Big or small, businesses spend a lot of their money on advertising each year. However, they rarely reap the benefits of their promotional practices. Well, we found one method that is guaranteed to give results quickly, and easily. Plus, it will not make a huge dent in your budget. We know that every business has to promote itself. It’s just the rule of the market and everyone accepts that simple fact. If you don’t advertise, you don’t exist, but the question is …. Why promotional products work??

Just like with the tree in the forest. If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Businesses live and die by this rule.

If a business exists, but no one has heard of it, can it really survive? We all know the answer to that question. And that answer is why the advertising and marketing industry has the market value of $1.2 trillion.

Every business owner wants to promote his business, products, or services. And that’s why every company spends a lot of its hard-earned cash on advertising and marketing. That is why this industry has continuously been growing. With new devices and platforms coming in each year, this value will only increase. However, people seem to fail to notice one crucial thing. It’s not all about the value of your promotion. It’s also about psychology and creativity. You can pay millions of pounds for a promotion, and receive zero feedback and zero results. All in all, a nice round zero as a return on your investment.

And do you know why? Because you’re not “hitting” your audience’s sweet spot. And because you’re overspending to try and do so.

Maybe it’s time for you to look into something different? Something good, but old. Cost-effective, but incredibly efficient. Yes, it’s time to start looking into promotional products as a way for reaching more potential customers.

We’re, of course, talking about promotional products

When it comes to this marketing tactic, everything is simple and straightforward. It has been around ever since humans started selling products and services. No, for sure ancient Romans didn’t print t-shirts with the name of their fruit stands, but they did give people to try their best fruit for free, and if they disliked it, they didn’t have to buy it. Of course, promotional products have changed significantly since then, but, they are still here, and that should tell you something.

The fact that promotional products industry has been around for centuries, and that it is worth over $20 billion today, shows that it is definitely worthwhile.

Here are the undisputed 5 reasons why promotional

products work for your business

1. Significantly increased brand recognition

Brand recognition means that customers can identify what your company is offering in an instant. Just the sight of your logo should be enough for them to remember what you do and what you’re offering. Everybody recognises Apple’s logo or KFC’s, and that’s because these brands focused on building brand recognition.

Those promotional items you give to your customers will help them remember your business in the long run and recognise what you’re doing. In our opinion, this is reason enough to give away promotional merchandise.

According to leading research the results are that 89% of people will remember the advertiser for two years after they have received a promotional product.

If you choose the right product, it will stay with them. It will be in their cars, offices, or homes for a long time. Six out of 10 people who get promo merchandise keep it for two years. It is a constant ad reminding them of your company. And then, when they go shopping or looking for services, they will remember you. And that’s your reward – when they need services or products you provide, thanks to those branded mugs, tote bags, promotional pens, drawstring bags printed water bottles or corporate umbrellas you gave them, they will come to you rather than your competition.

2. Effective, low-cost marketing

When it comes to small businesses, spending money on a huge advertising campaign that would overflow all sorts of media can only be a dream. However, these businesses don’t need such a campaign to achieve their goals. A low-cost promotional products campaign can help a startup stand on its feet for the first time.

How? Well, you see, most promotional printed merchandise manufacturers have very low mass production costs. That means that the more you order, the less you pay. And still, these cheap products will have an immense impact on the recipients.

How much of an impact? Well, according to research, 85% of people who receive promotional merchandise do business with the advertiser afterward. Not a bad investment return, is it?

3. Cheap everyday exposure

When a company advertises its products and services on social media, TV, or billboards, that ad is in front of your eyes for mere seconds. On the other hand, useful promotional gifts are with you most of the time. Right in your eye-line.

If you make trendy promotional t-shirts or jackets, your customers will wear that gift for years, walking around with your brand name for everyone to see. If you give them custom branded mugs, they will sip from them every day. If you give them a USB stick that’s a keychain, they will put their keys on it, and remember your brand every time they use their keys or the USB stick. And, according to PPAI data, people tend to keep these products for up to two years. That’s a two-year commercial that one person sees every day and that their friends, colleagues and family see at least once or twice.

According to research, 76.1% of people who receive promotional products tend to remember the advertiser’s name if they received a gift within the past year. On the other hand, out of people who saw a magazine ad a week ago, only 53.5% could remember the advertiser’s name.

4. Customer loyalty

The goal of every business is to build a loyal customer base. You need people who will not only remember and recognise your brand, but who will also go to you for all their needs that are related to your field of business.

Building a good base of loyal customers is what every marketing specialist is spending the most of his time doing. And, as every marketer knows, promotional products will give them that quickly.

But, before you go off giving pens and fans, bear in mind that people tend to be loyal to brands from which they receive high-quality branded promotional merchandise. When you give a premium quality item to a first-time customer, they will remember you as a high-quality business.

5. Better than a business card

Plain and simple – your business card is a way for you to introduce yourself and your company to your potential consumers. Promotional products do the same thing, just with much better results.

When you’re giving away products that are related to your business, you’re helping people get to know you and what you do. According to MarketingSherpa’s research, 71.6% of people who received promotional merchandise were able to remember the name of the company that gave it to them.

These items should always have your business’ information on them – the logo, a slogan, and images. These don’t have to be given only at assemblies or during events. They can be a part of your campaign on social media, whether you use hashtags for Instagram, or make Facebook giveaways.

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How Do Promotional Products Help Business?

If these five reasons aren’t enough for you to give promotional products a shot, here are some more mind blowing numbers:

Out of people who receive your promotional merchandise, 79% will research your brand.

9 out of 10 people remember the branding, 8 out of 10 remember your message, and 7 out of 10 remember a call to action.

Promotional products are ranked number one most effective way of advertising for fast reaction among all ages.

7 out of 10 brands find that promotional merchandise is almost always effective in achieving their marketing goals.

Are you still not sure?

Ok, stop for a moment and think about the big brands. About companies that are at the top of their game. Yes, they have enormous marketing budgets, and they are all over socials, TV, billboards, and papers. But, when things get rough, they too turn towards promotional products. When their sales are down, or when they’re launching a new product, you will see that they add in one key ingredient that helps their bottom line immensely – promotional merchandise.

Coca-Cola is doing it – when a new taste comes out, they are giving away free drinks. When they want to boost sales, they make product giveaways with company branded bags, logo printed pens, or printed mints. You get the gist.

When BMW wanted to increase brand awareness, they didn’t only focus on their target groups; they gave branded headrest covers, ice scrapers, tools and torches, corporate printed keyrings, even cakes to anyone who stopped by their Dealer Drive Experience.

Promotional merchandise is cheap and direct. It is straight to the point, and it provides fast results with effects that last. That isn’t just an impression we have. It’s what research has shown – promotional products work!

If you require further information or have any specific questions, don’t hesitate to give a member of our experienced team a call on 0220 614131 or simply email us today.