If you haven't already done so, it's time to arrange your promotional advertising specialities products for next year.

These are items such as a bags, calendars, baseball caps, pens and similar items that businesses give to prospects, clients and contacts.

Intended to serve as reminders of you and the services that you provide, they can be very powerful and effective elements of your overall marketing program.

The Best...

If for example you have lost touch with clients, advertising specialities can hep you reconnect as a first step in reactivating the relationship.

Provided the products are consistent with your personal brand, they can remind clients and contacts of the great service that deliver. Inevitably, this will stimulate more repeat and referral business.

As an added bonus, if the products are really unique, clients and contacts will share them with others and also talk about you and how good you are. What great promotion...unsolicited third party endorsements.

The Not So Good...

There is however a downside to promotional advertising specialities and products.

We live in an overstuffed world. Do your clients and contacts really need and want more stuff?

Will they really appreciate that fancy new pen that will soon join their collection of unwanted and unused collection of pens?

And what about traditional wall calendars. Have the built in calendars on mobile communication devices replaced the need for wall and desk calendars?

Perhaps the biggest risk to the use of promotional advertising specialities products is that they might not accurately reflect you and the great service that you provide.

If for example you serve a high-end luxury market, using tacky advertising novelties or trinkets & trash, will leave recipients wondering why you sent them such chintzy promotional products.

So here are two questions to ponder.

  1. What promotional advertising specialities products best represent the quality of the service that you provide?
  2. What are the worst promotional advertising specialities products that you have ever seen?

Feel free to post your thoughts...help others benefit from the best and avoid the worst.

To learn more about promotional advertising specialities products, see Beyond Promotional Advertising Specialities Products —No Trinkets & Trash 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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7 Comments on The Best and Worst of Promotional Advertising Specialities Products

NOV
15
2011
338,026 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Brain Buffini, the motivational speaker, feels that if you send out things (anything, like a recipe card, for example, with your name and picture in the corner), then all you become known for is great recipes. In other words, it doesn't have much value. There's not enough return on investment.
8:19am • #1
Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Very informative. Thank you for taking the time and sharing this useful information. I am certain your local consumers, clients and professionals will benefit by your writing.

8:26am • #2
153,863 Points 19 Featured Posts

...and speaking of the some of the worst marketing approaches, how about the SPAM comment posted by http://www.fashion-long-4biz.com?

What a great example of what not to do in order to attract prospects and connect with potential purchasers!

 

 
9:30am • #3
447,681 Points 11 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I'm not big on pens, calenders and traditional marketing items because I feel that by giving these items to our clients we are showing them that we have put little thought into it and are just following the crowd. Something a little more original will make us stand out from the crowd. People really don't need more pens and calenders.
11:27am • #4
NOV
18
2011
207,093 Points

thank you for some great remoinders,

I love the fridge magnet concept that is pressed by so many at this time of year.  Unfortunately the most common Kitchen upgrade is stainless steel appliances  and Magnet do not adhere.

 

I received a magnet by mail from an Agent who "specialized in this neighbourhood"  all mailed packaged, stamped with a note label and stamp.  Needed to be $1.50 + per unit.

All Stainless steel.   I just shook my head while I dropped them in the disposal.

 

Thank you for your insights

 

David Pylyp
7:51pm • #5
NOV
23
2011
3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I was thinking about the magnetic memo boards but the stainless steel comment made sense. As for calendars, I'm having one custom made, it'll hopefully be a keeper because of its unique design.
8:06am • #6
DEC
01
2011
370,209 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I was thinking of Chocolate!! nobody does that here... and who doesn't love chocolate?? I really think i should have sent it out already for Thanksgiving though.. ahead of the xmas rush... and more would take note?? any thoughts?
7:32am • #7


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