How to Effectively Use Promotional Products

1.      Reinforce Ongoing Messages with the Medium that Remains to be Seen:
Whether it’s the slogan in your not so inexpensive ad campaign or the theme of your internal employee incentive plan, the right promotional product will keep the message in front of its recipients. Now your message is in 3-D.

2.      Know Who You Are Purchasing From:
Your promotional products distributor is the link between you and the supplier who manufacture the products. An experienced distributor will help you differentiate between the good and questionable suppliers.

3.      Know Who Will Receive the Product:
If you want an appointment with a company decision maker, you’re not going to get it with an inexpensive ballpoint pen or a ceramic mug. By the same token, a trade show isn’t the place to give away expensive watches. 

4.      Establish Relationships:
While a direct mail or online distributor MAY save you a few cents OCCASIONALLY, They won’t be on the lookout for new items and one that may be appropriate for your next event or campaign.

5.      Quality, Not Quantity:
Given a choice between giving a lot of one item to everyone, or less to a targeted audience, always choose quality over quantity. For example, give a nicer gift to the people who take the time to hear your presentation at a trade show instead of a more generic item to everyone who walks by.

6.      Be Prepared – Logo Usage, etc., It’s Your Brand!
You probably paid good money for logo design. Be sure to have it in different digital formats, for use in color, or black and white, as well as in small vs. large formats. A small investment during the planning stages will save you time and money when you’re up against a deadline.

7.     Budget and Planning Ahead:
The tighter your budget, the more planning time you should allow yourself and your promotional product distributor to find the right product at the right price for your project.

8.       Set Goals:
What is to be accomplished by using this product? If you can’t think of a good reason, you’re wasting your money…don’t make one up (a reason.)

9.      How Green Do You Want to Be?
You may not have the capability or the budget to be the “Greenest” company on the block, but using environmentally friendly promotional products could be a good place to start. How about using ceramic mugs instead of paper or plastic in your break room? How about promoting a carpooling program for your company or group of companies around you?

10.   How About Those Office Supplies?
How much do you spend on adhesive notes, pens, pads, pencils and recordable CDs? For pennies more, these and many other items can be customized to spread your message to employees, customers and prospects.

Contributed by Youssef Fadel, who has been in the industry since 1987. Youssef represents NEPM – a certified woman-owned company, ranked in the top 3% for the last 10 years by ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute). This March, NEPM will celebrate 20 years of working with small to Fortune 500 companies.