Promotional products are giveaway items that are decorated with your company branding. You can hand them out to customers and potential customers to build brand awareness and create positive relationships. At PDM, we can turn practically any item, from pencils to backpacks, into a promo for your business.

When you’re looking to boost brand recognition, it’s hard to beat the power of promos. In one study, when companies gave out promotional items, 85% of recipients remembered the business name. Even more exciting? In comparison to digital ads, people who received promos were 2.5 times more likely to have a positive impression of the business.

Uses for Promotional Products

What happens if your company doesn’t exhibit at trade shows — can you still use products to promote your business? In short: yes! Branded promos are a fantastic way to delight your customers, no matter what stage your company is at.

Some uses for promo products include:

• Customer thank-you gifts: Do you have loyal customers? Show them that you appreciate their repeat business by putting a special branded product into the box with their next order. They’ll be delighted by the gift — and when they use it, it’s free advertising for your business.
• Employee gifts: Use branded products to reward your staff and thank them for a job well done.
• Event giveaways: Whether you’re attending a local networking meeting or visiting a college career fair, promos make great giveaways.
• Sales pitches: Leave a few branded products with potential clients after a sales pitch. They’ll enjoy using the items, and your company name automatically gets more visibility.

Benefits of Promo Products

Promotional items can boost your business in a wide range of ways. Some of the benefits include:

Affordable Company Promos
Branded items are an affordable way to strengthen your marketing campaigns. When you order in bulk, the price per item drops significantly, so you can reap the benefits without breaking the bank. Plus, compared to other marketing spends, such as digital ads, you can get a significantly higher ROI.

Customer Satisfaction
It’s no secret that people love free stuff — including your customers. Products that are made with your company branding are a great way to offer a special treat. Whether you’re handing them out at trade shows or including them in random orders, you’ll create a happy surprise that keeps people coming back for more.

Increased Brand Exposure
When you hand out promotional items, it automatically brings your brand more exposure. Every time the person uses the giveaway, they see the brand. More importantly, other people see your brand, especially if you’re using high-visibility items like tote bags or backpacks. This extra exposure creates a sense of familiarity — which means that when someone needs the type of products or services you provide, your company name is more likely to come to mind.

Better Brand Awareness
The first step in bringing new customers is making sure that they know your company exists. Promotional items can be a big help; they build awareness among your target customers, which boosts the strength of your brand.

Designing Effective Promotional Items

With a nearly endless array of products to choose from, how do you decide which one is the most effective for your business? That’s where we come in. Our expert team of professionals can help you identify the products that will speak to your customers and employees to improve your ROI and brand awareness. At PDM, we believe that careful product selection is crucial — a little legwork upfront ensures that you’re spending your marketing dollars wisely.

The first step in the design process is research. We assess your business goals, analyze your audience, and look at your upcoming events. Those insights help us narrow down the product options. If you’re planning to exhibit at tech conferences, for example, we might include laptop backpacks or folding phone stands.

Do you have competitors? We’ll also take a look at the promos they’re using. That way, we can help you find products that will set you apart from the crowd. If everyone else is handing out USB drives, we’ll take you in a different direction to differentiate your company.

Once we have a shortlist of products, there are steps you can take to make better final selections. One option is to poll your customers; another is to speak to your employees. With real feedback, it’s easier to pick products that your audience will actually use.

The fun starts when we have the final promotional items. Our PDM professional designers use your company’s logo and branding elements to turn a plain product into an attractive piece of marketing collateral. Using color and graphics, we create promos that your customers will be proud to use. This is, arguably, the most important step in the process — when you have beautiful promo items, it enhances your company’s message.

Are you ready to get started with custom promotional items to boost your business? Contact us today to get the conversation started.