Who Do You Think About When You Look At Your Desk?

I know … you’re thinking “What a strange question!” But think about it. You know those pens, and mouse pads, and other really cool things you pick up while at a conference or trade show? Those promotional items with the company’s business name and logo on them? The ones that make their way to your desk? I don’t know about you, but I love coming home with a bag full of goodies like that. I can always use a new mouse pad or pen. I’ve still got one of those flat, floppy, rubber jar openers I picked up at a conference years ago.

It’s great to get these “free” goodies to add to your collection. I’ve even got a bag under my desk with promotional items I’ve gotten at conferences that I can’t bring my self to throw away – simply because they are premium goodies. These goodies are free for us, but they are NOT free to the business owner who purchased them so we could add them to our collections and stock our offices.

So why do they spend money on little goodies and things to give away? Because they know every single time we look at, or use, those items, we think of their business! When everything is all said and done …

Promotional items are a great way to get your business information in front of potential customers and clients.

Many, many business owners hesitate to spend money on promotional items, but they really are a great investment if you’re going to be in front of your target market. It’s a give and take situation. You give a little … and get a little back because every time someone looks at that mouse pad or pen or item they took home, they think of that business. Just like whenever I open a jar, I think of “The Hidden Helper.” When I look at my mouse pad, I think of “VA Networking.” So … while these promotional items might have a cost to them, they are an investment because they keep you top of mind whenever someone sees them or uses them.

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One of the best investments I made on promotional items for an event one year was those little mini staplers in a variety of colors … with my business name and email address on them. Boy were they ever a hit! One thing I continue to use in my business now is a mug branded with my logo and tagline. I created the item on Zazzle, and send them to every new client as a welcome gift. Yes they are an expense – sometimes QUITE an expense when I send them to a client outside of the United States. But they are worth it. Everyone loves mugs! They drink coffee or tea out of them or sit them on their desks as pen and pencil holders. It’s a subtle, but in-your-face kind of marketing, that works. Sandra Martini sends out little “goodies” periodically via snail mail. Who doesn’t love getting something in the mail? Especially goodies? It’s an excellent marketing tactic because whenever I receive something – even if it is something really small like a branded post-it note, I think of Sandy!

I attended three conferences last year as a sponsor, so I invested in some branded post-it notes and some way cool pens – the ones that also double as a stylus for your phone or tablet. Both items were a big hit. And now, every time someone uses one of those pens or post-it notes, they think of me.

In preparation for an event I sponsored in December of last year, I purchased little notepads to add to my giveaways … at the request of one of the speakers. I also had some postcards printed so I could make sure I had something that provided a little more info about my business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, the next time you go to an event or have a booth or a table, or just want to have something to send new or prospective clients, you might want to invest in some promotional items. It really is a give a little, get a little marketing, because every time someone uses the item or sees it, they think of you!

What is your all-time favorite promotional item you’ve picked up at a conference or received in the mail?