The 5 Best Promotional Products and Why They Work

By Tilloshin Popp | Printed Shirts

Small business owners have a million things to worry about at once—and taking advantage of cost-effective advertising strategies is always near the top of the list of priorities. Traditional marketing methods like print and television can be cost-prohibitive, and it can also be difficult to accurately measure their effectiveness. Stretching advertising dollars is something every business owner must master to stay in the red in today’s ultra-competitive marketplace.

Customized promotional products are one of the best ways to get a lot of bang for your advertising buck. They are affordable and effective, and help you build a relationship with your existing customers while simultaneously attracting new ones. Most people enjoy getting free gifts of any kind, especially if they are functional. The beauty of this method is that these items can be purchased in bulk for considerable discounts and easily handed out to customers. The simplicity of this mode of advertising is what makes it so attractive to small businesses trying to make a name for themselves in their niche.

There are dozens of good promotional items to choose from, even more, so when you consider niche-specific items (like bottle openers for a microbrewing company). Below I have listed five of the most popular promotional gifts businesses use to get new customers on the cheap.

1. Pens

It should be no surprise that pens show up at the top of the list. Promotional pens are like traveling salesmen who get passed around from here to there, advertising your business along the way. Customized pens can be purchased in bulk for a song and passed out to customers, salesmen, related businesses, and anyone else who might spread them around. Pens may change hands three or four times before they run out of ink, so you’re getting maximum exposure for minimum investment.

2. Promotional T-Shirts

Promotional t-shirts have been used for decades, and have earned their number 2 spot on the list. People wear t-shirts all the time, and they are always happy to get one for free. Some companies can even get away with selling promotional t-shirts to recoup their initial costs. People wear t-shirts to the gym, the grocery store, the mall, to restaurants, and in a lot of other areas where lots of eyes will be on them.

3. Glassware

You might be surprised to see this on the list, but glassware has become an extremely popular promotional gift. Think of all the branded beer glasses, wine glasses and shot glasses you’ve come across. These items can be a bit more expensive, but are still quite affordable. Glassware items are attractive and elegant, and every time a host pulls them out to serve a guest they get a new pair of eyes on them.

4. Tote Bags

Customized tote bags have become quite popular, and are used for groceries, gym bags, and for light travel. Tote bags make good promotional products since everyone can find a use for them.

5. Coffee Mugs

Most people drink coffee or tea, so coffee mugs make great promotional items. They are a mainstay in the marketing arsenal, and will likely continue to be for some time. Just look in your cabinets to see how effective promotional coffee mugs are.

Tilloshin Popp is an author/blogger from Winnipeg, Manitoba who often writes about promotions and marketing topics. For more information on promotional products and how they can work for your business visit printedshirts.ca.

Contact your local Promotional Products Specialist for more trends.

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Custom Trade Show Promos

By Halo Branded Solutions

Getting noticed at a trade show isn’t easy, but with promotional trade show items and giveaways, you can drive traffic to your booth and increase your brand’s visibility.  But with so many options, how do you decide which products are right for you?

Lanyards

It’s important to consider functionality when choosing a promotional product that will serve as a representation of your brand. Promotional lanyards are often used during the show to display IDs and after the show to carry keys. Custom lanyards have become an increasingly popular item for everyday use in schools, offices, and at home giving your brand staying power. Lanyards also come in an array of colors and materials, making it easy to find a style that fits your brand and budget.

Balloons

Trade shows can be hectic, making it easy for your booth to get lost in the sea of tables among hundreds of representatives. Make sure your booth is a must-see attraction with colorful, highly visible balloons. They’re a great choice for businesses who want to increase name and brand recognition at trade shows.  Balloons are also highly customizable, with many shapes, sizes, colors, and materials to choose from.

Table Covers

For frequent trade show exhibitors, imprinted table covers are a great investment. They have a great return on investment because of their long-lasting, durable construction.  Custom table covers deliver instant professionalism for any booth, providing excellent signage, while conveniently hiding extra supplies or boxes stored underneath your table. They help keep the attention of attendees, reinforce brand recognition, and call attention to the products and services you’re exhibiting. Also consider uses outside the world of trade shows, such as seminars, and corporate events.

Buttons and Pins

Buttons are one of the most cost-effective ways of promoting your brand. Create a custom button to communicate your message, introduce a new product, or gain attention for your cause. Trade show attendees can pin your personalized buttons and pins to their lanyard or lapel, and walk around promoting your brand all day!

Banners and Signs

Vinyl banners are another great investment for brands looking to gain visibility at a trade show. Custom signage not only helps to spread your message but also provides maximum exposure with the ability to print your full-color digital graphics with stunning detail.

Halo Branded Solutions is one of the USA’s largest distributors of promotional products. Promotional Products or Marketing Gifts are any product on which a company’s logo or marketing message can be displayed, including mugs, pens, T-shirts, bags, calendars, hats, and a multitude of other items.

Contact your local Promotional Products Specialist for more trends.

Promo Gift Idea - Racer Pen

Pen is always a popular promotional product for giveaways. Due to the fact that it is cheap in price and easy to manufacture, people usually engrave it and send it to clients. Yet, how can you show your company characteristics when giving out a pen? Here is an idea: racer pen. Read more to see how a racer pen can be used as a promo gift.

Using Racer Pen as a Promo Gift

This racer pen has a car-like body and a small rim attached to it. The body shape can be customized to any shape you want. This promotional gift is useful to all companies in the automotive industry because it emphasizes the company's characteristics. It can be modified into a car shape that is similar to the one sold. These special features will make your client recognize your brand easily. Moreover, engraving is still available on the racer pen, just like in a normal race car.  Or you may choose to screen print your logo on this promotional product.

Furthermore, it brings entertainment value to the user. Pen is commonly used on a daily basis. Usually, when people get bored they will play with pens. This marketing gift will bring more fun to your customers, be it in the office or at home. They can play with it on their desk as the car wheel can actually rotate. 

Usually, a positive response to your promo gift can always lead to a positive perception towards your company. Be sure that you are giving away a product of good quality. With good quality control management, it is possible to produce high-quality products at a low manufacturing cost. Contact us if you would like more advice on quality control management.