What Are the Most Popular Promotional Giveaways?

In this fast-paced world of business, it is important to have a marketing plan that will set you apart from the competition. 

Leaving a good first impression is about more than a smile and a firm handshake. You want to leave your audience with something to remember.  Something they can look back on days, weeks or months later. 

Something that gives them your brand's name and contact information.

Promotional giveaways are a great marketing tool.  If you have ever attended a conference, sporting event, fundraiser or event put on by a large corporation, you've probably received a giveaway.

Whether your company is big or small, your marketing budget should include promotional giveaways. Memorable items let the world know your business has arrived and how to find you.

The goal is to find an item that people will use over and over again, and will keep your brand fresh in their minds.

The best promotional giveaways are the ones that keep on giving.  Giving in a way that places your brand in front of others.

There is a multitude of items and gadgets that make great marketing tools. The job of your marketing team is to find the one that places your brand in front of potential clients.

You want your company name to be immediately associated with the product or service you provide.

Why use Promotional Giveaways?

It's quite simple, branding.  The more people see your brand the more they will remember it.  Once they are able to associate your brand with a product or service, the more likely they will become a customer.

Promotional giveaways place your brand or logo in the hands of people who may not come in contact with your business on a regular basis.  These items also draw potential customers to your table or booth at conventions and trade shows.

Let's face it, people love free stuff.

When choosing items for your marketing plan, ask yourself how likely the recipient is to actually use or share the product.

In 2016 the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) released a study on popular promotional giveaway items.  The list was not surprising.  These items are tried and true.

If you are looking to get your brand out into the world, try placing your logo on these customer favorites.

You Can Never Have Enough T-Shirts

Have you ever attended a sporting event and the mascot shoots prizes from an air gun?  Most likely that prize is a t-shirt promoting the team.

T-shirts are by far the most popular promotional item.  According to the ASI report, 58% of US citizens own promotional shirts.   This is a pretty good marketing success.

Giving away a t-shirt with your company logo, website, and contact information is like having 1,000's of walking billboards.  Imagine, someone in need of your product or service standing in line at the grocery store, behind someone wearing a t-shirt with your logo.

T-shirts are inexpensive to produce and the price drops the higher the quantity.

This is definitely not a marketing item you want to skimp on.  Get the best quality t-shirts that will last.  It is an investment with a pretty good ROI.

Promotional tees can be given to employees, clients, family members, and are popular handouts at conferences.  They also make great giveaway prizes.

Other Types of Marketing Apparel

Marketing apparel doesn't stop at t-shirts.  Your promotional giveaways can also include baseball caps, polo shirts, jackets and more.  

These items may be on the costlier side but have great value.  Say your team is set up at a conference.  What better way to stand-out than having your employees wearing gear with the company logo.

It shows you are united and committed to your brand.

Since these items are on the higher end, you can raise the stakes for these promotional giveaways.  Have potential customers sign-up for your email list, participate in a demo, or register for a service to receive to receive a gift.

Make it worth the investment.

By giving gifts to your staff, you can improve the attitudes of your employees.  Promotional giveaways work well when rewarding your team for a job well done.

Employees who are happy with their jobs and feel rewarded by their employer will be proud to wear your gear.  Who better to represent your company, than the actual people who work there?

Coffee Mugs and Water Bottles

Great promotional giveaways should also include drinkware.  Coffee mugs, water bottles, and even stemware are items people reuse.  Along the line of t-shirts, mugs and water bottles are often used in public spaces. 

Can we say product placement?

Coffee mugs are used every day by businesses to advertise their services or products. People will not hesitate to take a coffee mug to the office.  Some may even leave it on their desk or in their breakrooms.  

Water bottles are often a hit.  Getting your water bottle in the hands of someone who works out has the potential to have your brand seen at the park or the local gym.

Get with the times and offer a water bottle with a fruit infuser.  Potential customers will be coming to your table in droves. 

Who wants a set of drinkware? 

If you own a restaurant or bar most definitely consider placing your brand on coffee mugs, stemware, shot glasses and more.  Use these items in promotional giveaways that entice customers to collect a full set.

Once your drinkware is in their home, it is sure to be seen by their guests for years to come.

All of these items are great gifts that can be given to employees for a job well done.

Totes and Durable Plastic bags

When you are in the business of sales, packaging is very important.  After making a purchase, customers leaving your store, office or event booth should do so displaying your logo.

Don't place their merchandise in a flimsy plastic bag that says "thank you." Create custom bags that bear your logo and company color scheme.  

