What are the benefits of using promotional merchandise? Nowadays, it seems that many marketing strategies are purely social media-driven. No matter who you are in the marketing industry, don’t let anyone tell you that promo products are a thing of the past. Ignoring the power of merchandise would be the most detrimental business move you could make.
In this article, we will explore why promotional merchandise is still relevant to your business and how to implement it in your marketing mix.
BENEFITS OF USING PROMOTIONAL MERCHANDISE
What can promo products do for your brand?
It doesn’t matter if you own a motorcycle shop or bake gluten-free pastries; promotional products will help your business thrive. Think of these giveaways as a more useful version of your business card. Craft an eye-catching keychain or a reusable bag with your cute cupcake logo, and you have just created real-life, walking advertisements. This is an effective, affordable way to grow your brand’s exposure.
Why are promotional products still relevant in a digital marketing world?
You may be thinking, “This is 2018. No one even writes with pens anymore.” Sure, the world we live in has certainly changed, and technology is one of our biggest consumptions. Nonetheless, everyone loves a free gift, especially if it is useful. This type of advertisement puts your brand in a favorable light. It shows your clients that this is a reciprocal relationship; out of all the businesses out there, you actually care about their happiness.
Do you know how long the average tweet circulates? According to Social Media Specialist, Rebecca Coleman, the answer is “about 15 minutes.” Facebook and Instagram posts? Roughly 24 hours. However, according to the Promotional Products Association (PAA), 76% of people who own promotional merchandise can clearly recall the company who gave them the product, as well as the event in which they received it. To top it off, “Well-designed and useful promotional products are more often than not retained for a year or more, ensuring that your brand remains on display for far longer than would be possible via conventional promotional techniques.”
Do you want your clients to remember your brand for 15 minutes or over a year?
HOW TO IMPLEMENT PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS INTO YOUR MARKETING MIX
“Gifts such as promotional… gadgets and clothing bearing brand logos have been proven to be an instrumental aspect of any effective, balanced marketing strategy.” –Andrew Nash, Promotional Products Expert
What’s your marketing mix?
First off, don’t feel bad if “marketing mix” is a term you haven’t heard in awhile. We all have too many acronyms and terminologies to add to our lives daily. Basically, your marketing mix is a tool combining the four Ps: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. You want to have the right product, at the right price, in the right place, and promote it correctly. As Andre Nash explained in the quote above, the most important component of this “balanced marketing strategy” is the product itself.
The best way to add promotional merchandise to your marketing mix
Do your research and know your target audience. If you aren’t familiar with your buyer persona, get to know them before you make any decisions. Don’t select products to give away because you or your nephew think they’re super cool. What could your ideal client really use? What merchandise would he or she be excited to receive and show off to friends?
The best way to add promotional merchandise to your marketing mix is to get the product right the first time. Make sure you’re ordering quality items. After all, your promo products represent your brand; do you want your company to fall apart after being used twice? In addition, while ensuring that the merchandise represents your company’s key values, try to appeal to your clients’ emotions and ethics. For example, if you aim to target eco-conscious athletes, the last thing you want to distribute is plastic beer mugs.
Your marketing mix will never get better than your promo product selection.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions whatsoever about the benefits of using promotional merchandise, we are here for you. Likewise, if you’re struggling to integrate promo products into your marketing mix, we want to help. Whatever the case may be, our mission at Red Tomato is to assist you in achieving your biggest company goals.
When you work with us, you know that we are invested in your vision and ultimate success. From the first consultation to the day of distribution and beyond, we are there for you every step of the way. We are eager to show you how to make the most of your valuable services.
What do you think the benefits of using promotional merchandise are? How have you implemented promo products into your marketing mix? When did you see the best results? Please let us know in the comments below!
Get in touch with us and start your journey to becoming the best brand possible now!
Marketing by nature is a creative endeavor. So, why does it seem that everyone is doing the same old thing at tradeshows? Companies pass out their promo merch, their business cards, and maybe even a prize or two. These are all good, proven tactics. However, in a creative field, this marketing protocol can get a bit boring. Honestly though, how many times have you recycled that business card or lost that cool pen in the depths of your purse? In order to get better results at tradeshows, we need to talk about marketing outside the box.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a Marketing Coordinator fresh to the industry, or an experienced Event Manager knee-deep in marketing theories. We want you to take a step back and forget about everything you’ve ever been taught. (For now, anyway). Pretend that you’re a newbie to the comic world, visiting San Diego’s Comic Con for the first time just because you liked Marvel’s latest movie. On the other hand, imagine yourself as a tech geek who’s been to every tech tradeshow from Sydney to Tokyo to the Silicon Valley.
Either way, what is going to impress you? What about a trade show is going to pull you in, regardless if you’re primarily interested or not?
Even though it seems obvious, many companies forget to plan for the tradeshow. (If you need tips on tradeshow preparation, don’t miss our checklist.) Having your logos and eye-catching banners while you’re there isn’t enough. Your team should devote time to brainstorm what you can do, that no one else is doing, in your industry. Don’t be afraid to push the envelope; marketing outside the box has its rewards. The companies that dare to be different are the ones who are remembered and, ultimately, successful.
Now that you have your brilliant ideas in mind (whether it be handing out vegemite cupcakes or having a Ruby Rose look-alike hand out your merch), it’s time to build the excitement.
