Do you have a drawer full of strange pens? You probably recall the name of at least one of them. That’s the strength of promotional things. People remember the free things they utilize. There are so many mugs, bags, water bottles, and gadgets at www.positivemediapromotions.co.uk that they are begging to be branded. Yes, it’s just a story, but who hasn’t stolen a stack of branded sticky notes from the office supply closet? I know I have!
Short on cash? No worries. It’s not about spending a lot of money on gold-plated USB drives. A strange stress ball can sometimes be passed about more than an expensive speaker. The secret is to know your audience. If you give free headphones at a music festival, you’ve got a willing walking billboard. Give out umbrellas during the rainy season, and your logo will be all over town.
People want things that are helpful, but a little originality never hurts. Shirts? Old school. But if you put your logo on a small screwdriver, it will be in every junk drawer for five years. That’s brand visibility that will last. Ever received a calendar and disagreed with the holidays? You at least looked at it, so mission achieved.
People go to conferences to get free stuff. The best things are the tiny things that come out of the goody bag and make it home. Keychains, reusable tote bags, and chip clips are all boring but very useful. A bottle opener was originally thought to be the best branded item since it started more discussions (and opened more bottles) than a business card.
Let’s get rid of a myth: more flash doesn’t always mean better. There is a time for subtlety. A pen with a nice brand that you carry around all year? That beats a fluorescent foam finger that was on show for half an hour during one game. Quality is important too. Lightweight things go to an early landfill grave, whereas heavy things linger in circulation.
It’s not a guessing game to figure out distribution. Think about how often people walk by. Give out hand sanitizer after a nice run, and all of a sudden you’re the hero. A beach party? People will be gazing at your logo on branded sunglasses for days. People remember who made their lives a little simpler when you offer them something that fits the circumstance.
Let’s talk about sustainability. No one wants more plastic. Bamboo pens and recycled notebooks are examples of eco-friendly products that show you care and maintain your brand up to date. Gimmicks don’t last, but being useful and caring about the environment does.
Businesses that want customers to use their products should question themselves, “Will people actually use this?” That’s half the battle won. What about the other half? Giving each piece its own personality. A pun, a splash of color, or even a design that isn’t quite right can make a boring thing interesting. And isn’t starting conversations the secret to getting people to know about your brand?