| You have decided to include promotional gifts in your | | | | whole cross-section of the public. In this case you |
| marketing strategy, but the choice is massive! How | | | | may consider promotional items such as Mugs, Pens, |
| do you go about deciding what will make the perfect | | | | Mobile Phone Holders, Umbrellas, Teddy Bears and |
| promotional item to compliment and fulfill your brief, | | | | Desktop gifts among many others. |
| whilst ensuring the best return on your marketing | | | | Timescale |
| investment? | | | | Over what period of time will you want to use your |
| Budget | | | | promotional gifts? Will they be a one-off mass |
| You know your available budget and your target | | | | marketing approach, a more individually focused |
| audience. Does your budget allow you to choose | | | | distribution, or a long term branding awareness |
| something of high value for a smaller group, or do | | | | campaign? A tightly focused campaign could be |
| you need to spread your marketing messages far | | | | related to a particular one-off event or festival such |
| and wide to as many people as possible? This is | | | | as Christmas or New Year. This situation would |
| obviously fundamental in influencing your choice of | | | | enable you to choose a promotional gift with a |
| promotional gift for your project. If you are looking | | | | festive theme or something specifically designed for |
| for high quality gifts for valued clients, you may | | | | a special event. Promotional gifts to consider are |
| consider such items as a Camera, Hip Flask, Jewelery | | | | printed Christmas Baubles, Cards, Chocolates and |
| Box, MP4 Player or a Gift Box of Champagne and | | | | Sweets, Desktop Gifts, Diaries, and Gift Sets for |
| Flutes. Value mass marketing items could be Pens, | | | | example. You may have a campaign aimed at clients' |
| Mugs, Mouse Mats, Key rings, Chocolates and | | | | birthdays or on-going and repeated events. In this |
| Sweets, Flip-Flops, Glow-sticks or Balloons. | | | | case promotional items would need to have a slightly |
| Relevance/Compatibility | | | | more general appeal, but could still be themed and be |
| The promotional merchandise you choose should be | | | | suitable all year round. Alternatively, you may want to |
| relevant to your campaign. Choose a gift which is | | | | choose promotional gifts to have on hand for any |
| compatible with the qualities and characteristics of | | | | suitable event that may present itself with an |
| either your company and/or the product or service | | | | opportunity to promote your company. Again, these |
| you are promoting. The more closely relevant your | | | | need to be suitable in a range of situations and |
| choice of gift, the more potent it will be in supporting | | | | without time issues. |
| your marketing messages. For example a | | | | Delivery |
| travel-related company could choose from a whole | | | | Your method of distribution of your promotional |
| range of travel-related gifts such as Passport Holders, | | | | merchandise also needs to be considered. The size |
| Luggage Tags, Bags, Toiletries, Ear Buds, Travel | | | | and weight of your chosen gifts can be important |
| Cushions or Travel Plugs. | | | | when it comes to cost and method of delivery. If |
| Suitability | | | | you intend to include your promotional gifts in a |
| Consider the demographic of the target audience for | | | | mail-out campaign, you obviously need to choose |
| your promotional items. This knowledge is crucial in | | | | items which are lightweight and will easily fit into |
| choosing the most appropriate promotional items for | | | | envelopes. Such items could be mouse mats, letter |
| your project. Factors such as the age, gender, | | | | openers, pens, rulers, key rings, magnets, diaries and |
| profession, aspiration, location, achievements etc of | | | | paper products, to name but a few. |
| your targeted audience, together with the needs and | | | | If you consider all these points when selecting your |
| characteristics of your marketing campaign, all need | | | | perfect promotional items, they will have the impact |
| to be taken into consideration when deciding what | | | | you expect by promoting your company products |
| merchandise would be the perfect promotional gift. If | | | | appropriately and ultimately bring in the business for |
| you need to reach a wide demographic, your choice | | | | you. |
| of promotional products needs to be appealing to a | | | | |