All of our business strategies from the high-end multifold firms to the ordinary snow plowing & removal companies are centered on one thing: customer satisfaction and retention. We do it all for the customers. We do it to solve their problems, to help them in their time of need, to make them realize the potential of our products and for re-orders and referrals. That is why we employ marketing techniques that will help us cut through the noise in the market and get to our customers faster and stronger.
There are a lot of marketing strategies that help us do that, but one of the best ones is using promotional materials. Nowadays, with the digital era ushering in and the traditional strategies and techniques fading out, we have seen a drop in this strategy, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not effective anymore. Giving out promotional products is still one of the best ways to keep your brand in the minds and hearts of your customers, existing and potential. Whether you are giving away cups, key chains, pens, or promotional hats, there are guaranteed advantages of using the giveaway strategy.
Back in the old days, companies would have a whole variety of products with their names or logos on them. These would include but were not limited to, pens, mousepads, notepads, mugs, socks, and everything in between. Your imagination was the limit. You could gift your clients, vendors, and customers anything that you wanted with your logo proudly displayed on it. On seasonal holidays, people would receive beautifully crafted gift bags from brands that included a host of products with the company logo like shirts, candy bars, pens, and more.
Those were the good old times, but they don’t have to be. You can do the same in today’s day and age and reap the same benefits that companies used to get. Here we have compiled some tips so you can use this strategy to succeed and increase your business.
Table of Contents
What to Give Away
Like we mentioned earlier, the answer to this question is as big or as small as you can imagine. Some of the common things that a brand can give to its customers are:
- Pens and other writing instruments
- Apparel (t-shirts, hats, outerwear, etc.)
- Food
- Water bottles
- Reusable shopping bags
- Calendars
- Mugs
- Key chains
- Wallets
- Watches
Where to Use Your Logo?
What kind of question is that? Of course, you want to use your logo on everything that you are giving out. Well, that is up for debate. Obviously, there are a lot of items like pens, mugs, and others that would look good with your logo shimmering on top, but there are some items that your customers might not like if they have your logo on them. These items are personalized to the customers, and it makes more sense not to have the logo displayed on them in a prominent place. These could be shirts or caps. Unless your customer is a diehard fan of your brand, most people would not want that. What you can do is to add a witty or humorous slogan to it, and that might make it better. Other than that, you will have to wait until you are at the same level as Nike or Adidas to use your logo on everything that you give away as a promotion.
Also, sometimes, it’s better to personalize the items for the customers. If you put your customer’s name on the promotional item like water bottles, pens, mugs, or wallets, it will ensure that they will not only use it but also tell others where they got it from. You can use the logo on these personalized items, but just make sure that they don’t take the focus away from the customer’s name or whatever you have printed on the product.
Environmental Targeting
Environmental targeting is a great way to make sure that the customers remember you when they are in a specific environment. Environment tagging doesn’t mean going green or giving away products that have the least carbon footprint. Although you can do that too.
Environmental tagging means that your customers use your promotional giveaways in the same environment where your products or services exist. For example, if you have a clothing store, giving away a t-shirt will mean that your products and your promotional giveaway are environmentally tagged. The same goes for an online store that gives away mouse pads.
Avoid Short Shelf Life
It all depends on your budget and other factors, but it will be better for you if you select items that are durable and can stay with your customers for a long time. This guideline does not include food items as there are times of the year, like major holidays, when a food item can work wonders as a promotional gift. People appreciate it more. Other than that, go for products that have a longer life expectancy, and you will achieve your objective of being in front of your customers’ eyes at all times.
Not Just For Customers
If you think that your promotional giveaways are only for your customers, then you are not using them to their fullest potential. Remember that you have to take part in a lot of events like trade shows, marketing conferences, fairs, or a number of events. Use your promotional items to ensure that all your employees look the same or have the same equipment. Give them matching t-shirts or hats so that visitors can identify them even from a distance.
Reward Referrals
Another great idea for you to use your promotional gift items is to give them away as a reward for referrals. This will ensure that your existing customers feel special and they refer as many of their friends, family, and relatives as they can. You can even give different promotional items on a different number of referrals.
Give Them the Choice
If it is feasible for you, you can give your customers the choice of selecting their own promotional item from a list that you provide the. If they already have a pen with your logo on it, they might want to take something else this time. Giving them the power to choose will increase your brand loyalty.
Break the Ice
If you are taking part in an event, you know that a lot of customers will want to talk to you but can’t work up the courage to walk up to you and introduce themselves. If you give them something to break the ice, it will be easier for them, and you will turn a potential visitor into a confirmed buyer.
Re-gift your products
Normally, re-gifting an item is not considered to be a good practice. You don’t just give something away that you got yourself from someone. But in business, it can be a great strategy. Consider giving a customer two of a gift and asking them to share the happiness. Not only will it be a killer marketing strategy, but it will also increase brand loyalty in your existing customers.
Conclusion
Companies have to conduct marketing activities across multiple channels if they want to survive in today’s market. Making sure that you are using promotional materials as a marketing strategy will ensure that you outshine your competitors and get the extra edge that you’ve been looking for. It will also be a better way to spend your company’s marketing budget. For more information, click here.
