Promotional gifts are used globally to promote a brand, event, corporate identity or company. These items are gifted at trade shows, conferences and other interactive marketing campaigns with the purpose of popularizing the company and its products or services.
In addition to this, promotional gifts serve as advertising elements, as the merchandise articles are generally branded with the logo of the promoting entity. Promotional gifts help the company unobtrusively stay in the consciousness of their target audience. It is important for companies to gift items that customers deem useful for maximum return on investment. Here are the top 10 promotional gifts that most campaigning entities opt for:
1. Personalized T-Shirts and Jackets
2. Tote Bags
3. Pens and Post-Its
4. Water Bottles and Travel Mugs
5. USB Memory Sticks
6. Mouse Mats
7. Coasters
8. Stress Balls
9. Notepads
10. Card Holders
1. Personalized T-Shirts and Jackets
One of the main reasons for companies to gift promotional items is to gain attention and increase brand awareness. Gifting personalized t-shirts and jackets help achieve this easily. This is because apparels with company brands and logos act as a form of advertising.
When these t-shirts and jackets are worn by customers, a number of people see the company’s logo. This refreshes people’s memory about the company and its services or products. It can also be an introduction to a company for some onlookers.
Promotional t-shirts and jackets should ideally be made available in a number of sizes, as customers may not feel comfortable wearing these apparels in free sizes. Always bear in mind the target audience to whom the apparels will be distributed. For instance, if the audience comprises of a young crowd, present them with hooded sweatshirts and if the audience is middle aged customers, gift them classy t-shirts.
For trade shows and other events where companies showcase their products, an ideal gift for customers would be tote bags. This is because customers can conveniently carry all product related information like brochures, pamphlets and booklets in these bags. The benefit of gifting tote bags with your company’s logo is that they will be used immediately by the customers when they go to different stalls and get material from them.
Also, ensure that you gift customers reusable gift bags, so that they can make use of it in future too. This way, the reusable tote bags gifted by your company will enjoy the benefit of repeated exposure, as more people will see your logo or advert on it.
Pens are one of the most commonly used promotional gift items as they are economical. Also, owing to a pen’s usefulness and small size, customers are more likely to carry it with them. Another reason why companies gift pens as promotional items is that these items are generally shared by people.
So if a client having a pen embossed with a company’s logo shares it with someone, the brand gets exposure. Post-its are another item that many companies use as promotional gifts for the same reasons as gifting pens. Generally, companies have their name inscribed on these notes so that when people use them, they are reminded of the company.
4. Water Bottles and Travel Mugs
Water bottles and travel mugs are used as promotional items as they not only provide a larger surface area for printing company logos but also because they are functional. It is important to gift water bottles and mugs that are of good quality and do not leak or spill. When customers receive these good quality water bottles, they will most likely use it when they travel and may be also to work. This will also bring your company more exposure.
USB memory sticks are considered one of the most useful items that companies can gift customers. This is because they can use these items to store and carry music, documents, pictures and programs depending on the USB’s storage capacity. Their utility lies in the fact that people can use USB sticks on a daily basis especially if they have regular requirements for storing and transferring information. Customers appreciate promotional gifts like a USB memory stick a lot because it serves an important function.
Mouse mats in innovative designs and shapes can be gifted to clients as promotional items. This is one of the few promotional items that provide ample surface area for your company’s logo and brand image to be printed on it. Mouse mats are also inexpensive and affordable gift options. As most customers use computer mouse every day, these mats serve as ideal desktop gifts to remind them subtly about your company.
Another promotional gift similar to a mouse mat is the coaster. While the surface area on a coaster for printing information may not be as extensive as that of a mouse mat, it still provides ample space for your company logo. The benefit of using coasters as promotional gift items is that they can be mailed out to customers, as these items are light and compact compared to most other promotional items.
Offer stress balls printed not just with your company’s logo but also with interesting faces and messages to customers. They can use these stress balls to relieve tension and strain and while doing so will be reminded of your company. While stress balls may not enjoy repeated exposure like tote bags, t-shirts, pens and post-its, your clients will associate the positive feelings invoked by these stress busters with your company.
Avoid gifting notepads with your company logo on just the front and back covers. This is because customers may leave notebooks open and fold them along the center so that they don’t have to reopen them each time. In this case, even though the notepads gifted by your company may be regularly used by your customers, they will not remind them of your company because of decreased visibility of logo or company name. To prevent this from happening, ensure that even the pages have subtle reminders of your company.
Business card holders are another promotional item that many companies gift their clients. When gifting these items ensure that they are stylish and made from good quality materials so that your clients are motivated to display them on their desk. Choose promotional business card holders made from plastic and faux leather, as they are economical options. Or opt for slightly expensive metal and wooden card holders to create an elite impression on your clients.
Ever since promotional gifts were popularized during George Washington’s elections in 1789, a niche but well established industry catering to a rising demand for these gifts has emerged. It is owing to the growth of this industry, that businesses and companies are able to promote themselves using a wide range of innovative promotional items.