August 2, 2013

Do Promotional Items Make a Difference?

[image title=”Money” size=”full” id=”373″ align=”left” linkto=”https://greatatlanticoutfitters.com” ]In a tough economy where all businesses are being more careful about where their dollars are going, it’s not a surprise that you may be thinking about whether your promotional items are a smart investment. When it comes to online marketing, it’s easy to track the success of PPC campaigns, social media contests and email marketing. Promotional items get back to the basics of physically handing out items, and it can be difficult to measure the impact these items have on your bottom line.

So, the question that begs, then, is: Do promotional items really make a difference?

Absolutely! Yes!

Take a look at these fun facts regarding promotional products:

84% of recipients of promotional items can identify the brand
42% of recipients have a more favorable impression of the brand
62% of recipients do business with the advertiser after receiving the item
The average promotional item is kept for 7 months
The average cost per impression is just $0.004 for promotional items

The bottom line is this: Don’t underestimate the power of promotional items.

Promotional Items = Cost-Effective Marketing

Promotional items are sometimes viewed as luxury items, but from a marketing aspect, these tools are inexpensive and cost effective, no matter what size budget you’re working with. When you consider that the average cost per impression is just $0.004, you know that you’re getting a good return on investment compared to more costly marketing efforts. And, you get the dual benefit of having the promotional item market for your company long after you hand it out.

For instance, if you hand out personalized pens at an event, your business will continue to be marketed for as long as the recipient keeps the pen. Maybe the person will tuck the pen away in a drawer and find it months later, reminding him of your presence. Also, the pen will reach out to other people. If that same person leaves the pen on his desk at work, it will be used and borrowed by others, creating more exposure for your label. Think of how much free advertising you’re getting for your business!

Even when you have to reallocate your advertising budget, don’t pull from promotional items. This type of hands-on marketing remains one of the most effective forms of marketing, and it positively brands your image.

July 23, 2013

Simple Steps for DIY Screen Printing

Screen printing is a simple and cost-effective method for printing your own designs. While screen printing shops are necessary for large orders at a professional level, you can do small projects right at home! Once you start, you won’t want to stop – trust us.

Here are simple DIY instructions for screen printing.

Step 1: Select the design you want to use and print it out. Make sure that it is the correct size.

Step 2: Get out your TWO embroidery hoops and fabric. The embroidery hoop can be wood or plastic. The fabric should be thin woven mesh material, such as an inexpensive sheer curtain panel.

Step 3: Stretch the fabric over one hoop (inner) and place the other hoop (outer) over both the fabric and inner hoop. The fabric should be tightly pulled through both hoops. You may have to cut the fabric to make it fit tight.

Step 4: Position the hoop over the image of your choice; the fabric should be facing down. If you don’t want the image to move around, use a small piece of tape to secure it.

Step 5: Trace the image using a pencil onto the fabric.

Step 6: Paint your image using a product like Mod Podge. You may also want to place something between the fabric so that the paint does not bleed through.

Step 7: Get your item ready, whether it’s a tote bag or t-shirt. (If it’s a t-shirt, place a piece of cardboard in the middle so the ink doesn’t bleed through.) Place the screen – which should be dry – where you want it to be on the item.

Step 8: Place fabric ink on the screen and spread it around so that the entire image is covered. Then slowly peel the screen off of the shirt or tote bag. If there are some spots that were missed, you may go back and touch them up with a paintbrush.

Step 9: Depending on the type of ink used, you may have to iron the print for a couple of minutes. Read the finishing directions on the ink product for more clarification.
Congratulations! You’ve just mastered the art of screen printing, and you can now put your favorite designs on shirts, backpacks and totes!

Web Design Milwaukee

June 25, 2013

Top 5 Least Expensive Promotional Items

Promotional items are a useful way to brand your company, but that doesn’t mean you have a never-ending advertising budget to spend on them. Fortunately, there are many super cool promotional items that will get your business the attention it deserves while staying within your marketing budget.

Custom Can Coolers (Koozies) – These products are budget-friendly yet still leave room for customization, such as by choosing the color of the cooler and the logo on the exterior. Plus, they are very convenient, especially for concerts, summer picnics and barbecues, so you can expect to get your money’s worth from them.

Reusable Bags – Many companies are lowering their carbon footprint as part of their overall marketing strategy. Consumers prefer companies that are committed to the environment, and they have more trust in these companies from the start. Reusable bags are a great way to promote your business while showing your concern for the environment.

