Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Promotional Products For New Business Acquisition.

By Liz Logan

The promotional product industry is sometimes overlooked by smaller companies with the idea it is just for big corporate companies. This is far from the truth as there are many different ways promotional products can be used by companies of all sizes for new business generation. New business generation is vital in the growth of a business and sometimes especially in today's economic climate new business generation can be tough. Clients need an extra push to purchase a product or service. One way to give this extra push to acquire new business is with the clever use of incentives schemes.

There are many ways promotional products can be used as an incentive to acquire new business. What makes promotional products so effective is that the gift which is branded with a company's logo or advertising message continues to act as advertising long after the receipt. The advertising not only reached the candidate but anybody in the vicinity of the product. Also if the gift is picked up by another person, perhaps a colleague or neighbour, then this further broadens the scope of the advertising message.

Give a promotional gift to the first 500 customers that sign up for a product or service. This not only puts the pressure on to sign up there and then, but also gives more incentive to sign up in the first place. Perhaps an executive gadget or corporate pen is good for this campaign.

You could offer a promotional gift to anybody that signs up for a newsletter. This will then give you a solid data list for future promotion. Targeted data lists have a good conversion rate and are essential in generating new business. An online presence is vital in today's corporate world, what is difficult is effective newsletter generation to potential customers. The small promotional gift acts as a sweetener and not only increases the chance of sign up in the first place, but also the chance that the newsletter will be read in the future.

You could offer a "free gift" if a customer spends over a certain amount. This is in incentive to increase the average order size. Try to make the gift worth while to the customer and something they might desire, this will encourage them to add that last product to their shopping basket to obtain the extra freebie. In their eyes they may be getting a bargain, in yours an increased bottom line.

Have a promotional week to celebrate a corporate anniversary. You could give a free gift with every purchase. Everybody likes to receive something free, and at the same time you could be promoting the strength of your business by celebrating for example your tenth year trading anniversary. This not only highlights the strength and success of your company to the customers, making them have more trust and confidence in the future, but also encourages them to purchase something from you in that week.

There are many clever uses for promotional gifts that will aid in product sales. It is vital for business to continue to try and use different methods to acquire new business. It is new business that helps a company grow and become a leader in their industry.

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Promotional Merchandise Is The Most Effective Form Of Advertising.


By Aya Wilkinson

Promotional merchandise is fairly simple, anything that can be given away to customers or potential customers in order to advertise with the company logo on it can be used. These items are usually given to customers to promote a company and create product awareness. It's a great effective and inexpensive form of advertisement. Unlike other advertisement which lasts the couple of seconds that it's viewed, promotional advertisement really offers longevity. Brand building and company reinforcement is essential to its success and promotional advertisement offers just that as each time the item is seen it advertises. The use of the item is very important, so it must be chosen wisely.

When someone wears or uses a promotional item around others, it's basically showing anyone around them that they vote for this company, therefore essentially being walking billboards that state that they trust the company. Since the logo is in plain sight it offers a subconscious advertisement and it is remembered and eventually creates association. As people are creatures of habit, when something has been made familiar and association with something good has been made, the next time they are offered a choice between the company and another, they will chose the more familiar one. One of the most important points to advertisement is familiarity, and promotional items offer that.

A great example that uses a lot of promotional merchandise is Coca Cola. Their success is greatly due to the brand exposure that they offer. Everywhere you turn you can see some form of promotional advertisement, worn and used. Whether its sports bottles, caps, sports equipment and balls, caps, glasses, t-shirts and many more. Eventually that red and white logo becomes engraved into your mind, and next time you have a choice between a Coke and Pepsi you will chose the one you've seen the most. Yes, eventually it comes down to taste, but taste is even influenced by the subconscious.

There are many products available that can be used as promotional advertisement, this is why it's important to know the essentials before jumping into it. You want to make sure that that merchandise you chose will affect the audience in the proper way. The audience is of top importance. Also, the way the item is presented is essential in order to make a long lasting impression. Lastly, make sure that the items are of good quality as they will reflect the quality of your company. If a promotional item doesn't last, neither will your company. Keeping these few things in mind will get any company on the right track to promotional merchandising.