Social media is imperative, because you don’t need an unlimited budget to yield massive results. Use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube to get people hyped for the tradeshow. Make people want to attend the show just to see your booth. Create a hashtag so people can easily follow along, and give an incentive for your audience to share your posts. For example, the person whose tweet is retweeted the most receives a special prize– only to be picked up at the show.
On the day of, it’s time to put all of your brilliant, quirky, guerrilla marketing tactics to use. As you distribute your best promotional merchandise, don’t forget to continue the hype on social media. Encourage people to take photos of themselves in front of your booth, with your staff, and your promotional merchandise. Stream their posts in real-time on a large screen, or announce your favorite photos at the end of the show. If you want to give away prizes, even better! This is a great way for your company to gain exposure and to involve your audience (whether or not they are at the show).
Also, don’t forget to let your personality shine. Tradeshows give you the leverage to meet and engage with people face-to-face. Most people remember emotional experiences more than others, so make them feel a connection. Make a lasting impression by enlightening your potential clients with industry secrets, or make them laugh with your witty observations. Leave them with the feeling that your company alone has made this tradeshow worth their while.
What are your best tips for marketing outside the box at tradeshows? Please share your experiences (and any questions) in the comments below!
Marketers are always looking for ways to get more leads, create a bigger fan base, increase brand presence, and in general boost sales by creating more loyal customers. If there’s an arena that does this better than all others, that is the sports arena.
January 31, 2018- Red Tomato is proud to be recently awarded the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Silver Pyramid Award in Las Vegas. They were named the Silver Pyramid Award for their work with Country Racing Victoria (CRV) Kids Program.
CRV hosts race meets across Victoria to engage race goers in rural locations. The Kids Activity Pack encouraged early registration and helped engage children during and after the event to show winning isn’t everything.
“CRV in conjunction with Red Tomato has created a incredibly strong property with the Kids Summer of Country Racing Backpack. The campaign had an increase of 5% in attendance and 9% in gate revenue. The success of this campaign has established an excellent foundation for the campaign to leverage into the new racing season. On the back of this success, next year’s campaign will be bigger and better with a new and improved kids backpack to be used as a means to incentivise patrons to come to the country races.” Darren Galley – CRV Marketing and Business Development Manager
“Red Tomato is proud to have forged such a strong partnership with Country Racing Victoria. The team here put a lot of time and thought into the selection of products that will help achieve CRV’s outcomes.” Justin Reynolds – Managing Director
The PPAI Awards and Recognition Program celebrates creative excellence throughout the promotional products industry. The awards recognize everything from Distinguished Service and Hall of Fame careers to great websites, outstanding customer service and everything in between.
When it comes to new marketing ideas, sometimes brainstorming isn’t enough. Even when your team is comprised of the best minds in the marketing world, there will be times when your fresh ideas seem stale. It happens to the best of businesses, but the trick is to see this as an exciting challenge and not a stumbling block. At Red Tomato, we are here for you every step of the way. Read on, and we will show you the art of finding the next best marketing idea.
Be Aware of Current Trends
We know you’re on your phone, tablet, or some other information-spewing device almost all hours of the day. The problem with keeping up with the latest craze in promotional marketing is not the lack of material; it is knowing who to follow and which information is rubbish. Remember: if you listen to what everyone has to say, all you will end up hearing is a whirl of white noise. Take discretion when choosing who to follow on social media, and which news outlets to read.
Monitor the competition and take note of which marketing strategies are successful. Sign up for the latest webinars in your industry and attend a variety of networking events. Use key social media tools like LinkedIn and visit our blog to always be in the know. Oftentimes, someone else’s campaign can inspire you to put a new spin on what’s already being done or come up with your own upgraded marketing idea.
Know Your Buyer Persona Well
No matter how off-the-charts the latest trends are, they’re essentially worthless if they don’t apply to your demographic. Dig deep into your demographics and find out exactly who your buyer persona is. What do they need the most? What are they struggling with, and how can you step in and help them excel? According to Delta Marketing Group, the number one promotional marketing trend in 2017 is technology-related merchandise. The reason for this is clear: technology is useful and makes people’s lives simpler and more organised. Always keep in mind that whatever it is you choose to promote should fulfill an in-demand purpose.
Get Creative and Engage
After you’re familiar with the current trends, don’t be afraid to stand out with your marketing ideas. Poll your audience and start your own wave of promotional marketing ideas with products lacking in your industry. Take calculated risks within your budget, and make sure that your ideas are packaged in fresh, creative verbiage. Start your own hashtags with social media promotions, and never forget to include a clear call to action. Only by encouraging your audience to engage with you- and each other- will you create a successful movement.
Bringing Ideas to Fruition
As the great economist Theodore Levitt stated, “Ideas are useless unless used. The proof of their value is in their implementation.” Creating new marketing ideas, and making those ideas reality, should be non-stop process. Not all will be instantaneously successful, but by following these steps and taking calculated risks, you will hone the art of creating new marketing ideas.
Still not sure where to start? Contact us today for a free consultation. We are always here to help you in your creative process and beyond. Have questions or tips of your own? Please leave them below; we’d love to hear from you!
1300 776 733
hi@redtomato.com.au 