Frisbees – Frisbees may be simple, but they offer plenty of fun. These are perfect for summer outings or company picnics, and they do a nice job of promoting the company name since the center of the Frisbee is used for the logo. Frisbees can also be made in dozens of bright, vivid colors.

Key Tags – We all have keys, usually more than we actually need, making key tags a practical promotional item. Key tags are great for small budgets, and you have to room to grow if you want. For instance, key tags can include a small flashlight or bottle opener, giving them a dual purpose.

Stadium Cups – Available in a multitude of colors, stadium cups remain a smart and effective promotional items. They’re great for sporting events and festivals, and somehow, these cups always seem to remain in our homes as fun “extras” when we have friends or family over. Or, stadium cups can be used as pen holders on a desk. Either way, they’re inexpensive, fun and useful.

June 11, 2013

Top 4 Uses of Promotional Products

[image title=”Promotional Giveaways” size=”full” id=”342″ align=”left” linkto=”https://greatatlanticoutfitters.com” ]

Promotional products are fun and often times unique, and people love to receive them. There’s nothing like getting something free just by attending a trade show or participating in a non-profit event. Let’s take a look at the top four uses for promotional products and how they can align with your marketing scheme.

1. Brand Awareness

Studies have shown that when consumers are given a promotional item with a company name on it, they are much more likely to remember the company name than if they didn’t receive the item with the business logo. Also, consumers are more likely to think positively about the brand when they receive a free item. This small but thoughtful token is a great way to build customer rapports at any point.

2. Trade Shows

If your company is going to be at a trade show, it’s important that they stand out from the crowd. With booth after booth, you need something fun and unique to represent your business. Furthermore, when people attend trade shows, they are more open to learning about your business because of the nature of the environment.

3. New Product Information

When a new product is launched, a solid marketing plan must follow behind. What better way to market your product than by handing out some version of it as a promotional item? Consumers can try your product for free, and you can take the opportunity to have your company’s name printed on the item for added exposure.

4. Customer Referrals

A large part of growing your business is getting customer referrals. There’s nothing better than having positive testimonials from your clients, and this puts automatic trust in prospective customers. To help this transition, promotional items are a true asset. To reach more people, you can have existing customers hand out items and reach a larger demographic.

June 4, 2013

Interesting Facts that Will Change the Way You Look at Promotional Items

[image title=”Trucker Hats – Promotional Items” size=”full” id=”339″ align=”left” linkto=”https://greatatlanticoutfitters.com/” ]

Have you ever received a promotional product? What did you think of it? Just about everyone has received a promotional item at some point in time, and it’s hard to resist something that is free and useful. The most common promotional products are Koozies, stadium cups, pens and magnets, and the majority of people end up using them because they are useful, and to the consumer, free!

As the marketer, you may be wondering what happens to your products once you hand them out. Do they go used? Do they market your business effectively? Do they draw in customer interest?

Here are a few fun facts about promotional items that will change the way you look at your marketing strategy.

Eight out of 10 people can recall the company of the promotional item they received.

Buttons were some of the first promotional items that were handed out at the inauguration of George Washington in 1789. This was the “birth” of promotional items.

The most common places where promotional items are used include the kitchen (91%), the workspace (74%) and the bedroom (55%).

There are plenty of useful promotional items out there, but the top five include wearables, writing instruments, bags, calendars and drinkware. If you’re looking to be different, you know some of the other sectors to target, such as key chains and flashlights.

The top buyers for promotional items include education, financial, not-for-profit groups, health care and construction.

It’s no mystery why promotional products work. Unlike other marketing strategies, they engage all five senses, they are appreciated by consumers and they are retained for the long term.

Promotional advertising remains a billion dollar industry. Approximately $15.6 billion is spent on advertising, which is right in line with online and television advertising.

It’s true that promotional items are appreciated and retained by consumers, but they hold more importance than that. They build customer loyalty and trust, two factors that are significant in branding your company and establishing long-term relationships with your clients.

Source: PPAI/ASI/ANA

Photo c/o: elvinstar

May 28, 2013

Top 10 Buyers of Promotional Items

[image title=”P

romotional tshirts” size=”full” id=”333″ align=”left” linkto=”https://greatatlanticoutfitters.com/” ]

Do you ever wonder who the top buyers for promotional items are? Promotional items are practical and cost-effective, but some markets use them more than others. Let’s take a look at the top ten buyers for promotional items and how they use these products to expand their industry.

