Promotional products – the fun branded merch and freebies that brands give away – can be an overlooked secret weapon in your marketing strategy. From classic pens and T-shirts to coffee mugs and even folding chairs, creative promotional product strategies deliver results.

In today’s digital world, promotional products stand out. Here are a few reasons to give your promotional products strategy a fresh take:

Influential: In a recent consumer study, 75% of people said they were more likely to buy from a company that gave them a promotional product than from another company they know equally well but did not give them promo.

Increased brand awareness: When people use your promotional products, they are constantly seeing your brand. This can help to increase brand awareness and make your company more memorable.

Improved customer loyalty: When people receive a promotional product from your company, they are 83% more likely to do business with you in the future. This is because they feel appreciated, valued and have a strengthened loyalty to the brand.

Generate leads: Promotional products can also be used to generate leads with 73% of consumers saying they are more likely to consider purchasing from a business that gave them a promotional product they kept.

Retain customers: Another study found that 54% of consumers say they would stop using a brand after just one bad experience. Promotional products in this case can dramatically change this outcome, 81% of consumers say they would do business again with a company that gifted them a useful promotional product.

Promotional products work in any economy. In times of recession or economic hardship, surveyed consumers say promo gifts stand out as a sign of brand value and show that employers care about them.

Here are some tips for choosing the right promotional products for your business:

Consider your target audience: When choosing promotional products, it is important to consider your target audience. What are their interests? What would they find useful?

Choose high-quality products: You want your promotional products to be high-quality so that people will use them and keep them.

Personalize your products: When possible, personalize your promotional products with your company logo or branding. This will help to make them more memorable.

Track your results: It is important to track the results of your promotional product campaign so that you can see how effective it is. You can do this by tracking website traffic, social media engagement, and leveraging QR codes or NFC technology to drive traffic straight from your product to your digital assets.

By following these tips, you can choose the right promotional products for your business and use them to effectively market your brand.