Why Promotional Products Are Important for Business

Promotional products are customized items businesses can offer customers, employees, and prospective clients. They’re a gift you intend to give others, but you brand them for your organization to create a longer shelf life and ensure that everyone who sees and uses them remembers your organization. They’re a great way to reinforce your brand. 

When choosing the right promo items for your organization’s investment, think about products with the greatest likelihood of repeated impressions over time. What are recipients likely to continually use, rather than something they may discard after only a short time. The answer to this question differs for each industry’s audience and intended customer base. 

Almost 100% of consumers are willing to take action to obtain a promotional product, according to the Promotional Products Association International. Consumers want these items, leaving little question about why promotional products are important for your business. 

Why Promotional Products Are Important

Promotional products can be an effective, meaningful way to market your business and increase brand identity. They are important for many reasons.

Low-Cost Marketing

Compared with the cost of other marketing opportunities — like television or online advertising, mailed postcards, or social media advertising — promotional projects are a great way to spread your business’ name meaningfully. No matter the size of your budget, you can find promotional products that will make a big and lasting impact. 

Brand Awareness

The more people see and hear your company’s name, the greater recall they will have. Why not make sure the spatula used to flip burgers on the grill all summer long has your organization’s name and web address stamped on the handle? Then, when that person is ready to buy in your product category, your business is at the top of their mind.

Works as a Business Card

When attending a trade show or expo where folks are likely interested in grabbing your contact information, giveaways help eliminate the paper clutter of business cards and provide the prospective client with something they can use long after the day you meet.

Exposure

When you give away promotional items, there are endless possibilities about where items will go. Think about it. Something like a T-shirt or hat makes everyone wearing it a walking, talking advertisement for your brand. It’s difficult to even measure the value of that type of ongoing exposure, but it’s undoubtedly worth the price of a T-shirt or hat.

Increase Leads 

Because three out of five people keep promotional products for about two years, they’re also a great way to increase leads, should those recipients need to call on your business. Again, it’s about keeping your brand at the top of people’s minds and helping them think favorably about your business.

Generate Sales

Promotional items are linked to increased sales, with more than half of people who receive an item reporting that they ultimately do business with the gifter. That’s excellent ROI beyond the awareness factor, and the number doesn’t include the people exposed to your brand by the recipient.

Develop Reputation for Quality

Choosing nice, unique promotional items that give recipients value and leave them with a positive impression of your brand supports the feeling you want to build around your business. 

Build Relationships and Loyalty

Promotional items can sometimes keep customers returning to your business year after year, especially when you give away items with a limited shelf life, like calendars or holiday guides. Over time, your business can become the trusted authority to care for those specific client needs. 

Choosing the Best Product for Your Business

To ensure your business investment is put to the best use, be intentional about the items you select as giveaways. Choose items that align with your organization’s mission, brand, products and services, and customer base. 

Understand Your Mission

Select promotional items that reflect your company’s mission and vision. Exercise, cooking, and first aid items directly correlate to a healthcare company’s mission. A car dealership might opt for a tire pressure gauge, keychain, sunshade, or trunk organizer. You want to make sure the chosen items affirm, not contradict, what your company stands for. 

Consider Existing Offers

Select items that complement, not compete with, your business’ products and services. Stray away from glasses and tumblers if your brewery business has them for sale in the on-site merch store. Promotional items should not run the risk of competing with revenue-generating products. 

Align With Your Brand 

Use your company’s existing marketing and creative materials to guide you in selecting promotional items that fit within the brand. If color is sparse, you use straight lines, and language is formal, you likely want to stick with more traditional and straightforward items. But if your marketing materials are edgy, colorful, and unconventional, the audience will expect the same of your giveaway items. Consider whether you should stay inside the box. 

Recognize What Customers Need and Use 

Don’t forget to consider what the intended recipient needs most. Portable charging banks may be wildly popular for those always on the go, think real estate agents and transit drivers. In contrast, people who work in traditional office settings love quality office supplies. Take customer needs seriously.

Let Lettering Express Help With the Right Promotional Products

Not sure what products are right for your prospective customers? Lettering Express is happy to help. We offer curated suggestions for items that best suit your target audience, event, and budget. Reach out to Lettering Express, and we’ll create a custom presentation full of items just for your business. Then we’ll help you get them designed and ordered. Lettering Express provides businesses with the products they need to be noticed and remembered.