We all love a good giveaway, even if it’s something so simple as a pen or notepad.  Sometimes it’s those little free things we pick up from a business or two that get us excited; and, not because we just saved ourselves five cents from having to buy it ourselves, but because it was given to us as a gift.

If you read my blog post, Cents Off:  How Much of a Discount Should You Offer, you’ll know that value is perceived in many different ways.  Those promotional pens you amass from others isn’t about loading up your pencil holder, but a connection made between you and a business.

Promotional Products and Advertising

Of course businesses love their customers, but those freebies they hand out are an integral part of their advertising campaign.  Promotional products help companies increase their brand recognition.  While the end user of such products may not have taped your brochure to their computer monitor as a reminder, a simple pen with your logo is a constant reminder of who you are and what you sell.  And like a business card, information on a promotional product gives the end user an easy way to remember and contact you when they need your product or service.

Promotional Products Have Reach

Take for instance an umbrella or a t-shirt that you give away as a promotional product.  Not only does the end user use or wear it in public, but it can serve as a walking billboard for you.  Your business name, logo and information are seen by multiple people, not just the guy you originally gave it to.  It’s akin to a magazine in a doctor’s office – there’s more than one reader.

Just about anything can be used as a promotional product these days.  Technology has made it much simpler and cost-effective to have your business information stamped on an object.  Whether you envision mouse pads or key chains, baseball caps or baseballs, it can be made into a promotional product.

Promotional Products Should Represent Your Brand

The key to creating and using these promotions effectively lies in understanding your brand perception and what your customer’s are looking for.  Promotional products can be used not only for brand awareness but to enhance your slogan or mission.  Be sure to use a quality product.  Even though the end user is getting it for free, it doesn’t mean they want something that doesn’t work or breaks.  The quality of your promotional product is a direct reflection of your brand.  If it appears flimsy or falls apart, what will they think about your product or service?

At Greenway Print Solutions, we have thousands of promotional items to choose from.  Your creative license is unlimited!  Just bring us your ideas.  If it can be read, touched or scanned, we can print it.