piece of advertising sitting in offices up and down the country. The longevity of this form of marketing is difficult to compete with. It just goes to show, some of the basics of good marketing remain the same. Making an impact doesn't have to cost thousands and involve unquestioning slavery to the latest marketing fads and trends.
Executives love their executive toys. You can use this to your advantage with a range of branded electrical gifts. Promotional merchandise does have to be restricted to the usual pens, t-shirts and mugs. And it doesn't have to expensive either. Items like headphones and pedometers are cost effective, fun and useful. Of course you can push the boat out if you want to. One of the most popular items in this category are USB memory sticks. They're popular for good reason. They're easy to brand, cheap and portable. Load them with marketing information which they can review and then carry on using the memory stick. Perfect.
We all travel either on business or for pleasure, making bags a great option for promoting your company, product and services. Your message is highly visible and portable. Wherever the bag goes, so does your message. What other form of advertising can compete with that? Options range from low cost shopping bags to more high end corporate ones, like executive laptop bags for example. Why stop at bags? People carry things like wallets, phones, note books and passports. The possibilities are endless. Try and tie your items up with particular campaign themes. To get you started, wallets could be distributed to show cost savings. Try out a few ideas of your own.
