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Six Ways Great Promotional Merchandise Will Keep Driving Sales

Posted by Chris Higgins on Fri, May 16, 2014 @ 07:00 AM

One of the best aspects of branded promotional products is how they can continue to drive sales promotional productslong after the first sale. Unlike most advertising, which is transient, a good promotional item can live on in someone's desk for months, or even years, providing ongoing messaging and impressions.

That leads directly to both repeat business, as well as referrals! The ability of promotional products to create goodwill is unmatched in marketing, and they can be deployed in plenty of ways.

Great Promotional Merchandise Is...

...A Conversation-Starter

Whenever a piece of your merchandise makes its way onto someone's desk, or into their pocket or bag, that's a referral situation waiting to happen. When an existing client has a promotional item, it's linked to their memories of interactions with you.

Simply seeing your mouse pad, or desk calendar, can prompt a conversation that starts with words like, "Hey, I'm in the market for a new home. Are they any good?" That's how referrals are made.

...Demonstration Of Your Quality

Anything with your brand on it reflects on the quality of your brand. When you invest in high-quality promotional items, people will notice the difference.

A well-built accordion folder or vividly-printed full-color day planner isn't simply a piece of merchandise. It demonstrates that you have the resources and attention to detail needed to make worthwhile products, even when it's something as simple as a pen.

...A Reminder That The Client Matters

Many promotional items are necessarily inexpensive in nature, but there is a full range available, including attractive and exclusive executive gift sets. On holidays or birthdays, a nicely-arranged gift basket sent to your top clients is always welcome.

Most companies' idea of a holiday gift is a coupon. When you actually give a gift with some value, your clients will remember. That's real goodwill that can't be purchased with any advertising campaign, and it'll bring them back to you year after year.

...Full Of Your Messaging

Let's not forget one of the main purposes of promotional products: Putting your name and contact information within easy reach. People are less likely to pull up the Internet and look for someone else's phone number, if yours is right there in their desk.

And with most promotional products, the messaging potential goes beyond addresses and phone numbers. Image-changing mugs can act as animated billboards, and calendars can be full of useful information about your products and services.

Every time the client sees these branded items, that's another impression and more chance of referrals and repeat business.

...Useful Every Day

custom mouse padsGratitude shouldn't be overlooked in sales, and giving your clients genuinely useful promotional items will consistently build gratitude. USB flash drives, for example, are very likely to end up in use - which means every time clients pull out your USB drive to store files, they're reminded who created the drive.

When you give something with real daily utility for your clients, they'll remember you for a lot longer. Every time they use it, they'll be reminded of how helpful you were when they had to do business.

It's a daily reminder of your value as a business partner.

...A Fun Keepsake

Finally, there's always the value in simply bringing a little fun into someone's life. Small puzzles, toys, and other "executive novelties" give people something to twiddle with for a minute or two in between meetings or filling out reports.

It's ongoing goodwill, built every time they kill a couple minutes with one of your gifts. Every time they do, they see your brand, and that's more positive associations being built with your brand.

Branded Promotional Merchandise Keeps Driving Sales

There's no other marketing investment which can so reliably build goodwill and lasting ongoing client relationships. In terms of quality impressions-per-dollar, promotional products are hard to beat.

Download  24 Innovative Uses  of Accordion Folders

Topics: promotional products, custom promotional products, desk pad calendar