Stretch your advertising dollar with promotional products

Small to medium businesses often don't have the marketing budget for large-scale advertising campaigns. But you don't need billboards or expensive ads in glossy magazines to get your name out there, with targeted promotional products a smart and economical alternative.

Quality product = quality brand

People love receiving things for free, but be wary of giving them cheap, useless items with your brand stamped all over them.

"Don't give away rubbish, because people will associate it with your brand," says David Wassell of Promotif Promotional Merchandise.

"If you want to be perceived as a high-quality organisation, make sure the standard of the advertising merchandise is high. You don't want to be remembered for a pen that leaks every time it's used."

Perception is everything

Balance the small additional outlay for a quality promotional product against the impression you will create and it's well worth it. 

"Give them a $2 pen and they may assume it cost $10 to $15," says David. "The perceived value is obviously greater than the actual cost to your business."

Make it useful and lasting

Think about what you're trying to promote and select the appropriate merchandise for your market. T-shirts are very popular for one-off events or promotions, but they tend to have a short shelf life, often ending up as rags used to clean the car.

"If you don't want to be forgotten in a hurry, try something a little more lasting," says David. "A stubby holder gets used at an event, but continues to be useful to the recipient if they like the look and feel of it." 

If you want your message to stay at the top of people's minds, you can't go past a good-quality, well-designed coffee mug, says David. "A coffee mug is the timeless choice - it's cost effective, it's durable, and it sits on people's desks as a constant reminder."

Know your market

Promotional products can be a smart way of positioning or changing your brand message. You can indicate that your company is 'green aware' or has a social conscience with newer promotional products like reusable shopping bags or branded tubes of sunscreen.

"You can put your brand on a reusable shopping bag, then place some branded goodies inside - a tube of sunscreen, a bottle of water and a cap," David says. "Your company will look green, sun smart and you're considering your market."

Something for everyone

There's a breathtaking array of innovative promotional products available. From ties to yoyos to bar mats and underwear - there's something to suit every taste, every market and every message.

To get your message and your brand across in a cost-effective way, it is well worth investing your advertising dollar in some quality promotional merchandise.