3 things to include in your swag budget. Image credit: Supplied
As part of your company’s marketing budget, you need to set aside money for promotional products that can be given to potential clients and employees at upcoming events. The reason is that little branded gifts act as adverts, which the recipient will re-expose themselves to every time they use it, increasing positive feelings towards your brand, which is good for both customers and workers.
If you’re looking for branded merchandise with low minimum orders and high production quality, head to https://www.pens.com/uk/. They offer factory-direct pricing, a buy now and pay later option, and the ever-valuable flexibility that small businesses need.
This includes stuff like branded pens, promotional pencils, mousepads, or laptop bags. These not only help your employees to do their job and keep focused but they’ll be used on a daily basis. If you’re getting a special present, you could even opt for an engraved pen gift.
Almost everyone could use a bag. They might need a custom shopping bag to save them 5p when going to the store, a branded drawstring bag to put their running shoes in after the gym, or a printed cotton bag to carry their reading material in on the train.
Depending on your company or the client/employee you’re buying for, you could even grab a cooler bag. They’re great for food and beverage clients or for an employee that likes to bring a fancy dish to the company picnic.
On the subject of branded cooler bags, kitchen items make fantastic corporate merchandise because everybody has to eat and drink. This may take the form of promotional mugs to be used in the office, but could also be a branded water bottle or custom travel mug to be used when commuting.
As we mentioned above, there are some branded items that don’t represent good value for money. This isn’t just about uber-expensive items that won’t give you a great return on investment, but also the cheaper items that people just won’t use all the time.
A while ago, many brands would put their logo on things like calculators, USB drives, and in-ear headphones. The trouble is that giving away tech items en-masse without going broke will mean buying lower quality items that break easily. That doesn’t show your business in the best light. Also, with the speed at which technology moves on, the item might also be considered outdated by the time you’re done giving it out. When opting for tech, go for quality.
If your employees wear a uniform, then having well-fitted, good-looking branded clothing is great. However, most clients and customers aren’t routinely going to wear a t-shirt or baseball cap with your logo on it. If you’re lucky, those clothes will get worn to the gym once a week, so be certain it fits your branding before spending your full budget on clothes with logos.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that you offer something that people can use but that also fits your business. A gym offering re-usable water bottles, an outdoor brand gifting baseball hats or a real estate agency giving away key chains all make sense. And when your clients or prospects actually use your gift it can greatly impact your visibility and brand awareness.