Using Promotional Gifts in Conjunction with an Ad Campaign

Promotional gifts might have been designed to go hand in hand with advertising campaigns and there are great reasons why this combined approach are a sure success for your business. Here are ten reasons why promotional gifts and items make great additions to any business advertising campaign.

1. Everyone loves a freebie. No two ways about it – everyone loves to get something for nothing. When you give away a promotional gift, you're increasing your stock of good will. After all, you're giving something away. This automatically gives out a positive signal that you must be good people!




2. Promotional gifts are the perfect way to increase your brand awareness. The purpose of an advertising campaign is to get your name and your product out there. Choosing promotional gifts that are meant to be used makes your product name more noticeable.




3. The right match between your product and promotional gifts can create an indelible link. Want to equate your product with fun? Brand the logo on a yo-yo or Frisbee and see how much fun it builds.




4. Two-part promotional gifts encourage people to try your product. Launching a new business? Use a two part promotional gift to bring people to your grand opening. Send out part of the gift in a targeted mailing with an invitation to pick up the rest of the gift at your grand opening.




5. Use promotional gifts to build your company's image. Lend your company name (and some financing help) to public service promotions that you support. When you involve your company in public awareness advertising campaigns, you garner the best publicity available. Donate items branded with your company's name to campaigns to educate the public about causes that are important, and you'll be putting your company in an excellent light.




6. Useful promotional gifts keep your name in front of your customers. By sending out gifts that will be used every day, you make sure that your brand name is right there in front of your customers' eyes and on their minds when they're ready to buy.




7. The clever use of promotional gifts can create a buzz about your product. Be cute and clever, or work with a creative consultant who is both. A professional in the promotional items fields can suggest ways that promotional gifts can get your company noticed.




8. The gift adds longevity to your advertising campaign. Imprint your message on a mouse pad, a set of coasters or a key chain, and your campaign slogan will be remembered long after the adverts have stopped airing.




9. Customers who get free promotional gifts are more likely to buy and return to buy again.




10. Promotional gifts extend your advertising campaign's legs. When you use promotional gifts imprinted with your ad slogan or your company's logo, you increase the number of people who see it by the number of times that the recipient uses your gift.

Keying the promotional gifts you choose to your advertising campaigns makes sense. If you're looking for creative ways to use promotional items in your advertising campaigns, check out the leading suppliers on the internet and talk to one of their skilled professionals for ideas.

How to Choose Effective Business Advertising Gifts

Advertising business gifts offer a tried and true method of publicizing your business. Little tokens of appreciation given to clients, promotional items offered as an incentive to try a new product and trinkets that advertise your name are all part of the broader spectrum of advertising business gifts. They range from plastic key rings that cost a few cents each to elegant pen sets and even embossed laptop computers and cases. Choosing effective business advertising gifts is an art that requires you to evaluate a number of different factors.

What is the purpose of the gift?


Companies use advertising business gifts for many reasons, but most of them fall into one of four categories:


- to increase name or brand recognition


- to show appreciation for trade


- to increase sales by enticing customers to buy


- to acknowledge an achievement

Knowing why you are giving out an advertising business gift is the first step to choosing an appropriate promotional item (or appropriate items) to be used.

Who is the gift meant for?


Again, there are specific targets for advertising business gifts, and the recipients of your gift will also dictate the type of gift that you should be giving. The most common target recipients for advertising business gifts are:


- prospective customers


- existing customers


- employees


- executives of associate companies

Where and how will the gifts be distributed?


Your advertising business gifts may be distributed in many different ways, but the most common ways and places to distribute advertising business gifts are:


- by direct mail (marketing promotions)


- with a delivered order (thank you gifts to existing customers)


- at a trade show or other event (to existing and prospective customers)


- personally (at sales meetings or on appointments)


- as a handout in store or on premises (special events marketing)

The way that your gift is given can greatly influence its reception and impact. A sales representative for your company might keep a supply of good quality imprinted pens with him so that he can hand one to a customer about to sign a contract, then tell him to keep the pen. You might put a jar of inexpensive rulers imprinted with your company name at the till in your hardware shop, or hand out imprinted key rings at a public event on the green. A direct marketing campaign may involve mailing your advertising gift in an eye-catching package along with a coupon for your services as an enticement to try your firm.

No matter what or how, though, there are two rules of thumb to keep in mind when choosing appropriate and effective advertising business gifts.

1. Choose items that are of some value to your target audience. A gift that is used will give your business more exposure than one that is tossed in the trash or in a junk drawer.


2. Choose items that are associated with your business. A hardware or paint store might give out rulers or imprinted measuring tapes. A coffee shop might give away custom printed travel mugs.