There is a wide range of bags that can be used for customer purchases. You have a choice of recyclable plastic bags, heavier reusable plastic bags or a variation of paper bags.

It's up to you to determine if you want to provide a bag the customer is more likely to reuse.  The immediate goal should be eye candy as the customer walks through the mall.

Custom drawstring bags are versatile promotional products that will have your “back.” These promotional giveaways are also like walking billboards.  They are also more likely to be used by the recipient.  

Try filling the bags with flyers, brochures or candy to entice the customer t look inside.

Reusable totes are very popular these days among those who are conscious of the environment.  Someone looking to get away from plastic bags will be happy to receive your tote.

Tote bags come in lots of sizes.  Large totes can be used to carry groceries, while smaller totes can accommodate lunch. They are also useful for trips to the beach.

Having your logo and information on these bags guarantees it will be seen again and again.

When thinking of recognition gifts for employees, splurge a little. Lunch containers, totes and even computer bags with the company logo are appreciated.

Spruce Up the Office with Desk Swag

Envelope openers, message pads, magnets, USB drives, pen holders, mouse pads and more are awesome promotional giveaways.

Whether it is the desks of your employees or those of your customers, desk swag makes great giveaways.  Your logo can go on almost any item used within a workstation.

Colleges and universities often give these items to incoming students in their welcome packages. Employers find them useful at career fairs.

Most of these items can prove to be useful.  On the top of the list of usable giveaways, the USB Flash Drive would probably rank high.  

There is almost certainly one within ten feet of you right now. USB Flash Drives are useful gadgets that everyone with a computer has used at least once.  They are used to save reports for a meeting or download information from the library.

Companies use them to provide potential customers with information about their business.  They are like portable versions of the company website.

The great thing about these flash drives, they are reusable.  People seek them out in a crunch and coworkers and friends pass them along.  Thus, exposing your business to a new audience.

Don't be afraid to experiment with new marketing ideas.  See what works and stick with it.  If something doesn't work, don't harp on it.  Sometimes it takes trial and error to hit your mark.

Then There is the Good Old Reliable Pen

Need an effective, budget-friendly way to promote your business? Place your logo on a pen.  

Pens are very inexpensive and another terrific way to market your brand.  It isn't uncommon to have someone ask for a pen and let's be honest, most walk away from it.

The nicer the pen the more likely the user will keep it. 

The popularity of tablets and touch screens are increasing. Be it in the workplace, on college campuses or dealing with a small business, the digital world is here.

PensXpress offers custom stylus pens personalized with your logo and event information – helping you stand out in the crowd in the digital age.

There are a large variety of pens for businesses to choose from.  Pick a color, grip, size or style that best fits the personality of your business.

Place them at the receptionist desk, in promotional bags as giveaways, or donate them to organizations within your community. The goal is to get them in as many hands as possible.

At conferences and trade shows it is a nice touch to pair your pens with a customized notepad. Take your promotional giveaways to the next level.

Getting your marketing material into the hands of as many people as you can increase your brand awareness.

Incorporating Corporate Sponsorship's into your Promotions 

Another great branding strategy is to become a corporate sponsor.  

Corporate sponsorship usually comes with an opportunity to get your logo before a larger audience.  Your logo can appear on bags, banners, programs, t-shirts backs and even digital advertising.

Most events that allow corporate sponsorship give sponsors a table or booth to promote their business.  This is another way to market your business by distributing the various promotional items used as giveaways.

Corporate events and fundraisers not only get your name out, but it connects you to reputable companies.  It also builds a connection with the community and shows you care about their causes.

Brand visibility plus an approachable presence drives sales.

Customer Experience and Business Branding go Hand-in-Hand

Branding is a critical part of your overall marketing plan.  When it comes to promotional giveaways the focus is on the customer experience.

Building strong relationships with customers and potential customers is important in the branding process.  Trust is a key ingredient that keeps the customer coming back again and again.

Developing strategic opportunities to get your brand before the customer multiple times increases your visibility.  

This is why positioning your brand to be seen by as many people in your community is important.  Your website gets you known to the world.  It's what you do on the local front that builds your brand.

PensXpress wants to be a marketing resource you can count on time and time again.

In Closing,

Now that we have shown you some great ways to gain brand awareness, we'd love to show you what we specialize in at PensXpress.

We have worked with some of the biggest brands in the country.  We also provide that same level of quality and service to our smaller clients.

PensXpress strives to be the trusted source for high-quality promotional pens.  We stand behind our products and believe in their ability to help companies grow their brand.  

If you would like more info about promotional advertising or are looking for a company to create your promotional products, click here for more.