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Promotional Products That Perform

In a world where digital marketing is dominant, it’s easy to forget the benefits that traditional promotional products can provide. There’s a broad range of custom promotional products that perform well to boost your business bottom line.

The sheer number of custom promotional products available is astounding. A full line supplier can offer nearly a million customizable products. With that big a selection available to choose from, there’s sure to be at least one product and more likely several, that’s ideal for your business, school or organization.

A good provider will work with you to determine which products will perform best for your particular needs. There are some basic considerations to take into account when choosing products.

Selecting the Right Promotional Products

Consider the following factors when choosing custom products:

·      Is this product useful?

·      Is the quality of this product high enough that I would give it to a friend or close relative?

·      What is the desired objective for this product? Immediately increased sales? Long-term brand recognition? Fundraising? Awareness of a cause?

·      Is this product seasonal or does it work year-round?

·      Does this product fit our budget?

A reputable custom product provider can help you answer these questions and steer you to the products that will get maximum results for your specific needs.

Take apparel, for example. Custom T shirts are an excellent way to promote a brand in a casual way. Take a look around in just about any public place. Tee shirts are everywhere, from the mall to school to the gym. Concerts, sports arenas, just about anywhere you can imagine, you can find custom logo tees. If the casual style is appropriate to your brand, they can be a great way to get the word out to prospective customers.

Need something less casual for an office environment? Custom polo shirts are the way to go. They’re more subtle than a T shirt, and ideal for many businesses, and look good enough to go to lunch with clients, to the country club or even out to dinner.

Fundraising – Small Products, Big Results

When it comes to fundraising for a cause, whether a political campaign, disaster relief or disease research, small items pack a big punch. Low cost and high return, simple promotional products that sell in bulk can raise cash fast.

Don’t believe it? Tell it to an Ohio elementary school that raised $5,000 in less than three weeks with wristbands that said: “Help Haiti Heal.”

Still skeptical? Talk to Lady Gaga. She raised more than $1.5 million in emergency aid for Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and subsequent nuclear disaster.

Ok, you still don’t think wristbands can make much of a difference? How about the fact that cancer patients have benefitted from the millions of dollars that the classic yellow wristband has raised over the years?

What makes wristbands such excellent fundraising products? It’s simple. They’re inexpensive, yet offer a great markup. It’s possible to buy them in bulk for pennies apiece, then sell them at $5 each to raise money for your cause. The cash adds up fast because people like wristbands. Wearing a wristband is tangible proof they’ve contributed to the cause.

Custom lapel pins are another great example of small products that can have a major impact. They’re a perfect product for boosting employee or team morale. Present them to reward outstanding achievements such as meeting sales quotas or finishing a major project. Many organizations reward years of service with commemorative lapel pins. They become proud keepsakes that employees treasure, whether they choose to wear them or display them at home.

Custom Drinkware – Bottoms Up, Performance Up

Custom mugs and other drinkware have long been a staple of promotional products. If you’re drinking coffee or tea right now, odds are good that you’re sipping from a mug with someone’s logo or brand on it.

There’s a good reason for that. People like products they can use. Many people rely on coffee or hot tea to provide the energy boost they need to start the morning or get through the workday. It’s not uncommon to have a favorite mug both at the office and another one at home.

In recent years, cold drink tumblers like Tervis, RTIC, and Yeti have taken the market by storm. Did you know you can have your logo laser engraved on those? They make an outstanding gift item for high-value customers, staff, and vendors. They’re sure to get frequent use, getting your brand out in front of others.

Custom Coins and Dog Tags – Not Just for the Military

Custom dog tags and custom coins have moved beyond their traditional military uses in recent years. With the advent of custom laser engraving and colorful plastic dog tags, the small trinkets have become a pop phenomenon in their own right. They’re great for a youth-oriented market.

Challenge coins, as they’re known in the military, are a more formal item. Die-struck coins, with or without color and other options added, can be presented for achievements, sent to clients or serve as commemorative items for years of service, just like custom lapel pins.

When made properly, custom coins make a beautiful collectible item, much like a fine piece of jewelry. Present them to staff members, volunteers or students at an organization-wide assembly and they’re sure to become treasured keepsakes.

For nonprofit organizations, custom coins also make good fundraisers. They’re a popular way to raise cash for educational and public service programs. Your promotional product supplier can provide more information about using custom coins in innovative ways.

Trade Show Giveaways: Low Cost, High Return

Trade shows, conventions, and conferences are fertile ground for custom promotional products. From your exhibitor booth, you can spread your logo throughout the event.

Simple items such as custom pens are still popular with many people. The secret to it is to offer something beyond just an ordinary product. A common cheap stick ballpoint pen isn’t going to go very far. A higher quality gel ink pen with a built-in tablet stylus will be going home with the person who receives it.

Tote bags and lanyards are always great trade show attention getters. Lanyards are the ideal way to carry the ubiquitous convention I.D. badge. Unlike pins or clips, lanyards are easy to wear, don’t damage clothing and are hard to lose. People appreciate them, and they’re a great way to increase the visibility of your logo throughout the convention center.

Tote bags are even better. Everyone gets lots of freebies at a typical trade show. They’ll be grateful if you give them a convenient bag to carry all that stuff. Even better, they’ll carry your logo, printed on both sides of the bag, throughout the hall. You’ll see a steady stream of prospects headed to your booth to pick up a bag.

Magnetic custom calendars are a tried and true way to promote your product or service. Small and easily carried, they’re also popular. People like having a way to attach paperwork – children’s artwork, perhaps? – to their refrigerator or filing cabinet. What better way to keep your logo right in front of potential customers, either at home or the office?

The right mix of custom promotional products can significantly increase return on your marketing efforts. Consult a reputable provider for more information about how they can help you boost both brand awareness and the bottom line.