First Impressions Do Count for Companies

First impressions are very important for businesses, especially when they are looking to attract new clients in a crowded marketplace. If firms fail to impress from the get-go, they are going to find it very difficult to showcase the value of their products or services. 

This is why companies should be pulling out all the stops when they are targeting new business. One way to create a great first impression when pitching to a prospective client or a new target audience is to use promotional products. Here are some hints and tips on how to use promotional gifts as part of your marketing campaigns: 

Promotional products work 

Research by the British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) highlights just how effective promotial products can be. Not only can promotional items deliver a higher or equal return on investment than most forms of advertising, 66 per cent of respondents to a BMPA survey admitted they remember the brand name that featured on an item they had received after 12 months.

On top of this, 79 per cent said they were likely to do business with the company in the future, while 56 per cent of respondents revealed their opinion of the company was more favourable after they had received the promotional product. 

Lanyards 

Printed lanyards are perfect for carrying passes at events and exhibitions, while they can also act as a holder for keys or cards. One of the key advantages of using promotional lanyards at a trade show is that recipients will display your brand, logo and marketing message to fellow attendees. This could help to generate extra footfall to your stand, and in turn, generate more enquiries about your products and services.

Umbrellas 

More of a seasonal gift, but that does not make them any less effective. Indeed, BPMA research has found that branded umbrellas are a very cost-effective way to achieve marketing impressions (£0.003 per impression), behind only pens and mugs (both £0.001 per impression). Like lanyards, recipients of printed umbrellas will act as a walking billboard for your brand or marketing message. This could be given added impetus if the umbrellas are used at a popular televised event such as a cricket test match, music festival or other large outdoor event. 

Pens 

A perennial favourite, the simplicity and practicality of promotional pens means they will always be well received. going to be distributed to companies. Because pens are used on a daily basis, your brand, logo or marketing message is likely to be seen frequently, and therefore should resonate with the recipient particularly when they next come to think of purchasing your goods or services.