How to Choose Promotional Products for Your Business

How to Choose Promotional Products for Your Business When choosing promotional products for your business, there are many things to consider. Do you need promotional items? What items should you purchase? How many items do you need? How much money are you willing to spend? There are a wide variety of promotional products available today. Long gone are the days of only offering free pens to your clients or potential clients. Now, you can order customized calendars, portfolios, notepads, umbrellas, and key chains. The first question to consider is your promotional product needs. Do you have an upcoming trade show? If so, free items and promotional pieces are an easy way to attract people to your trade show booth. If you send a follow up or thank you letter to clients after a job is completed, a trinket or item is a good way to keep your name in front of them even longer. If you meet with potential clients in-person, offering a free pen or notepad is another way to make an impression. What items should you purchase? While pens are a tried-and-true item, there are so many other possibilities. Tailor the item to your situation. Last summer I attended the Northern Wisconsin State Fair. While I gave away pens and small notepads, I also specially ordered can coolers specifically for the booth at the fair. It was July and it was HOT outsideâ€"can coolers were a huge success at this event. Be sure to plan ahead; ordering promotional products takes time. If you want to be ready for a particular event, order your products and have them ready in plenty of time. You don’t want to pay a rush charge for something that could have easily been ordered months earlier. Finally, decide on a budget. While ordering a larger quantity of an item may save you money, you may not even know if your promotional item will be a success. Don’t fall in the trap of ordering more just to get your per unit cost reduced. Start with a smaller quantity and if it works, order more next time. Most importantly, take time to consider what is best for your specific business. What works for one business may not work well for another. Think about what your customers will want from your business. And, consider what will keep your name in front of them for the longest period of time. Enjoy the search for promotional items â€" the possibilities are endless!