If you are reading our blog then you already know that branded giveaways have the opportunity to offer tremendous value to both the advertiser and the recipient. We love to preach that promotional products work! 

In fact, according to research by the Advertising Specialty Institute, one third of recipients said that they are more likely to do business with an advertiser after receiving the promotional item than they were beforehand. Recipients not only remembered the name of the advertiser, they also overwhelmingly felt more positive about the advertiser.

The key to maximizing results of your next promotional item? Picking the best branded giveaways for your business. Here are some tips to choose the best ones:  

#1: Consider the industry and the recipient

We love to brainstorm new promotional products for clients. That said, this is a tough task if we do not have a good understanding of the target audience. Some things to consider:

  • Age range
  • Do they work at home or from the office?
  • Is this an employee, prospect, existing client?
  • Have they received branded giveaways from you in the past?

By clarifying information about the recipient and your industry we can better source very specific items. 

For example, we recently helped a client pick branded giveaways for a group of plumbers and people within the plumbing industry. We quickly narrowed down ~10 items within the client’s budget range that would appeal to this male dominated audience. 

#2: Use your budget wisely

When it comes to selecting the best branded giveaways, it can be tempting to focus on price over product. 

We recommend setting a realistic budget range for every order, allowing us to better find products that align. In some cases, this means ordering a few small products and boxing them together for one large gift. In others, this means one product for each recipient. Either way, you always have options! 

#3: Understand the durability and usability of the product

While it pains us to turn away business, many times we have had to tell a client that we recommend they save their money instead of spending it on a cheap, throw away promotional item. 

We want to be your partner and good stewards of your budget, so you can always count on us to provide high quality items that are usable and durable. Sometimes that means spending more and sometimes that means spending less than you anticipated. 

#4: Be Unique

The easiest way to be unique is to give products that relate back to your specific company or business. That isn’t always possible though! Other ways to be unique:

  • Find a product that is environmentally friendly or gives back with each purchase
  • Add your logo to a new, up and coming brand 
  • Distribute the product in a fun way – personalize with a card or gift wrap

#5: Consider distribution method

While this seems like an afterthought, the distribution method of any branded giveaway or promotional product is a great way to set yourself up for success. 

Take for example, a new hire. 

  • Will you be shipping their product or leaving it on their desk? 
  • Can you gift wrap or include a personal note? 
  • Can you include the rest of the team into the gift in some way to maximize the effectiveness of making the new employee feel welcome?

If you are distributing this item at a trade show, consider how the recipient will carry throughout the day and how they will travel home with the product. 

We are happy to handle fulfillment, drop ship your promotional items to your entire staff, or ship everything to you to distribute. That said, in our experience any additional level of personalization that you can add during distribution is worth it! 

With endless options in every budget, it can feel overwhelming to select the best branded items for your business. Send us a message today and we can help!