How many times have you been to an event where you're given a business card, a logo-bug, or maybe an unsharpened pencil and just known you're never going to really use it again? As the brand owner it's most likely that you've spent a small fortune on this, and as a visitor, it's most likely you've barely paid attention to the brand giving away these logo-bugs. It seems to be a lose-lose situation. You want to be raising awareness and boosting your brand in a way that's practical and memorable.
What do they think of you?
A study looking at the reactions of consumers and buyers showed that 40% of consumers equate the reputation of the advertiser with the quality of the promotional product received. Does that still make you want to throw any random promotional products at them? This means that giving away unwanted promotional items is only harming your brand name, when, for the same amount of money, you can be investing in high-quality promotional items that will take your brand much further than a business card ever could.
What do they really want?
Research has shown that the most favoured types of promotional items are items that can be consumed, followed by items that help collect or convey things (e.g. bags, notepads), and items associated with digital communication (USBs, mouse mats). It's easy to see why these are the most wanted promotional items- they all have a practical use! People get handed so many marketing tools at events, so when you're giving out a branded cotton shopping bag, you can be sure that the consumer will be finding it useful, all the while your brand is being effortlessly advertised.
Give me a top 3...
If we had to pick the top 3 products that would get your brand noticed at a low cost we'd pick...
1) Cotton tote bag - they're eco-friendly, practical, and have a big space for your brand design!
2) Notebooks- people at networking events are likely to be organised, and by leaving your brand name on their desk every day it's a sure way to be remembered. Pair this with a promotional pen and you're in for a winner.
3) Apparel- giving out a t-shirt with your logo can lead to massive exposure; people will be wearing it at the gym, out on walks, to go shopping... the list can go on!