1. Education – Whether it’s welcoming students back to school, showing appreciation for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week or displaying school spirit, promotional items are a real hit for schools and universities across the country.

2. Financial – When it comes to finances, promotional items have it all. From piggy banks to money-filled pens, promotional items come in handy for banks, loan officers and other financial institutions.

3. Not-for-Profit Organizations – Since non-profit organizations are not government-funded, it’s important that they are well supported by the community. A great way to publicize the organization and its mission is to use marketing items at events and fundraisers.

4. Healthcare – Even the healthcare industry needs support at times. Promotional items are great for recruiting patients and showing appreciation for staff members.

5. Construction – Advertising tools can help those in the construction industry because these individuals are often self-employed and don’t have much time to market their services. Promotional items such as flashlights and wearables can proudly display the name of the construction company for instant brand awareness.

6. Trade and Professional – Be prepared for trade shows and other events with items like banners, signs, trade show signs and polo shirts for booth members.

7. Real Estate – Promotional items for real estate are an effective way to market your company or yourself, if you are self-employed. From calendars to magnets to pens, these items can be mailed out to prospective buyers and sellers in the area.

8. Government – Advertising products are great tools for local, state and federal agencies that depend on these products to represent their organization and their commitment to people across the globe.

9. Professionals – From doctors to lawyers to CPAs, these professionals can use marketing products to recruit new patients or clients and market the name of their practice.

10. Restaurants and Bars – What better way to let people in the local area know that you’ve opened a new restaurant than with a fun promotional item, such as a magnet, pen or drink coaster?

Advertising products are fun and unique and can be part of a successful marketing strategy for all industries.

May 21, 2013

Best Places to Hand Out Promotional Items

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Promotional items have a huge impact on marketing your brand and expanding your customer base. Yet many people are unsure of how to distribute their promotional items to potential customers. Putting some thought into how and where you’ll hand out promotional items will make a difference in how well your items are received and how many customers carry out the desired action, such as by visiting your site, signing up for your mailing list or purchasing your product or service.

Handouts

Handouts are the easiest and most inexpensive way to hand out promotional items. Just be sure to follow the rules in the area where you’ll be handing out items, as some areas prohibit this behavior. The good thing is that you can reach out to people directly and hopefully even start up a few conversations about your product. The drawback is that people are often in a rush and may not give your product a chance.

Trade Shows

Trade shows have the same effect as handouts since you can stand there and hand out products with very little effort. The advantage is that you’re at a trade show, and this environment is specifically designed for companies to market their business. Your audience is already there, and chances are high that they already have some initial interest in your product. The biggest drawback is that there is a lot of competition in this setting, and it can be difficult to make your product stand out.

Mailings

Bulk mailings have a lot of advantages: you’re reaching your audience directly and not bothering them during the day. However, mailing items does cost money, and you will need to get a hold of addresses and names. If you choose to send products to the current resident, your envelope might get tossed in the mail for being impersonal.

Grand Openings

Look for grand opening events at local hotels, restaurants and retail outlets. This can be a good opportunity to market your product in a business-orientated environment. You can also host your own grand opening and offer special events for new clients. People enjoy grand openings for the very idea of getting special offers!

Remember that handing out promotional items is an ongoing way to attract new customers and continue your positive rapport with existing clients, so don’t hesitate to hand out products at holiday parties, special events and conferences.

Blog sponsored by: Great Atlantic Outfitters

Photo c/o: mrceviz

April 30, 2013

Why Consistency is Important for Your Business Logo

Once you have your business logo in place, one of the best things that you can do is keep your logo consistent. This may seem to be obvious, but many companies end up having inconsistent logos over time. And, it’s easy to do when you think about it. For instance, say you have your business logo printed on 100 water bottles to hand out at a pool party. During the holidays, you use a different company to print off t-shirts. Using two different companies, your logo turned out unique with each one in terms of font, color and quality.

As you can imagine, inconsistent logos can be confusing for your audience. You want your logo to be clean, simple and consistent at all times. Just think about the logos you see; you can always recognize an “A” for Amazon or “F” for Facebook. Something as simple as one letter and a color is all you need to brand your business, and having inconsistencies can interfere with the professionalism of your company.

Here are some tips for ensuring that your logo is always consistent:

– Use the same business name, logo or logotype.

– Choose a clear, easily digestible font and stick to it.

