An experience physically, is better than online - or is it?

Promotional Merchandise Allows Customers To Reach Their Own Conclusions

One way to sidestep the growing confusion is investing a proportion of your budget in promotional merchandise. When you’re holding something in your hand it’s impossible not to form an opinion based on the practical and emotional impressions it generates. These perceptions, both good and bad, coalesce to form an overall attitude about the company providing the gift. Unlike other forms of business communication which rely almost entirely on emotive levers to manipulate perceptions, promotional merchandise allows customers to reach their own conclusions about brand values, avoiding the doubts which arise these days in the world of "fake news”.

Billions of Dollars are Spent Every Day

Managing consumer perceptions of your brand is critical to successful promotional marketing. Billions of dollars are spent every day seeking to influence consumers, but the final results can never be trusted to be what was planned. Branded product marketing has great potential to create positive perceptions, particularly in this day of digital communication. With so few people who do business meeting face-to-face something tangible, like promotional merchandise, has the potential to be more effective than ever. How can an attractive, good quality product with practical value create a negative impression with the person using it? Adding your logo to something as simple as a drink bottle, or coffee mug to give to people with whom you do business is a way to avoid the negative filters which drive so much online discussion and debate. 

Eco-Friendly Brand Associations

A recent example of overcoming consumer cynicism with branded merchandise is the way in which companies have successfully used physical products to reinforce brand associations with “eco-friendliness”. Many companies claim a clean, green reputation but there is rightly a great deal of doubt about these claims amongst consumers. The simple act of offering business contacts or consumers a promotional product which is made from recycled materials is more convincing than any number of unsubstantiated advertising claims. In a marketing world where bluster and misinformation is commonplace the reality of promotional merchandise cannot be denied. Branded enviro bags are a positive way to enforce your "eco-friendly" message, and the reusable nature of the bags means your logo and branding will be circulating and on display for potential customers to see. 

Avoid The Temptation of Spending All Budget Online

The temptation exists for all marketers to spend their budgets marketing online. Online marketing is easy to manage, is simply analysed and assessed and scaled up or down in minutes. But keeping a foot in the “real" world can leverage your online exposure. As we spend more time engaging with a screen and less engaging with each other the more a thoughtful, branded gift becomes a powerful way to build and maintain relationships. Promotional merchandise will ensure your brand message is solidified in the minds of your customers and business partners. Promotional products are a timeless addition to add to your marketing plan.