Perhaps the single most important factor to bear in mind is the target audience. There would be no point giving promotional sweets to a slimming class or mouse mats to computer illiterate people. The success of the items comes when they are used repeatedly so it is imperative the target audience will like them. There are many general items that are populer, pens, caps, logo bugs and key rings but great promotional campaigns always think outside the box.

As they show such a success in the past, promotional items are surely going to continue being successful in the future. It's the best form of advertisement that lasts the longest at the best prices. You never know who's hands an item will end up in and through how many hands it will travel. The outcomes really are unlimited. Promotional items offer advertisement to everyone around the user of such item essentially reaching many more people as they act as walking billboards. The company logo becomes familiar and eventually through familiarity a larger customer base is built.

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Monday, May 17, 2010

Innovative Promotional Product Ideas


By Liz Logan

Promotional merchandise is a term incorporating give away products companies use to spread their logo and message. These products are usually imprinted or customised with a company's logo and corporate message. It is highly important that the customers get to know about a business that is intended to provide high quality products and services to satisfy their requirements. To survive ruthless competition in the long run, it is equally important to make sure that the generated interested will be sustained. The most necessary component of doing business today is to promote your business with a perfect marketing strategy.

There is a wide range of promotional products on offer for you to select the appropriate group of them for your business. Always remember that the product, which you will distribute for advertisement must be of use to the target audience. It is this factor that makes the products so successful. Firstly you need to determine the customer needs. If the product is one that is necessary for daily activities, then the product will achieve successful, regular advertisement. Products which are used frequently in everyday life will be received thankfully and well remembered. Using them each and every hour, your logo and brand name will be seen all the time. Secondly, selecting the right products within your budget is also a crucial point in a market promotion campaign.

Lots of factors need to taken into consideration for selecting the right promotional products. The product needs to be accepted by the recipients and frequently used by them. If they don't like it or don't need it, they will throw it in to their drawer and forget about it. Therefore before starting the campaign, first do a little research in to your group of customer, their lifestyle, age group they belong to and their social status. Then determine what you actually want to obtain by giving promotional products; sales increase, expressing thanks to existing customers, to attract potential customers or to recognise the support and co-operation of the employees and clients who made your business a success? The time of the year or the season is another crucial factor to consider. Usually most of the gifts are given during Christmas and other holidays but a gift can be given any time of the year. Budget range is another factor to consider in advance. Whatever your budget may be, there will always a range of promotional gifts that are available for everyone.

The most important factor is the customisation of your selected products with your logo and company name. With a spectacular and unique design you can even transfer a cheaper gift into a more attractive and yet functional one. Many methods of customisation are available, like imprinting with vibrant color, engraving, embossing or embroidery.

Imprinted or engraved with your logo, a promotional pen is perhaps the most useful promotional product; it will be used by the recipients frequently and will advertise your company everywhere the item goes. There is also a large variety of other products available for your business promotion all with personal customisation. Almost everywhere you can see the promotional apparels sweeping all around you all advertising the company's name and logo. In all offices you can find customised mugs, corporate gifts, mouse mats and so many other countless products.

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Use Paper In Promotiona Items


By Aya Wilkinson

Over the last 20 years technology has advanced extensively. Lots of PDA's, smart phones or notebook computers are used extensively and people are dependable on these products for their daily activities. Still the advance technology doesn't mean that there is no need for paper. Note paper will always be needed. So why not give people what they need? Give them promotional paper products to advertise your business and logo. The giving of such an item like a personalised notepad which will be used at office and at home as well, will ensure your logo will be circulated and in constant view.

To start a new business, it is important to let people know about your company, your products and services. You need to familiarise your logo with the customers. Even for an existing business it is necessary to keep the old and regular customers while looking for and building a new market. Advertising is the essential tool to let the potential customers know about your company and products. Promotional paper products are one of the best choices to advertise your company.

So many promotional products are available and new products being introduced to the market every week. To select the best suited products for your campaign you must first consider the advertising budget. Giving promotional paper goods are one of the best ways to stay within your budget since paper products are cheaper than other promotional products. Distribution of paper products like notepads, desk cubes, memo holders at any convention or at any seminar is relatively easy and these items are also easy to carry anywhere out of your office for advertisement.

Different types of paper products are available. You can customise these products with your logo and company name at a minimum cost. It is even possible to make the products as per your own design. Sticky post it notes are always an essential one to keep important notes or to write down a phone number or other information you are collecting over the phone. By providing sticky notes to your employees or to your customers, your logo will stick to their computers, their desk and obviously in their memory. Adhesive paper cubes provide great benefit to the users and at the same time the four side of the cube proudly display your company's logo and name.

People need to take down essential notes every where they go. Custom printed note books are part and parcel in our every day life. It does not matter where we are, what we do, paper note books are always welcomed. Customised, spiral note books will create an air of professionalism in your office and in the way of your business promotion. An even better choice is the eco-friendly note-book; this will ensure great exposure of your logo and at the same time reduce the environmental threat. The eco-friendly note books will also serve the same purpose to the recipients such as taking notes and memos. This will be used in the office and at home as well. You will get maximum notability with these customised paper products as each and every page is customised.

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Thursday, May 13, 2010




By Aya Wilkinson

Today just about anything can be considered a promotional merchandise item, as just about any item can feature a company's logo on it, whether printed, embossed, engraved, or sewn, and then gifted as part of an advertisement campaign. Promotional gifts are extremely successful because everyone enjoys receiving things for free, especially if the item given is useful and is used regularly, then not only the receiver is happy, but the giver as well as their item will continue to do its job, which is advertise.

Promotional items go as far back as 1789 when George Washington used them for his presidential election. This was done in the form of buttons featuring GW or George Washington in order to increase popularity. Since then these items have become collector's items and can sell at prices of about $17,000.

Shortly after George Washington used his buttons to boost his popularity Jasper Meeks, Ohio printer, offered book bags to schools with the school's name printed on them. By 1904 about 12 manufacturers gathered forming the Promotional Products Association, still intact today with more than 7,000 members. Today the promotional merchandise industry has grown larger than ever with the help of the internet. There are 1,000 of companies offering promotional merchandise and just about any kind of item you can think of that can feature a company's logo and be given as a promotional gift.

You don't have to look far to see what extent promotional merchandise is used today; take a look at the pens on your desk, or the drinks mats during your next coffee at a caf, surely you will find something branded with a company's logo. The items once given away will continue to promote the company every time they are seen. Practically anything can be branded with a company's logo; the most common items include pens, mouse mats, key rings, clothing and mugs. These items are giveaway type items used to assist the branding of a company.

For more special customers or possibly a well deserved employee there are luxurious gifts as well, ones that are leather, fun gadgets and technology. These are great to improve a current relationship or possibly get potential clients to close a deal. Of course each item, both inexpensive and luxurious have the company logo imprinted on them.

The most common use of promotional merchandise is brand awareness but they are also used for tradeshows, events, building relationships, new customer generation, employee recognition and new product promotion. Promotional merchandise is widely used by schools, charities, councils as well as business.

Since the items have to be printed there usually in a minimum order requirement that needs to be met, there however is promotional merchandise available to suit all budgets from giveaway type items for a few pence to exclusive luxury items. Normally promotional merchandise is ordered through distributors rather from the manufacturers themselves, since a manufacturer may specialize in a certain type of item but a distributor will coordinate 1000's of items.

The promotional merchandise industry is now bigger and more varied than ever before, playing a vital role in the branding and customer relations of a many organisations.

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Thursday, April 8, 2010

Why Promotional Gifts are so effective?


By Liz Logan

Promotional items are used everywhere from the drinks mats in the nearest caf, to the clothing you might be wearing. These items continue to be successful despite the current economic conditions. Promotional Items are still a part of a corporate advertising budget and make a valuable part of their marketing campaign. So what makes promotional items so successful and why are they so effective in brand enhancement?

When chosen right the right promotional items offer maximum longevity compared to any other form of advertising. Day-to-day items are branded with your company's logo and then given to your target audience. When these items are used this makes for a constant source of advertising contributing to brand recognition, a desirable outcome of any advertising campaign. Unlike television, radio or magazine advertising, promotional items are long lasting and thus are a constant form of advertising. This is an essential component for brand enhancement.

Promotional items are so unique as you never know where they will end up, or to how much further than the recipient they will stretch. Pens are always useful, apart from that they are left places or people accidentally pick them up. A pen that is given away might be taken home, and then somebody takes it to their working environment. Perhaps another member of staff picks it up and then they take it in to their home, all this time the pen is acting as a subtle form of advertising.

Another example is when the item is used as a walking billboard, a promotional T-shirt, or sports cap. These useful promotional items when worn act as a constant form of advertising to everybody in the vicinity. Perhaps your cap is worn whilst outside jogging everyday; that is one prolonged advertising message! Your message is in full view for all to see. The basic idea is that promotional items offer more bang for the buck than any other form of advertising.

When choosing promotional items it is important to use quality items. Remember the item is a small representation about your company, so a poor quality item could have a detrimental effect. In business people like to deal with people they can trust, are professional and reliable. These things also need to be applied to promotional items to ensure the correct advertising message is conveyed.

Many of the distributors offering promotional gifts have been in the business for a long time and have a lot of experience. You can take advantage of this experience and seek help from them when looking for the most appropriate gift. Keep in mind that there are a lot of things to consider such as budget, subject, the message, and the delivery time. You want to make sure that you plan everything in advance, and make sure that you are aware how long it will take to receive everything as you don't want to receive the items late and not have them available for an event.

Promotional items offer more longevity than any other form of advertising. When used right, they offer the most brand recognition potential compared to any other form of advertising.

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Useful Tips For Promotional Gifting

As promotional gifting has gotten so popular, the market is overflowing with choices, making it very difficult to choose which gifts will best fit you and your company. You will need to consider many things in order to make the right choice. Below are a couple of rules of thumb that you can go by to help you make the best choices for promotional gifts.

1- In order to make the best choice for promotional gifts you must know who will be receiving them. It’s important that the gifts you offer can be used on a day to day basis. Are your customer’s business people, or stay at home moms, where would these gifts be utilized, in the home or office. An example is a pedometer if you have a weight loss club. Or possibly a restaurant that offers delivery can have a refrigerator magnet with their contact information.

2- What makes a promotional gift such a success is the personalization, so make sure that the gifts have your logo as well as match your company’s colors. There are very few gifts out there that don’t have the option to be personalized, and with the many choices in gifts, you are bound to find something appropriate with in regards to color. The color and logo help with brand awareness and increase the chances that the customer will return or refer.

3- A good way to stay on top of your game is to observe the competition. Go to their booth at exhibits and conferences in order to get an idea of what they are offering. It’s important that you do things differently from them, so improve on their ideas, but do not copy them. You must stand out from the rest of the companies out there, so a bit of spying on your competition will do you good.

4- You must review quality over quantity. It’s important that the quality of the gifts is good, as it represents the quality of your company. If the item breaks easily or is cheap or badly made it can actually do an anti-advertisement for your company. Speak with the distributor regarding these issues and the quality of the gift you have chosen. It’s important that the gift is eye catching and that the company name and logo are easily spotted. If the logo isn’t immediately noticeable then it’s a waste of money.

5- Planning is key when it comes to promotional gifting. You must have ordered your gifts long before you actually need them. It takes time to get each gift personalized and made. Make sure that you have enough time for the production as well as the deliver to avoid spending extra cash for speed delivery. It would be horrible to go to an expo without your gifts to offer. This is also something you can speak to your distributor about, they can help you draw up a timeline to help you plan around.

There are so many gifts available out there that it’s difficult to get started and stay on track. That is why it’s important to take advantage of the advice that your distributor can offer. A distributor that is experienced and works for a company that has been in the business long enough will be able to help you get in the right direction. It’s important to have promotional gifts part of your advertisement campaign as everyone loves a freebee.