Running a small business is no easy feat. It requires plenty of finesse and careful attention to get things just right. Promotional items offer a great advantage for many nascent and fledgling companies. They can reel in the all-important customers you need to get your feet off the ground, generate buzz among other potential leads, and ultimately create some decent conversions when your business needs them the most. Promo items help cultivate a positive image while simultaneously strengthening customer relationships. They also show appreciation for guests and staff alike. So it goes without saying that small businesses can benefit quite a bit from their custom promotional items. Here’s how to use them at your small business to help enhance your customer base and increase business at your company.
Choosing the Right Promotional Items
Running a successful promotion hinges on choosing the right items to promote. The best way to approach this is to understand your key demographics. Define your audience and give them something they can use or at least enjoy. Lots of people enjoy some corporate swag! Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
- Pens
- Keychains
- Water bottles
- Coffee cups
- Mugs
- Tumblers
- Canvas bags
- Tote bags
- Coupons
- Stationary
- Notepads
- Lapel pins
- Stickers
- Pencils
- Bottle openers
- Stylus
- Tiny flashlight
Obviously, there are many other ideas and objects that you can use for promotions, but these should be enough to get you started in earnest. Building a loyal customer base isn’t always easy, but with items like these, you can definitely start building one for your business today.
Customizing Items
Customization is what separates a drab promotional item from something that makes customers want to come back for more. Businesses can place their logo, message, and company information on a custom product then use that product to generate interest in their brand. It also doubles as some free advertising in a way. Create a specific, fancy, or totally unique item that your customers will want to collect. Items like water bottles and custom coffee mugs are ideal for promotions like this because they offer something worthwhile for customers that also serves as a reminder of your brand.
Social Media Contests
Running social media contests for your customers is an ideal strategy for engaging them and driving some interest toward your brand. Giving people an incentive to enter your contest increases the number of people who see your content and eventually interact with your brand. Contests can help you build relationships with potential customers, too. Using a promo item as the prize is an effective way to boost sales or generate leads, making social media contests a worthwhile method for marketing. When people have something tangible they can win, they’re more likely to enter your contest. Winners and participants potentially become customers down the road. So if you’re looking for ways to increase engagement on social media (or just want to generate more leads and conversions), plan your next social media contest now.
In-store Giveaways
In-store giveaways are a good way to generate more foot traffic into your store and give customers an awesome gift for merely showing up! Instead of giving away generic items for your giveaways, you want to go with something customized. Customizable objects will go the distance to show you care and also give customers something unique to hang on to. Consider using them as part of in-store giveaways. This might be as part of a sign-up bonus, as part of purchasing a certain amount, or just using a coupon to get a free water bottle. Gift baskets and giveaways can be a fun way to engage with guests. Custom logo items make people feel as if your business values them as more than mere patrons. Plus, people love getting free things, especially if those things are useful or desirable. so giving away branded products sends the message that you appreciate their patronage (even if they haven’t yet become customers). This feeling of appreciation encourages people to continue doing business with you in the future, and may even prompt them to recommend you to others. And that’s some advertising that money truly can’t buy!
Trade Shows
Giving away items at trade shows is another one of those effortless ways to engage with a broad audience. Whether you’re trying to find investors, customers, or engage in B2B communication with other organizations, some corporate swag can go a long way to generate some positive impressions. Water bottles are one of the best things to use for this because they serve the same. You can use the opportunity to customize them specifically for the trade show, too, creating a special exclusive that customers will love. Ultimately, how you choose to use the Metro shows is up to you but you definitely want to include them in optimizing your marketing plans.