– Select a color scheme to use on your logo and throughout your marketing materials.

– Use lock-ups. This means that the way your logo and text is positioned becomes set.

– Utilize a consistent design system so that your business logo looks the same across business cards, printed materials and promotional items.

– Work with one company, such as a screen printing shop like Great Atlantic Outfitters. This ensures that the printing is always consistent across products.

Being consistent with your business logo makes business sense. You save money from not having to re-print materials, and your audience continues to have the same trust in your product or service. Consistent logos speak confidence, professionalism and trust, and they avoid confusion from new customers who may be hearing about your business for the first time.

Photo c/o: Billy Alexander

March 22, 2013

Business Logo Trends and Predictions for 2013

adobe creative suite
Real-time marketing is becoming more important than ever. Where we once planned for business campaigns ahead of time, it’s now more constructive to act in real-time. This year, look for these logo design trends that will take your business logo to another level.

Honest and Simple: Short, sweet and simple is in right now. Consumers like being able to look at a product and know what it has to offer in the first glance. Terms like ‘honest,’ ‘healthy,’ ‘wholesome’ or ‘simply’ are great words to add to these logos.

Watercolors: Everyone enjoys a dash of color, and watercolors are stylish and bright. Look for watercolors that leave behind splatters of paint for added color and personality.

Optical Illusions: What grabs your attention more than an optical illusion? These fun illusions are being used by more companies to draw in interest while being simple and unique. Next time you see a moiré, take the time to notice the brand name.

Geometric Shapes – Whether it’s mosaic-like patterns or solid boxes, geometric shapes are becoming the new standard for business logos. The advantage is that shapes are simple yet functional and leave room for color and fun.

Icons – Icons dominate in the app marketplace and have slowly crept into branding a logo. All you need is a sleek and stylish icon to download an app onto your mobile device, and we’ll surely be seeing more of this type of branding in 2013.

Overlays – Overlays and opacity are great ways to change a simple logo into something more fun and elegant. Since you can add a combination of color, overlays are also a great way to instill positive feelings about your brand.

Cool Fonts – Okay, so cool fonts have always been around, but they’re becoming even cooler. There are hundreds of fonts to choose from, and this small detail in itself can make a business logo stand apart from the rest.

These are just some of the most popular trends that we can expect to see in 2013. Also look for plant-inspired logos that signify growth and nature, color-coordinated compound words and crazy spokes and nodes that have a science-like feel to them. What logos are you seeing out there?

Blog sponsored by: Great Atlantic Outfitters

Photo c/o: evobranined

March 8, 2013

Promotional Items and Their Impact

Promotional products are items that are used to promote a company, product or service. Chances are, you’ve already given out promotional items for your own company, but you can’t help but wonder if these products have a lasting impact. In an increasingly competitive market where every dollar counts, you want to know that your money is going to the right means of advertising. Fortunately, we have good news to share on the power of promotional products.

The promotional products industry in the US is worth nearly $20 billion and shows steady growth each year. Here are the most popular types of promotional items that companies use:

Wearables
Stickers and decals
Bags
Writing instruments
Drinkware
Calendars
Sporting goods
Magnets
Housewares
Food
Buttons and badges
Desk and office items

There are a variety of reasons why promotional products continue to be the benchmark for smart advertising. For example, giving away free items with your company name and logo provides tangible, long-lasting impact and targets a specific audience. Plus, these products are flexible and easy to measure in terms of success.

A 2003 study carried out by Georgia State University found that people who received promotional items had a more positive image of the company and were more likely to refer the company to a friend. Additionally, the study found that 76.1 percent of those who received a promotional item remembered the company name, and 52 percent did business with the company. Studies have also looked at the relationship between promotional items at trade shows and have reported that booths with these items have a 176 percent increase in traffic.

Of course, there are other factors that play into successful promotional products. Not just any old item will do; it helps to offer a product that is attractive, has value and is of high quality. Many companies will try to offer products that resemble their logo or mascot, while others want items that are unique and won’t be found anywhere else. In most cases however, the item still links back to the purpose of the company. For example, a travel company may hand out frisbees, beach balls or sunglasses, while a bank may give away small piggy banks, wallets or safes.

The bottom line is that promotional items have a huge impact on the image of your company, and can make or break the relationships you have with your customers. So, make the most of your advertising budget with high-quality, fun and unique promotional items from Great Atlantic Outfitters.

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