There are many ways to help promote your company or product. While a great internet site and radio and television advertising campaign is always a good thing to get people aware of your product, there is one thing that never fails to get people into your product: free stuff. Yes, no matter is your 5 or 105, everyone likes getting something for free. They don’t care it’s an advertisement or not, they will take it. This where the idea of Promotional merchandise really benefits your company. You don’t even have to give out samples of your product, all you need to do is give out something with your company logo or product name printed on it. Whether it’s a t-shirt, a yo-yo or a bobblehead, the best way to get your name out there is through a promotional item.
The thing is, though, with so many Promotional merchandise options out there it is important to pick something that people will actually use. Just because you give out something for free does not mean someone will use it, and if they don’t use it then you wouldn’t be promoting your product. This is why you have to take in consideration what you are putting out. With so many options out there from great companies like Sourcing Planet (you can literally find 1,000′s of options) there is no excuse to put out a promotional item that people won’t use.
Start by thinking this way: what type of consumer is your product or service designed towards. Is it towards kids? Adults? Men? Women? While it is cute to put your company or product name on just about anything and give it out as Promotional merchandise, it makes better sense to direct it towards your target audience. If it’s for kids put your name on stuff kids love: toys, candy, gum, Frisbees, etc. If it’s towards adults put it on chapstick, drink koozies, ale steins, or beach towels. Heck, if you’re looking for a wide market then t-shirts and sweatshirts are always a great bet. With t-shirts even if the individual wearing it doesn’t buy your product it’s a free advertisement to those who walk by them.
The thing about Promotional merchandise is that it has to be approached in the same way as any advertising campaign does. Just because a promotional item looks cool does not mean people will use it. What good is an item if it’s just thrown into a drawer the second someone gets home?
