Four Time-Tested Promotional Imprinted Products

Last week I wrote an article on the unwritten rules in promotional advertising. They are so very important to succeed & to stand above your competition. These four rules can literally make or break your advertising campaign......follow them & you're on your way to a successful marketing program.

Now that you know the unwritten rules to successful branding, how do you know what to pick that will make a difference......make you stand out & distinguish you from your competitors?

There are several factors why certain customized promotional items sell more than others, the main reason being that they work more effectively. There are products that are ordered more & render positive results for businesses time & again.  Some promotional products people respond to better than others. By using these for marketing, you help boost your brand recall & customers are more likely to remember your company.

When deciding which promotional imprinted product to use for your next advertising campaign, give some thought to the type of promotional item that would help attract new customers & keep existing ones loyal to your brand.

Here is a list of the top four items that are most popular simply because they are effective marketing tools & companies have relied on them to grow their business time & again. These four products have proven to be successful, time after time, in getting a company's brand out among the public.

Custom Water Bottles: These are by far the top-selling promotional items in the promotional industry. Why, you ask......well, there are several reasons for this.  The main one is the basic functional value of the product. Everyone drinks water or another beverage 365 days a year. Bottles personalized with your logo will be taken everywhere by their users & your logo & company name gets seen each time the bottles are used.  This is great exposure for you.

Imprinted Sticky Notes & Note Pads: Everybody uses one or the other or both everyday. These are like mini billboards. Multi-color imprint is usually included int he price so you can get creative with your logo & advertising message making it stand out to the user.  They are available in any size you want. Your name will be in front of your potential customer or client day after day in a fun & useful way. Let your creativity soar & see how you can wow your customer with a basic promotional imprinted product.

Promotional Pens: The most popular promotional tool of all time is the imprinted pen. It's a favorite with businesses across the globe. The variety of promotional pens is endless. The major attraction is the low price of the item which allows companies to stay on budget without having to compromise on their advertising efforts. And it's something everyone uses--even in this age of technology. Choose from a variety of metal, plastic, eco-friendly or gel ink pens.  Don't forget about highlighters & the combination pen/highlighter.

Imprinted Promotional Bags: This method of advertising has proven to be effective & cost efficient. The largest businesses in the country & around the world use imprinted bags constantly. This should be proof in itself. With the recent emphasis on saving our planet, non-woven, recyclable bags are quickly moving ahead of all other promotional custom products to be the number one best seller.  It's a common sight to see people tote their own bags into the grocery store.  What do all these bags have in common......they're imprinted with someone's logo.  With all the airlines' restrictions on baggage, tote bags--large & small--are seen at the airports.  Many of them are imprinted with a company's name & logo. Think of the exposure just one bag can give your business!

I hope this helps the next time you are ready to purchase promotional items for your company. Best of luck!

IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman

Unwritten Rules For Branding & Company Identity

How many of you can say you have no competition........that you don't care about your competition? If you're in business to succeed, I don't think any of you will stand up & shout "me" to that.

Companies are fighting over their share of the market......trying to convince you that they're the best in their industry......offering special deals & introductory offers that are hard to ignore. This is why brand & company recognition is so important today.

Brand presence is something no business can afford to ignore. Logo identity is vital to the growth of your company. Gaining that recognition is not an intall-and-forget gizmo. It requires persistent efforts to stay on top of your game & there are a few things you should pay attention to if your brand is to shine.

In fact, there are four unwritten rules about promotional marketing you should know if you are to be successful:

A well-executed marketing strategy: Your competition never sleeps. In the world of brands, everyone is making their own noise, leaving their own mark on the minds of the public. You must get your strategy right & stand above your competition to be noticed. It's showbiz time all the time in the world of brand marketing. In other words, keep your customized promotional items out there to be seen.

Be sure it's relevant to your business & of use to your customer: I've said this over & over & because it's so very important, I'll keep saying it until I retire this blog. Don't just buy something to give out because it was on sale or you don't have time to give it more than a few minutes of thought. A promotional imprinted product that your customer won't use or worse, stash in the back of a desk drawer or throw away won't do you any good. And they won't remember you unless it's by the useless junk you gave them.

