Thinking of ordering promotional products for your business? Smart idea – promotional products are fantastic advertising tools for reaching out to potential customers and keeping your brand on everyone’s mind. Used well, they can also be one of the most rewarding and cost-effective ways for your business to introduce its products and services to a wider audience than usual.
According to the Australiasian Promotional Products Association (APPA), marketers spend $1.34 billion a year on promotional products – because they work! These products not only help reduce advertising costs but also help businesses achieve more by reminding people of their benefit and services. In fact, the APPA reports that 52% of people do business with a company after receiving one of its promotional products.
But with so many options out there for customisation, how do you know which products to start with? When you’re choosing the most appropriate promotional products for your targeted customers, you should consider various factors including costs, quality, function, and durability, because you want to be able to enjoy the best results out of your advertising effort.
1. Set a budget
Your budget will determine what you can order, its quality, and the order size. The good news is that many suppliers offer discounts for bulk ordering, as well as cheaper alternatives. However, cheap often means poorer quality. So shop around and think about how long you want the user to be able to enjoy the item before it fades or breaks.
2. Know your goals
Are you after a product that the user can carry around or wear so everyone can see your brand? Or do you want something they can keep in their office or home? If you’re targeting office workers, maybe opt for pens and cups. Desk planners and metal business card holders are perfect for executives, while private customers might appreciate stubby holders.
3. Determine your target audience
When targeting a wide audience, choose an item that appeals to the masses. How about a keyring or wine glass? If it’s a specific group, you’ll need to know what they like. It’s tougher to select for corporate clients as you don’t know them on a personal level and you don’t know their culture. The solution? Call their personal assistant!
4. Check out your competition
While it’s tempting to give something similar to what your competition is offering, you should give away something much better. Or at least something different that can make your brand stand out – so be unique, especially when you’re at a big event such as an expo. People often take one of everything, so if they’ve already picked up a similar bag or stress relief squeeze ball, why would they want another?
5. Decide the type of product
Think about where your target audience will be receiving the item so that you can choose the type of product to order. If you’re delivering training in a classroom, perhaps pens, folders, notepads, and tote bags would be the best choice. If you’re hosting a golf tournament, however, then t-shirts, hats, and water bottles would be more suitable.
6. Stick with the theme
If the giveaway is part of a campaign which already has a theme, then it’s important that you follow the same theme. This includes using the same colours, images, and fonts. For example, if you’re hosting an expo you could print the title of the event on the bags and water bottles you plan to distribute at the front desk.
7. Deliver it yourself (if applicable)
Is your gift for a specific group of special people who would appreciate if you deliver it yourself? Perhaps you’re the owner or chief and you prefer to go in person to shake their hands and have a heart to hear. What a great idea! It will help you strengthen your relationship with your customers. If your list is too large, consider selecting some key names to visit – how about visiting your most loyal customers first? For those who are away or too far to visit, you could handwrite their notes to personalise them.
So there you have it. The more effort you put in your promotional product, the more likely it will be remembered, and the more it will strengthen your relationship with your loyal customer.
With these tips in mind, it’s time to choose a promotional product to give away to your customers. Why not see how Albury Enviro Bags can help?