our company news

Branded products used to be the go-to as a brand awareness exercise for all businesses. Wall calendars, desk items and umbrellas would be plastered with a logo and sent out to raise awareness of a brand name and try to drum up new business.

In today’s digital world, online marketing tends to be the most popular way to try and gain new business. With so many marketers focusing their marketing efforts online, promotional products have been neglected as a way to promote a business.

So how much of an impact are these marketing products still having on potential clients? Are they even relevant anymore?

The stats don’t lie – promotional products make an impact:

A 2016 study on global advertising impressions stated that most people keep promotional products for approximately eight months. That’s far longer than a like or scroll passed a social media ad! The actual time is obviously dependent on the product. For example, pens only last 3-4 months, but umbrellas last for 14 months – but this still speaks volumes.

Social media manager Elle-Rose Williams stated in a Forbes interview that she sees branded products as an important brand messaging tool: “Promotional products allow people to see your brand, associate your brand, and recognize your brand. All these things are important as the more people who become aware of your brand, the better results you will see in business and sales.”

Promotional gifts provide tangible brand messaging:

In this digital era, the average person is so used to being bombarded with advertising in all forms they are desensitised to them. The impact of a quality promotional product, that has been thought out well, can last. A recent study confirmed that the recall rate for promotional product is a record 85% for some products! There is something unique about receiving a physical item that you can touch, feel, and actually use, that far exceeds the impact of a TV advert or magazine spread.

Online ads are getting more expensive:

Digital marketing certainly is a cost-effective way to reach your target audience, but there is no doubt that PPC advertising is getting more expensive. There are a range of reasons for this. One is more competition - there are far more users levaraging the power of PPC Marketing. Other reasons include text ads getting larger, and ads generally taking up more space on search engine pages.

In contrast, an undeniable draw of custom promotional products for your business’ finances is that they are a predictable investment. According to the Advertising Specialties Institute, the cost for promotional products is not expected to increase markedly in the next few years. This makes them a more stable, reliable and innovative way for advertisers to reach target customers – both existing, and prospective.

Unlike other forms of online marketing, rates are not set to increase with every year, and you are not tied in to any complicated contracts. You can simply buy some custom promotional products and distribute them at your will for as long as you wish to see the positive effects manifest.

So, are branded products still relevant? We say yes:

Looking at the statistics, it seems as though a well thought out branded item can have a tangible, lasting impression. And there’s great value in the sentiment behind the offer. Everyone loves a freebie,  and even if it costs you just pennies per item— it can go a long way with your customers if done right.