Stay in touch & they will remember you: Your target audience has a short memory. Your clients & potential customers are perpetually being bombarded with new offers, new products, new brands. They can soon forget you with so much going on in the world of brands. So keep reminding them about yourself. People love receiving gifts. Hand out promotional products imprinted with your company logo. Promotional pens, imprinted notepads, recyclable bags with your company name will be considered thoughtful gestures to the recipient. In turn, they will think of your business over your competition when they need your product or service.

Make quality a priority: A pen is always a good item to give out, but a pen that skips when it writes or won't close when you click on the plunger will not give your brand a good image. What you give out reflects your company & what it stands for. Saving .10 - .20 on a pen could cost you a lot more in the long run. I used the pen as an example, but this goes for any promotional custom product you choose.

All four of the above unwritten rules in marketing are an absolute must if you want to succeed.  One is not more important than the other & one should not be excluded as you execute a promotional plan.

Good luck in your marketing endeavors.

IT'S YOUR COMPANY........SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman

Customized Promotional Items For A Healthy Life Style

This is the time of year to start looking at healthy lifestyles beyond the dinner plate & renew those vows for more exercise that may have faded since they were made as New Year's resolutions. Inspire your customers to engage in fitness-oriented activities with promotional custom products.

Promotional health products are very effective in branding your business in a convenient & useful way. These are sure to be appreciated & used, giving your company exposure.

Many of your customers belong to a gym or a health center, so promotional items that are conducive to their workout are always a good idea. An acrylic or aluminum sports bottle will prove to be useful. Your clients will not have to buy a bottle of water every time they go to the gym, & if they run out, they can just refill it & get back to the weights or treadmill. The bright colors are attention getters & your logo is displayed for everyone in the gym to see.

To further inspire your customers to lead a more active life, give out customized promotional health items that can be used for fun. A flying disc will have them running around in the backyard, park, beach or campsites. Ultimate frisbee has become an extremely popular game for all ages. It's a standard on most college campuses--just walk by during the fall or spring months & there's sure to be a game in progress. A beach ball has been has been a favorite for any age & can also be seen at the beach, parks & around backyard pools.

Yoga enlightens the mind, body & is great exercise. It's become a popular trend & yoga studios are cropping up all over. Some provide yoga mats & others ask you to bring your own. There are classes in the park & on the beach.  People are buying the DVD's & doing the exercises in the privacy of their home. This PVC yoga mat comes in a nylon carrying case so it can be toted to the gym, park or a favorite yoga spot.  Not in to yoga? This can be used for other floor exercises as well. 

Golf is a big charity fund-raiser during the summer months & many businesses actively take part. Whether you're a sponsor in the tournament or playing, you can get your company & logo seen by donating tees, golf balls, divot tools or towels with your logo on them. If it's useful to the golfer, he'll use more than just this one game & your name will be in front of him, hopefully, throughout the summer. Another popular way to display your logo is on a multiple of items, for example an imprinted sports bottle filled with branded tees, balls & maybe a divot tool or a towel.

Encourage walking with a multi-function pedometer. Functions include measuring steps--up to 99,999 steps--distance walked & calories burned. Many include the time & have an automatic shut-off & idle mode to save energy. These are light weight & clips to a belt or waistband. If you sponsor a walkathon for a charity, this item is a great way to promote the cause & show your company cares about the community.  Or you can go one step further with a jump rope that has an LCD display showing the number of jumps & calories burned. 

What could be more needed after a run around the park or a heavy work out in the gym........a quick absorbing & a quick drying towel. It comes in it's own case. The towel, itself, is 12" X 31". You have a choice of white or blue in a black case. It's the case that gets imprinted with your logo. This is a definite must for sport bags, golf bags & lockers in a gym. Don't forget about team sports........this promotional imprinted product will be appreciated at schools & at parks where community teams play.

This is also the time for travel. Your client can stay in shape with the latex exercise band whether they're camping, taking a road trip, flying across country or traveling abroad. It's compact & easy to store. It won't add weight to luggage. It can also be used while at the office, the gym or at home. It doesn't matter if your customer is on the go or spends most their day in one place........this item fits easily in a purse, carry-on bag or a desk drawer.  It also fits any exercise regimen--from a light one to a heavier workout.

