Promotional items have proven to be a very versatile marketing technique. They are an effective, practical and fun marketing tool to attract potential customers to your business.
At Acrobat Promotions we have over 20 years of experience in the promotional items industry. We have seen every trend, trick and tip in the merchandising book. To avoid making these top merchandise mistakes keep reading.
No one knows your customers better than you do! So invest in promotional merchandise that they will like and will use. Remember, it doesn't have to come with a high price tag.
Consider your audience's point of view (wants, needs, etc.) and use these considerations to choose an appropriate item/s. The more appealing a product is, the more likely a client will keep (and use) that item. And as a result, boosting your brand image and presence in your recipient's mind.
We always say that promotional products are like mini billboards. They work best when you get them in front of your client at the most relevant times of their day.
e.g. A travel agent will want to aim to get their promotional products in front of their clients when they are in the moment of dreaming about a getaway. We would recommend promotional gifts such as a mouse mat or mug with their logo on a beautiful tropical background.
Now when their recipient makes a cup of tea or uses their computer at work, they will see the tropical escape and the travel agent's logo, linking the two aspects in their mind.
Ok, you can put dates on your promotional merchandise, but just be aware that it does limit your marketing and distribution plan. Unfortunately, we have seen it before where the date has passed and the promotional items become redundant. Leaving the client with superfluous leftover stock.
Putting dates on your branded products can be a great memento of an event. E.g. a retirement gift or an award. However, for your promo products, we would recommend creating a promotional card to go along with your items. This way you can fit more information on the card and the product will continue to be relevant after the event.
Like with fashion and hairstyles, what seems cool now might not be in a couple of years' time. Even people who work in marketing (us) are susceptible to marketing gimmicks and fads. However, when it comes to your promotional products, try staying away from trends.
That doesn't mean your promotional merchandise has to be plain or boring. Gimmicks can be effective but they tend to work better as part of a joined-up marketing campaign rather than a standalone promotional product.
We would recommend avoiding gifting promotional products that do not fulfil a want or the needs of your clients.
To get the jump on your competitors you need to be innovative. QR codes are an easy and effective way of connecting your promotional item with your digital presence. Utilise your physical and digital worlds by joining them in one space.
Since QR codes can contain a variety of content types, e.g. audio, video, polls, competitions, forms, social media and website URLs (Landing pages), you can use them as your call to action. Essentially, you can direct your audience to suit your marketing strategy.
These functions can be used as part of your marketing campaign to encourage easy meaningful contact with your audience. Plus, QR codes are measurable data sources. They can be used to collect relevant data to monitor and analyse the response to your campaign.
Every time a customer scans the code data from their device is collected. The data collected can help you make informed decisions on future campaigns, creating customer profiles and marketing strategies.
QR codes are the ultimate way to connect your online and offline sales efforts.
To make a lasting impression with corporate gifts, strike a balance between your brand's identity and the product's design. Ensure you select a product that reflects your brand values. This is done through a colour scheme, design and a clear brand image.
It is great to have a creative boost to your brand's image but for your product to remain relevant, we would recommend sticking to your brand guidelines. This will increase your promotional products' longevity.
You can print your company's logo on a water bottle and call it a day. However, having a strategy in place to promote your business with branded products can improve your results. It is an effective marketing technique to include in your merchandising strategy.
What we mean is to have a plan in place for how and when you will distribute your promotional products. This includes the purpose of the purchase and the message you want to send. Your strategy doesn't have to be complicated; start with what your goals are and how are you going to get there.
A good foundation will give you the best platform to expand your campaign.
As experts in the industry, we are here to help. From product selection to design we will help you at every step.
Are you in search of an out-of-the-box solution? Our team of expert are here to transform your creative ideas into reality. For more information contact a member of our team today.
