{"id":23911,"date":"2017-05-10T13:52:54","date_gmt":"2017-05-10T18:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.crowdspring.com\/?p=23911"},"modified":"2022-05-06T18:20:21","modified_gmt":"2022-05-06T23:20:21","slug":"promotional-products-digital-marketing-swag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crowdspring.com\/blog\/promotional-products-digital-marketing-swag\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways To Make Promotional Products Work in the Digital Age"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In today\u2019s world of technology, it\u2019s easy for companies to dismiss the value of promotional products. Often considered a less effective and more expensive marketing strategy, promotional products are becoming less relevant.<\/p>\n

However, as companies turn to internet-only advertising and focus more on things like social media, they risk losing touch with their customers. To a certain degree, promotional products allow companies to connect with their customers more closely, develop brand recognition, and serve as a constant reminder.<\/p>\n

A study<\/a> conducted by BPMA found that over half of the study participants\u2019 impressions improved after being sent a promotional product. More importantly, 79% of participants who received a promotional product said that they would likely become repeat customers. Many of the participants were even able to recall exactly when or where they received the product- and 94% of them never forgot<\/a> the company that gave them the product.<\/p>\n

Clearly, promotional products can still impact how – and with whom – customers choose to do business.<\/p>\n

But how do you know what products can best promote your business? And when should you give them out? The issue becomes blatantly clear at networking events or conferences, where seemingly every company is handing out a USB drive, a pen, a mug, or some sort of pamphlet explaining their business.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, these products are impactful- but other times they just don’t make sense. And for technology-based companies, physical products can seem confusing and meaningless. But\u00a0with the right intentions and a clear understanding of your goals, physical swag can be a big enhancement to your marketing efforts.<\/p>\n

Try to accomplish these three goals when developing physical\u00a0promotional materials for your customers:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Delight Your Customers<\/h2>\n

Having great customer service and a fantastic product isn’t enough anymore. With increasing competition across industries, companies are now competing\u00a0for brand loyalty and positive reviews. The best companies accomplish this by surprising their customers by going the extra mile.<\/span><\/p>\n

One company, <\/span>HEX<\/span><\/a>, built their success by handwriting over 13,000 physical thank you notes. The wearable fashion tech brand focused on making their customers feel valued and special by sending each order with a physical thank you note as well as a confirmation email.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Image source: Forbes<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

While HEX’s competitors may have just sent emails, the personal touch of the thank you note made HEX’s customers feel special and appreciated. <\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you notes aren’t the only way that companies use physical swag to delight their customers. Many companies choose send welcome gifts, like gift baskets or branded swag bags. This way, customers feel appreciated from day one.<\/p>\n

Other companies like Buffer<\/a> choose to keep a pulse on their customers and potential industry partners via social media, reaching out whenever they feel someone could benefit from a little extra surprise:<\/p>\n

We try to ask for an address anytime we get a hint that someone might need swag, for any reason. We also reach out to new faces at our weekly Twitter chat<\/a>, #bufferchat, and thank them with a personalized note and stickers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With this philosophy, Buffer customizes their swag according to the customer’s needs and interests, and become the highlight of that person’s day. These random gifts are branded like thank you gifts, but it’s their spontaneity and specialization that truly delights the customer.<\/p>\n

As with any company, looking to delight the customer boosts brand impression and typically generates a positive word of mouth.<\/p>\n

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