subject: Sending the right message with your Promotional products [print this page] When you choose apromotional item for your current marketing campaign, you must be aware of the associations you will inevitably make when putting your company name or logo on an item. It pays to think carefully about the message you want to send to your customer.
Do you want an item that implies fun, novelty and colour? Or perhaps you want to create a strong impact or a talking point. If you are in a serious industry then always be careful to stick with traditional, conservative items of the best quality you can afford. Putting your name on a cheap, throw away item might be a big mistake for some, and yet the perfect strategy for others.
Eco-friendly
Eco-friendly or green promotional items are one of the most popular trending categories in the industry today. The reason for this popularity is two fold. On one hand, companies can take action to support eco-friendly production, materials and habits by investing green promotional items. On the hand, their company will gain direct benefits by association. By choosing a product that promotes better environmental habits and supports sustainable resources, the company is saying they value the environment and eco-friendly principles.
Some great green promotional items are water, solar and motion powered gadgets like clocks, torches and calculators. You can purchase your printed material on recycled paper or choose recycled plastics. Perhaps a canvas tote or metallic drink bottle might better suit your brand.
Quality
Whether you have chosen a novelty item or a classic promotional product, you should always aim to buy the best quality you can afford. When you put your name on a product, you are making unspoken implications about your brand. If you are handing out high quality items, you are making a statement that your company cares about quality. If you are putting your name on a cheap, throw away item you are more or less admitting that you don't care about quality.
Novelty
Novelty items can be perfect for some businesses and a big mistake for others. When choosing what item you will emblazon with your brand, think about the message that item is sending to your target market. A company in the pharmaceutical or medical industry should appeal to the person who is ordering the product. It is not always the doctor who is choosing the brand. A local restauranteur should choose an item that will have positive associations with food and eating and steer clear of overly corporate or sterile items. In the reverse, a serious profession like finance and insurance should avoid novelty items simply because they don't want to make implications of frivolity and fun.
Traditional
Certain industries would be wise to stick to classic, conservativepromotional products for their next marketing campaign. Items like stationary, folders, calendars, calculators and pens should always be of the highest quality. They should be in darker and neutral tones with subtle embellishments of silver or gold. Fabrics and materials such as metal, wood and leather are also a wise choice. Investing in a high quality, discreet promotional product will send the message that the brand is serious, successful and established. It implies that the business cares about quality, style and integrity.
Sending the right message with your Promotional products
