Best Ideas for Promo Items

Businesses of all sizes have been giving away free promotional products for decades as a way to promote brand awareness in a cost-effective way. After all, 85 percent of people end up eventually doing business with the advertiser mentioned on the promotional products they receive. In addition, more than half of consumers give away their promotional products when they don’t need them, thus reaching an additional audience for free. But it isn’t as easy as simply picking a random product and throwing your logo on it. In order to truly benefit from giving away your business promotional items, think of it in terms of impressions. Impressions are calculated by multiplying the amount of time the recipient has the item by the number of people who see or use the item each month. The items listed here are some of the best ideas for promo items that get the most impressions.

Bags

Whether drawstring backpacks, reusable shopping bags or canvas totes, promotional bags generate over 5,000 more impressions than any other promotional item. That’s because they are often used in public places where people can see them. How useful they are, however, depends on how much money you want to spend on them. Obviously, the more you spend, the better quality it will be (for the most part). But a canvas tote doesn’t have to be expensive to be high quality. It’s easy to find one you can place your logo on that also has qualities like being waterproof or untippable.

Health and Safety Items

Promotional health and safety items get more popular every year. This is likely due to how useful they are, as well as how it makes a company look like one that values the well-being of its target audience. It isn’t just healthcare industries that can benefit from giving away such promotional items either—any company can. First-aid kits, hand sanitizers, lip balms and stress balls all make great promotional items for any organization.

Drinkware

Bags might be the most effective promotional items, but the most-owned promotional items are drinkware. In fact, more than half of US consumers own water bottles, custom company mugs and other forms of drinkware with a company’s logo or name on it. Just remember that making it useful is key to being effective. So if you have to choose between putting your brand on a thermos that keeps coffee warm for hours and a shot glass, the thermos is likely going to be more effective and make a greater impression.

Calendars

It may only last one year, but a custom calendar with your brand on it is something people will look at daily. That’s 365 days’ worth of making your name stick out in their minds if they ever need a product or service you provide. Don’t make the mistake of assuming people don’t use physical calendars anymore either. Many people prefer something physical they can glance at instead of opening an app or checking their computer when planning events. What’s more, over three-fourths of people who own a calendar say they display them in a visible location at home or at work.

Lunch Cooler

Somewhat falling under the “bag” category, a lunch cooler is super useful for anyone who works outside of the home. Despite its usefulness to the user, it is also highly useful to you as a marketer. Imagine giving a lunch cooler away to someone who, in turn, puts it into their workplace refrigerator. Everyone who goes into that fridge to find their lunch will come across the one with your name on it, further increasing your reach.

Umbrellas

If you live in a climate where rain is common, a custom company umbrella with your logo on it can be a great promotional item. It also implies, “We’ve got you covered when you need us.” Just make sure the logo is big enough to cover a good amount of the umbrella so people can see it.

Power Banks

Who doesn’t have a smartphone these days? They’re only useful, however, if they have battery life in them. And anyone who knows the dreadful feeling of a drained battery will appreciate the extra life you can provide them by providing a promotional item in the form of a portable power bank.

The Trusty Pen

One of the most common things to give away is a pen with your logo on it. Pens can end up in the hands of many different people, so it really is a no-brainer to rely on the trusty pen as a promotional item. Plus, they’re really inexpensive. But don’t order the cheapest pen you can and assume you’ll leave a lasting impression. Make sure the quality represents your brand with a pen that people will want to use repeatedly.

When choosing a promotional item or items to represent your brand, try to remember to pick one that is useful, long-lasting and far-reaching. Take some time to put yourself in the shoes of your target audience as well. For example, a younger audience may appreciate something like a power bank more than they’d appreciate a golf umbrella, while an older audience may feel the opposite.