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6 Ways Promotional Products Can Benefit Your Business

May 18, 2016 Advertisting & Marketing / Branding / Promotional Inspirations
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Promotional Products Work!If you’re like most business owners, you’re wondering what smart, cost-effective investments can get the word out about your company and attract new customers. There are a lot of ways to do that today, of course, and promotional products are among the most powerful options you can choose. In fact, according to recent research from Promotional Products Association International, promotional products advertising is the fourth-fastest growing advertising medium, ranked right after mobile and digital.

Why are promotional products so popular, and why are so many companies including them in their strategy? Here’s a look at five ways promotional products benefit businesses.

  1. People remember your company from a promotional product and think about it positively.
    1. 83% of consumers in a recent survey they enjoy receiving a promotional product with an advertising message.
    2. 2% of people recalled the product, advertiser, and the message.
    3. That’s powerful brand recall that companies only have to pay once for, as opposed to digital advertising that charges per exposure.
  1. Promotional Products Work

    Infographic: Promotional Products Work!

    Promotional products increase the likelihood of purchases and referrals. According to a study from Georgia Southern University, not only do promotional products contribute to a more positive brand image and perception, but people are also more likely to recommend a business or even patronize it themselves upon receiving a promotional product from them.

  2. People keep promotional products for a long time.
    1. 80% of people own 1-10 promo items
    2. 6 in 10 keep them for up to 2 years
  3. If you give out items for the kitchen or work area, people keep them around and remember your business.
    1. 91% of consumers have at least 1 branded item in their kitchen.
    2. Of those who did, nearly 82% could identify the promotional product and 42% could also name the advertiser
    3. 74% of consumers have at least 1 branded item in their work area
    4. Of those who did, 90.3% could identify the promotional product and 49.4% could also name the advertiser
    5. 55% of consumers have at least one branded item in their bedroom.
  4. Businesses get better trade show booth traffic with promotional products. Businesses that included promotional products with a pre-show mailing or offer saw more traffic to their booths at trade shows according to a study by Georgia Southern University. 76.3% of attendees who received a promotional product at trade shows had a favorable attitude toward the company that gave them the product.
  1. Promotional products offer budget flexibility. There are often solutions to fit any budget while still offering the benefits of lasting brand recall and positive brand association. Promotional products can be used as a stand-alone advertising medium or as part of an integrated marketing mix. Perhaps most importantly, they contribute to consumer intent to buy.

Promotional products can make a big difference for your company, creating lasting awareness, increased goodwill, more referrals, and new business. If you’re curious to learn more about how promotional products can help your business achieve its goals, stay tuned for next week’s post in which we will be covering Promotional Products Work! Week and how businesses get powerful results with promotional products.

Looking for some expert guidance on promotional products might be a good fit for your business? Get in touch with us on Twitter and Facebook or call us at 877-881-6845 and we’ll be glad to advise you on exceptional promotional products that can represent your brand with style and grace.

7 Ways Social Media Can Help Your Business Stand Out at a Trade Show

January 28, 2016 Advertisting & Marketing / Branding / Events & Holidays / Promotional Inspirations
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When it comes to trade shows, businesses are always looking for smart and novel ways to get the word out about their products and services. In a crowded exhibition hall full of competitors and distractions, it can be tricky to stand out and make a strong impression. At times like these, social media can be a great asset for getting yourself on people’s radar. It can help you reach potential customers before, during, and after the event. Here are seven tips for marketing your business on social media at trade show time:

  1. Use the event hashtag – Find out what the event hashtag is and see who’s using it prior to the show. Attendees are likely using or monitoring that hashtag on Twitter, looking to connect with others who are also planning to go, but depending on your industry or how the show organizers are using social media, this hashtag may also be in use on Instagram as well. Conversations may already be underway on the trade show’s Facebook page. Join in. It’ll get the word out about your business and show your enthusiasm for the event.
  2. Connect before the trade show – If there are people you know you’ll especially want to talk to at the trade show, whether they’re prospective clients, business partners, or journalists, reach out to them on social media before the big event. Connect with them on LinkedIn, Twitter, or wherever they appear to be most active on social and start a conversation. Let them know you’d love to grab a coffee if possible at the event. People are often pressed for time at trade shows, so be sure to let them know the specific business opportunity or topic you’d like to discuss.
  3. Share video and photos – People are more likely to respond to your social media posts and share them with others if they include video clips or photos. Consider taking snapshots or quick video clips of the scene at the trade show and sharing them on social media during the event. You can occasionally post snapshots of your booth, which will make it easier for people to find in the exhibition hall. Some companies even get started early, snapping pictures of their trip as they’re en route to the show. It gives their followers, and even people who can’t make it to the show but wish they could, a glimpse into what the event looks like behind the scenes.
  4. Run giveaways and contests – Everyone likes a good contest or trade show giveaway featuring cool and useful swag like USB drives and power banks. Running such a contest or giveaway on social media is a great way to draw an even bigger crowd to your booth. You can encourage people to participate by tweeting using a special contest hashtag or by posting a photo of themselves at your booth and sharing it with their followers, for example, which gets the word out about your business to even more people. There are many different ways you can run a contest during a trade show, and incorporating social media into the mix can give it a turbocharged boost.
  5. Advertise your social media campaign with promotional products – Handing out promotional products that feature a social media campaign is a great way to do to let potential clients and business partners know that you’re active on social. You could print a campaign hashtag on pencils that you give out, for example. Another great idea is to choose a promotional product that ties into the concept of the campaign itself. For example, an advocacy group promoting the health benefits of vaccinations might choose a syringe pen or a syringe highlighter and print the hashtag #VaccinationsSaveLives on it to reinforce the messaging in a meaningful, memorable way. Whatever the campaign you are running or the message you want to send, there are a variety of creative ways to amplify it by syncing promotional products with social media.
  6. Get video testimonials – Customer testimonials are among the most powerful forms of marketing out there. If you know that some of your most loyal customers will be at the trade show, see if you can get them to record video testimonials for later use on social media as well as your website, YouTube channel, and email newsletter.
  7. Blog about the show afterward – Share a recap of the trade show and the highlights from your perspective after the big event is over. Include photos, details on the giveaway if you offered one (don’t forget to thank everyone who participated), and any other interesting things that you think are worth mentioning. This gives folks who couldn’t be at the show a look at what it was like from your perspective, and it also presents your business as an active member of the industry community. Just as with the video testimonial, this blog post is perfect for sharing on social media as well as in a company email newsletter.

