What are promotional items?

Promotional items are manufactured items given to customers and prospects that promote your business. The items are usually printed with a logo, phrase and / or contact information. The items can range from stylish pens, wine openers, or T-shirts to more exotic objects such as jewelry or wine. Choosing the right item depends on your budget, whether or not the item is useful, and who your target market is. The most popular items are ones that can be used frequently by the person receiving them. Pens are very popular for this type of marketing strategy. A pen is used several times a day, and each time it is used the recipient is reminded who it’s from. And although pens are often misplaced, they’re usually found and used again by someone new. That’s one way of keeping the message moving. As long as an item is something useful to the recipient, the just about any item will work as a promotional item.

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How do I choose the right items?

The trick is trying to relate the item with what you want to promote. Anything from branded Kool-Aid packets, clocks, towels or even Magic Eight Balls can all be use if it relates to either your company or a special event you’re marketing. Fox Searchlight gave away branded hamburger phones to promote the movie “Juno” and now even the unbranded hamburger phones are selling.

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Now that I have an item, how can I distribute it?

Conferences and trade shows are great places to distribute your promotional items. They are full of people whom you’ve targeted and are familiar with your business (unless it’s a random conference that has nothing to do with your business). You can also get a client list started and mail the promotion to people who you’d like to work with or to customers who might be interested in your product or services. If you own a hardware store, placing a promotional item (such as a small hammer with your logo) by the door might attract customers. Now, every time they use the hammer, they will be reminded of where they got it because of the branding.

Tip: Some things to remember when using promotional items:
• Is the branding easily seen on the item?
• Is the item useful to the person receiving it?
• Are you within budget?
• Does the item work well with what’s being promoted?
• Is the item of good quality?

It doesn’t take a genius to know that everyone appreciates free gifts. Giving a free promotional item says a lot about your company. If you’re giving one of your products as your promotional item, then it will reflect that you are confident that you will satisfy your customer. They will become familiarized with your company, and may eventually choose you because of what started out as a free treat.

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