It’s not as easy as putting your brand on a pen and hoping for the best when it comes to picking the correct promotional items. It’s like fishing: you need the correct bait to capture something good. A inexpensive giveaway that gets tossed in a rubbish drawer doesn’t help your brand at all – see our website here!
The first thing to do is question, “Who is your audience?” Are they stuck at their desks all day, going from meeting to meeting, or enjoying the weekends with their families? A compact USB drive or a wireless phone charger can actually be useful for people who work in an office. If you’re sponsoring a fun run, stress balls won’t help you as much as reusable water bottles or sweatbands.
The strange things can sometimes work magic. A firm once gave away strange little desk vacuums that were little, useful, and just strange enough to make people want to know more. People were taking pictures, tagging the brand online, and all of a sudden that small vacuum got a lot of attention.
Money is always a factor. Yes, a $5 tumbler might seem like a lot when you need hundreds, but consider about the long term. A mug or bottle that is well-made could last for years and remind consumers of your business without them ever knowing it. That is a lot better than stacks of sticky notes that go missing in a week.
Don’t forget the basics of branding. Make sure that the colors, fonts, and tone of your brand are all in sync with each other. A neon green giveaway that doesn’t match your logo does more harm than good. Even on swag, being consistent helps people remember you.
Practicality is the most important thing. If it suits your niche, give customers stuff they’ll really want to use, like portable chargers, travel mugs, tote bags, or even small packets of sunscreen.
Last but not least, make a plan on how to get your things out there. Money spent on giveaways that are hidden away in a closet is squandered. Put them in trade show bags, add them to online orders, or hold contests on social media to get them out there.
The best promotional things make people smile, are useful, and keep your name in their minds long after the event is over.