Speaking of healthy lifestyles this summer........let's not forget about the damaging rays from the sun & how important it is to protect your skin. Spread this life saving message to your customers with sunscreen that has your logo imprinted on a mult-colored label to grab everyone's attention.  They're available in sprays or lotions........SPF 15 or SPF 30........with optional attached carabiners.  These handy 1 oz or 2 oz bottles will fit anywhere--purse, pocket, desk drawer, car console, sports bag.

The main purpose of promotional imprinted products is to get your name out among the public & to make your company & logo recognized. The most effective way to do this is to give out items that people need, reminding them of you every time they use your product. And as an added bonus, hopefully they'll use it where others will also see your company name. These products that promote a healthy life style (as well as your company) are things that people will want during the summer months.

What would your customers use the most?

IT'S YOUR COMPANY........SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman

A Great Summertime Promotional Custom Product

"Although I am far from what you might consider 'outdoorsy', last week-end I ventured into the wilderness & went camping. As I was sitting around the campfire - surrounded by trees, water & insects rather than cubicles, advertisements & televisions - realized that in spite of the natural surroundings, I was accompanied by many brands.

From my flashlight to the collapsible can cooler & of course the Swiss Army knife, many of the items I brought had been given to me by a corporation. I started thinking about how these promotional products successfully traveled all that way with us, & I came to the conclusion that functional promotional items are key to building any brand."

The above paragraphs were not written by me, but were taken from an article written by a woman named Sara at Pinnacle.com.

Her last sentence is a huge statement: functional promotional items are key to building any brand.

There are so many promotional imprinted products to choose from & depending on your target audience & your business, there will be several that will be very beneficial to the growth & recognition of your company.

A customized promotional item that I'd to talk about now is a product that Sara also brought up........imprinted coolers for beverages & food.

Summer is an excellent time for travel, camping, hiking, picnics & days at the beach or the lake. And it's important to keep your food & beverages cold.

It's also the time for company picnics, sporting events, golf tournaments, marathons, water spectacles & the list goes on.

This is the time when children go to day camp.  Some include lunches while others do not. For those kids, who take their lunches with them, an insulated lunch bag is important so their food stays cool & fresh.

large cooler w/ 2 compartments

The common link between all of these events is the branded item. Promotional custom products are a key part of every special event, as they help to keep your company visible long after the event is over. One of the most versatile & universal items for summer events is the cooler.

Coolers are a fantastic marketing tool because of their functionality. For so many people they are practical, usable & not only for this month or this year--they tend to last many years to come. Camping, fishing, hunting, picnics, tailgating parties, the list is endless as to the uses. They'll be a prized possession & your investment will keep your logo visible for many years into the future.

collapsible cooler for lunch or drinks

Promotional coolers come in a variety of different styles & colors which makes them an excellent showcase for your business name, logo & contact information.

Small, portable cooler bags can be used for carrying home cold foods from the grocery store or used to transport ice cream home from your favorite frozen yogurt shop. No matter where they are used they will be advertising your business & people will love these handy customized promotional coolers to keep their stuff cool when it seems too hot to transport cold items from the store to the front door.


Medical practitioners will find insulated cooler bags to be an efficient way to travel with medications that must stay in a cool, dry space.

cooler on wheels

Today, customized coolers are not just for cans. Promoting your business with a logo imprinted  cooler can also be easily done on rolling wheels, 6 pack or 24 pack coolers, coolers that double as a backpack........all are just as handy for food as they are for drinks. Ice buckets, beverage tubs & lunch bags are also available. How cool would it be to see people sitting around a tailgate having a good time while conveying your company brand & message.

collapsible ice chest

In the absence of refrigerators & freezers, promotional coolers can be your answer to the coldness of beverages & food; also the freshness of fruits & vegetables.  It's an eco-friendly & healthy way to promote your business.

With their wide printing area, you can imprint your company name, logo & advertising message turning this product into a valid marketing tool--because where they are toted, so is your company name.  It's easy, it's efficient & it's effective.  That's what customized promotional items are all about.

IT'S YOUR COMPANY........SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman