From the big return on your investment to boosted visibility and the personal connection you form when you share a great promotional piece, there are very few regrets involved. Promotional items have a positive impact on both your brand and your marketing efforts for a variety of reasons, including:

6 Degrees of Separation aka Kevin Bacon

Just like every movie ever made can be traced back to Kevin Bacon, every piece you put out there has the potential to reach multiple people. Once you have a promotional piece in someone’s hands and they feel it has value, it has the potential to be passed on. Not only does this phenomenon extend the life of your piece and its investment, the act of passing the branded item on is seen as social proof of your brand. The act of handing over that picnic blanket or cooler is more than just passing on a useful item; it is a personal endorsement of your business, too.

Positive ROI

Comparing the cost of a promotional piece to a purchased lead (or one based on traditional advertising) reveals that your per cost price is significantly lower when you invest in branded promo pieces. Your branded pieces also allow your prospects a real, tangible thing to save and hold – with no clicking away or sending to spam.

Avoid Missing Out on Leads

You’ve made an amazing connection at the trade show or convention, and head back to the office, eagerly awaiting the promised phone calls and connections. Will the phone actually ring? While you should always follow up after a show, a tangible reminder helps your prospect recall you and the conversation you had. Think about what you do as an attendee – and what booths you recall best; it is much easier to remember who you’ve met when you can hold the reminder in your hand. Something as simple as a branded pen or ice scraper can boost recall and make it easier for you to reconnect with your leads.

Boosted Brand Visibility

Branding is more than a popular marketing buzzword; it truly matters if you want your business to be perceived in the right way. Ignore your branding and you lose the opportunity to control your message – or worse, end up with no visible message at all. Promotional pieces help reinforce your image as a stable, key player in your field and ensure you won’t be overlooked.