Great businesses understand the power and influence of branded merchandise. Creating swag that perfectly represents your company should be a central part of any brand’s marketing efforts. Promotional products help companies aesthetically express their unique personalities, engage with their target demographics, and reinforce the way a company wishes to be seen (optics).
When done well, branded merchandise is an effective way to grow your business. However, many companies are still unsure of how to successfully incorporate swag into their marketing strategies. As you think about what promotional products would be the right fit for your business, you have to consider your marketing goals. What effect will your swag might have on your audience? Keep these dos and don’ts in mind to ensure you’ll have the most impact!
DO: Use Products With a High Perceived Value
The best swag items are lifestyle products that people naturally want to incorporate into their daily lives. Things like hats, t-shirts, socks, tote bags, journals, water bottles, and sweatshirts are all great options. The more use someone can get out of an item the more it will attract attention to your brand. Also, it’s important to select a variety of different items so that your branded merchandise can maintain a high perceived value across a larger, more diverse audience.
DON’T: Limit Your Swag
As mentioned, it’s important to diversify your swag options. We understand that companies want to make sure their brand is consistent and cohesive. It’s still possible to maintain streamlined messaging while also exploring different motifs and themes that are capable of reaching more of your targeted audience. One way you can do this is by supplementing your traditional branded gear with limited swag launches in new themes,designs, colors, etc. You can take some smart risks and change out those limited launches quickly if something happens to land a little flat. This makes your offering fresh and engaging to customers and employees.
DO: Implement an Effective Strategy
You want your branded merchandise to feel like an extension of your company. That not only means you should nail the design of your items, but you must also follow a strategy to ensure your products and your company’s mission are aligned. For example, avoid following trends too closely if they distract from your company mantra.
DON’T: Be Too Overbearing
One of the fastest ways to turn potential customers off is to be overbearing with the advertising you do with your swag. The best swag is subtle and doesn’t require over-the-top, in-your-face branding to grab someone’s attention. Making your swag into intrusive mobile billboards will almost always backfire.
Traditional marketing is essential to a successful business, but you can enhance your reach with branded merchandise. Swag encourages long-term exposure that will reinforce your brand and get potential customers excited about your business. Visibility for your brand in a wide diversity of avenues and through different mediums can be a very lucrative decision.
If you need support in bringing your swag dreams to life, contact the Prodigy Promos team. We will help you create products that will get you noticed.