Do you have a trade show on the horizon? We can help advise you on custom branded promotional products that can make a difference for your brand. Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook or call us at 877-881-6845 for creative and innovative branding ideas to help your company stand out and make a great impression.

Eco-Friendly Trade Show Giveaway Ideas

January 20, 2016 Advertisting & Marketing / Branding / Eco / Promotional Inspirations
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9d449033b5083b8de3cd3be2554aa459It’s trade show season, and if your business has plans to exhibit at an upcoming event, you may be wondering what kinds of giveaways will resonate most with the people who visit your booth or receive your swag bag. It can be a challenge to stand out from the crowd and make a lasting impression, but fortunately there are a number of creative ways to do just that.

One way to make an impact is by giving away promotional products that meet a need the trade show attendees may have—sunglasses are popular in summer-like conditions while lip balm might do well in colder locales, for example. But another thoughtful way to be responsive to trade show attendees’ needs and concerns is by selecting eco-friendly trade show giveaways that will have a minimal impact on the environment. Here are four examples of eco-friendly swag that can help your brand reach attendees while making a positive difference:

  • Eco-friendly notepads – At major industry events, it’s often useful to have a notepad handy for jotting down notes from sessions or quick to-dos. Quality eco-friendly notepads are a great gift for trade show attendees and can make a great, lasting impression.
  • Eco-friendly pens – Pens are a perennially popular trade show gift, and eco-friendly pens take the thoughtfulness factor to a new level by presenting visitors to your booth with an option with a reduced environmental impact. Along with the popular ballpoint pens that you often see at conferences and major events, there are elegant bamboo pens available as well.
  • Eco-friendly tote bags – Tote bags are also a hot trade show giveaway option, particularly since they can be used to complete thoughtful care packages that attendees can sling on their shoulders and keep with them throughout the day. Eco-friendly tote bags give your brand an environmentally friendly option for reaching out to potential customers at the show.
  • Eco-friendly t-shirts – T-shirts are an incredibly popular giveaway item at trade shows. Everybody could use a new t-shirt, and when they wear one—particularly at the event—it provides free advertising for your brand. Now there are eco-friendly organic t-shirts available to help you spread brand awareness in an environmentally friendly way.

If your company is thinking of offering eco-friendly trade show giveaways, there is a broadening range of options available for you to do so in a unique way that will provide value both to the attendees and to your brand. Not everyone is giving away environmentally friendly swag yet, so doing so can also help you distinguish yourself from the competition. It can also send the message that you want to make a positive difference. That’s a sentiment everybody can get behind.

Do you have a trade show on the horizon? We can help advise you on custom branded promotional products that can make a difference for your brand. Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook or call us at 877-881-6845 for creative and innovative branding ideas to help your company stand out and make a great impression.

5 Terrific Trade Show Giveaways That Will Boost Your Brand

January 12, 2016 Advertisting & Marketing / Branding / Events & Holidays / Promotional Inspirations
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Bluetooth speakers are a popular trade show giveaway item

Bluetooth speakers are a popular trade show giveaway item

Exhibiting at a trade show can be an exciting opportunity for your business to connect with potential customers and clients. But how can you make sure you stay top of mind with them after they’ve left your booth? Promotional giveaways are often a great way to create lasting and effective brand awareness. Here are five ideas for great swag that will boost your brand at these events:

  • Tech gadgets – Particularly if you’re in the tech sector, tech gadgets are always a hot item. USB drives come in handy at conference time, as do power banks, earbuds, and styluses. You could also consider offering a raffle or a contest for a higher-value item, such as Bluetooth speakers.
  • Pens and notebooks – If you’re late for a breakout session but just ran into that potential client or business partner you don’t want to miss, you don’t want to be caught without a pen or a piece of paper for exchanging contact information or taking a quick note. We’ve all been there. That’s why pens and notebooks, while seemingly simple, can make thoughtful and effective gifts.
  • Branded care packages – Trade shows can be exhausting and physically draining. The people who come up to your booth may look like they’re doing fine, but they may be privately grappling with a headache, a rumbling stomach, or a blister from all that walking throughout the exhibitors’ hall. Branded care packages including a little TLC such as water, breath mints, aspirin, snacks, and even band-aids can make a lasting, positive impression.
  • Eco-friendly giveaways – As we all know, trade show attendees get lots of swag—so much so that they can begin to wonder about its impact on the environment. A lot of the most popular trade show swag, including tote bags, notebooks, and even eco-friendly USB drives, are among the many environmentally friendly promotional items you can give away.
  • T-shirts – Long the ubiquitous staple at trade shows, t-shirts are still an enormously popular item for giveaways. They double as free advertising for your company; they get worn on-site during the conference or event, spreading the word about your products and services.

Do you have a trade show on the horizon? We can help advise you on custom branded promotional products that can make a difference for your brand. Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook or call us at 877-881-6845 for creative and innovative branding ideas to help your company stand out and make a great impression.