For a long time, promotional products have made up the backbone of any business marketing campaigns, providing a practical method to keep your brand at the helm of minds of those who are most likely to be your customers. For the giant conglomerate and small one-person startup business alike, using branded merchandise to promote your business can leave an indelible impression on your potential clients and partners. However, cost-effective options are the problem when it comes to many businesses, especially finding good Return of Investment. In this article, we’ll be talking about low-budget promotional products and inexpensive methods that will help you market your business without breaking a bank.
Why Promotional Products Matter
Before getting into the specifics of what options are budget-friendly, it is necessary to understand why promotional products are so powerful. According to studies, nearly 90% of consumers can recall the branding on a promotional product they have received, making it one of the most effective ways to ensure long-term recognition of your brand. Unlike digital ads that disappear in a flash, physical items can last and be used every day, giving your brand repeated exposure.
Another benefit of promotional products is that they can add a more personal touch to the relationship between your business and your audience. The helpful, functional, or entertaining use of a good branded item speaks to endorse the positive association one has with your company. In this regard, the goal is to find inexpensive items that fall within your budget and also reflect positively on your brand and are well received by your audience.
Pens
Customized pens are probably among the most common promotional products; this is due mostly to their general usage by ordinary people.
Perhaps the cheapest promotional item of all, pens are practical and have a high usage rate – thus popular. People use them every day. Of course, when carrying your company’s logo or tagline, it is an ongoing ad for you. You can buy them in bulk cheaply and thus are a great option to give away in large quantities at a trade show, conference, or community event.
Reusable Tote Bags
Not surprisingly, given increased sensitivity to environmental concerns, reusable tote bags and other eco-friendly products are being seen more and more as promotions. Tote bags will not only save one money but also increase the pace of sustainability. Each time a customer uses the bag at a grocery store, gym, or elsewhere, your brand gets free exposure. The cost per unit for tote bags goes down substantially when an order is placed in bigger quantities. Therefore, businesses which have very little budget allocated to marketing find totes to be an ideal choice.
Branded Keychains
Keychains are another low priced advertisement item with tremendous value. They are small, light, and inexpensive to manufacture in quantity. Above all, they are a practical item that users will carry as a constant reminder of your brand. Use different styles: bottle keychain openers or flashlight keychain to suit the needs of your audience.
Stickers and Decals
Stickers: These are very cheap and versatile tools for promotions. They can be stuck onto laptops, water bottles, cars, etc. While doing your creativity, you can make the sticker design match your brand’s personality. In addition, stickers can be used by companies that have a potential market, generally more popular among the youth or creative crowd.
Notebooks With Your Brand
Notebooks are functional and economical promotional items. A nicely designed notebook can be a very welcome gift among office workers, students, and creatives. You can include your logo, brand colors, and even a motivational quote that resonates with the message of your business. These may cost a bit more than some of the items on this list, but their usefulness often means they hang around longer, providing more impressions.
T-Shirts
Another low-cost promotional opportunity is T-shirt printing, through which you can achieve massive visibility for your brand. You see, there are so many people who patronize custom-branded T-shirts because they’re very useful and, of course, could be worn several times. So, that means, in itself, your business is essentially walking on the street and promoting the products. The good thing about T-shirts is their versatility-you could have it reflect your brand, be it through the location of your logo, through your brand’s colors, or catchy slogans.
Before ordering your promotional products, it would be useful to spend a few minutes learning about your target audience. Try thinking about what items would appeal most to them and which ones they use on a regular basis. For example, if you are targeting a wide range of office workers, pens, notebooks, and USB drives will be of much more value. If your demographic is more younger and active, tote bags, water bottles, or even portable phone chargers might be what you’re looking for.
Conclusion
Promotional products need not be costly to make a deep impression. With just a little careful planning, combined with some intelligent choices of budget-friendly items, you can promote your business, improve brand awareness, and even forge stronger relationships with your targeted audience. Concentrating on items that are also moderately priced and quite useful will assure that the items are given away strategically for maximum advantage of your marketing dollar while making sure your brand is remembered.
