Promotional products dos and don’ts

18 Sep Promotional products dos and don’ts

Promotional products can be a key tool in your marketing plan – they are tactile expressions of your brand, they help keep your brand visible when you are not around and they make you look generous. On a practical level, promotional products help you stand out at an expo or event and provide a reason for you and your team to call on customers.

Read our dos and don’ts to make sure your promotional products connect with your customers and ensure you stand out for all the right reasons.

Know your audience

Forming the basis of all good marketing plans is knowing who your customers are – obviously demographics help, then there’s actually knowing what makes them tick as real-life people. What are their values? What is their workplace culture like? What would make their life easier?

Reflect your values

Just like you wouldn’t expect your local dentist to give away complimentary sweets nor would it feel right if you invested in promotional products that didn’t speak to your values or the purpose of your organisation. Just think how much better a product made of natural products fits with someone in the wellness industry or a tech gadget for those in the tech industry.

Your taste isn’t everyone’s taste

It’s a fine line finding something that stands out, reflects your brand and something that will be popular. Talk to the experts and see what is re-ordered time and time again and ask why. Then shortlist and test the samples with workmates and recipients (if you can). There’s nothing better than hearing clients say they look forward to seeing what Christmas gifts you are giving this year or that they still use the umbrella/refillable coffee cup/eco bag you gave them in the past.

Make it part of your plan, not your whole plan

Good promotional products are more than just adding a logo to an item and giving them to clients. A promotional product also can’t do the work of a website, brochure, ads or genuine relationships. Branded promotional gifts and giveaways need to be a well-thought-through element of your overall marketing plan and considered and reviewed just as you do your online presence, advertising and signage.

Eco is in

Thankfully throwaway culture is a thing of the past and sustainability is in. You might be surprised at how many clever eco products can be branded with your message – not only making your brand stand out but ensuring you look current and thoughtful too.

Leverage, leverage, leverage

Think about how else you can leverage the use of promotional products – perhaps you can display them in your reception area along with your products, do a series of Facebook posts with your team visiting with clients, run a competition with clients: “Send us a picture of you using you tgm eco coffee cup” to win a year’s worth of coffee”. You may also be able to add some messaging or a call to action via a clever card, gift tag or packaging.

Who gets what

Uncapped budgets are a dream for most of us, so how do you decide who gets what? You either go for a low spend product and have a one size fits all approach or tier your giving based on the significance of the client. This doesn’t have to look obvious – different sized products can be used, or perhaps tier 1 clients get a bundle: think branded reusable coffee cup, plunger and grinds, and tier 2 just receive the branded cup and so on. You might be surprised with the savings you gain from buying in bulk, and at wholesale prices, and that you can afford more than you think.

If this has got you thinking: “eeekkkk we haven’t got anything lined up for Christmas” pop in and see tgm’s new Promo Room. The Promo Room is full of the latest products that get used, will last and that are eco-friendly. Open 8.30am-5pm Monday to Friday, by appointment only.