In today’s competitive landscape, how can brands stand out?
Branding is the process of cultivating and managing a company’s brand identity through assets and actions. The goal is to create a distinct identity in the minds of the target audience and stakeholders.
It’s a common misconception that branding is all about aesthetics and visuals. Branding helps distinguish you from the rest of the competition and communicate what you offer, highlighting what makes you unique. It also affects your brand’s perception and reputation, or how your target audience associates your brand in their mind.
There are many ways to communicate your company’s branding. One of them is through branded merchandise—promotional items designed with your brand’s logo and tagline. From simple stationery to more creative t-shirts, gadgets, and accessories, branded merchandise today can come in various shapes and forms.
8 Benefits of Branded Merchandise to Your Business
While advertising costs can be generally higher than promotional costs, branded merchandise presents itself as a cost-effective way to build brand awareness. Using branded merchandise as an advertising strategy can both promote your brand’s message and attract potential customers.
Let’s take a closer look at the different benefits branded merchandise can give your business.
Increases Brand Recognition
Creating merchandise for your brand can help generate more awareness and recognition. Just like any advertising platform like a TV commercial or a newspaper ad, the branded merch item can become an extension of your brand for your audience to see. What sets it apart is its interactive nature. Customers can’t always bring home the advertisements they see, much more interact with them.
Branded items on the other hand are things they can take home and use on a daily basis, like a branded coffee mug they can use for their morning routines or a branded notepad they can use in their home office. When your customers use and interact daily with items branded with your logo on them, helps keep your brand in your customer’s minds.
Emotional Connection with Customers
Branded merchandise is typically functional and often helps solve a pain point. For example, your brand might decide to give away branded pens and notepads during a conference or trade show. These items would give the attendees a neat way to take notes during the talks, solving a pain point.
Because your brand logo is displayed on the item, the positive experience they get with using your branded item can be associated with your brand. This helps establish an emotional connection with your audience by making them feel that you care for their pain points and value their experience.
Strengthens Customer Loyalty
One common tactic is giving away branded promotional products for every purchase. For customers, this simple gesture can mean that you value them and want to reward them for the purchase.
Research shows that 83% of customers would experience stronger loyalty to a brand that would give them a promotional product. Incorporate branded merchandise into your marketing strategy and increase your customer’s loyalty.
Cost-Effective Marketing
Unlike other marketing activities, branded merchandise has the advantage of longevity. In a world where billboard ads and social media ads only last as long as your budget allows, merch continues to exist as long as they are well-built and quality-made.
Promotional tote bags or backpacks can last a couple of years and offer a practical use of letting your customers carry around their items. Invest in high-quality branded merchandise to make sure that you get your money’s worth in advertising.
Enhances Employee Engagement
Strong company branding contributes to a stronger sense of purpose, which can help unite a team. Wearing or using branded merchandise helps foster a sense of belonging and strengthen the team’s bond especially when worn during company events or team building.
There’s no better way to display your company culture than with a well-curated induction package that includes a collection of various items and branded merchandise. Right from the get go, make your newest hires feel welcomed with branded merchandise that lets them feel like they’re part of the team.
Customisation and Personalisation
80% of consumers believe that personalised gifts are more thoughtful than non-personalised ones. Branded merchandise can be tailored and personalised to your audience to create a much more memorable experience.
Understanding who your target audience is and their demographics and interests is the first step in narrowing down what promotional items you can use. You can also tailor it to fit your current event, for example including branded water bottles and towels for a fun run giveaway.
Expands Business Reach
Introduce your brand to a whole new audience with the strategic use of promotional item giveaways. Corporate events, conferences, and trade shows often involve setting up booths to promote your brand’s products and services. Using branded promotional product giveaways can help draw more attention and drive foot traffic to your booth.
Promotional item giveaways can be a great way to introduce your brand, by taking the shape and form of a functional or trendy item. Whether it’s a limited edition company anniversary merchandise or a functional item they can use in their daily routines, promotional items are versatile marketing tools that can make your events much more memorable.
Creates Long Lasting Impressions
Unlike other promotional channels, branded merchandise lasts. 85% of consumers remember the advertiser who gave them the branded merchandise. This sets it apart from the other forms of advertising when it comes to longevity.
Its physical and tangible nature ensures more chances for awareness and engagement for your consumers because it can be used plenty of times.
Customers who are satisfied with getting your merchandise also can partake in social sharing by sharing their experiences with your brand on social media and recommending it to their friends and family.
Create Your Branded Merchandise with Red Tomato
With so much competition around, companies should look into investing in their brand strategy. Utilising branded merchandise is a cost-effective way to increase brand awareness, reach, and engagement.
Promotional products used for merchandise are often functional and relevant for everyday customers and have broad appeal, which makes it a great avenue for advertising. They can be bundled with the product or services or act as giveaways during trade shows and conferences.
Level up your branded merchandise and bring your creative ideas to life with Red Tomato! Book an ideas call with us and get started.
