Latest posts by Jill Tooley (see all)
- 5 Ways to Justify Branded Merchandise to the Haters - March 11, 2013
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Some people like to hate on promotional products and tell others that it’s pointless to use them in advertising efforts. Can you believe that?
Are you on the lookout for trendy swag to hand out at trade shows this year? Have you decided it’s finally time to put your brand’s logo on merchandise people will actually want? Congrats, because hunting for your personal Holy Grail of Promo Items can be a lot of fun. And do you know what else? Those giveaways can make a drastic difference when it comes to brand recognition. Don’t listen to people who tell you otherwise.
Here are a few retorts you can use the next time one of those haters gets on your case! I’ve spent the past few years in the industry, so I’ve encountered “˜em all.
Hater Argument: People don’t care about cheap junk they don’t need.
Retort: I beg to differ. Junk is in the eye of the beholder, and people hold onto items they find valuable. This is a fact (side note: I still use a mini notebook I received at a bridal show from three years ago, and the company’s logo is practically embedded in my memory banks). If you give your potential adoring fans something they can use, they’ll remember it forever.
Alternate Retort: Everyone loves a freebie, even if they don’t particularly want it or need it. Anyone who claims they’d refuse a free product or sample is full of lies. Not to mention, people are more likely to sign up for a newsletter or a program if they get a gift for doing so. It doesn’t matter if you had an immediate need for a stress ball or not – getting a tangible reward would sway your decision.
Hater Argument: Very few brands see success with promotional products.
Retort: Really? Is that why advertising specialties rake in billions of dollars every year? Nice try. Multi-billion-dollar industries remain that way because there’s a major demand for the product being sold, and the promotional products industry has
Hater Argument: Don’t waste your money on trinkets when you can spend it on other advertising instead.
Retort: Merchandise costs oodles less than traditional advertising. In fact, targeted giveaways deliver a better cost per impression than prime time TV, magazines, radio spots, and newspapers! That doesn’t mean it’s wise to hang all of your hopes and dreams on freebies, but they’re an inexpensive advertising addition with a high rate of return.
Hater Argument: This is the 21st century. Who uses promo items anymore?
Retort: Who uses them? Well, pretty much every company you’ve ever known and loved. You can’t escape promotional products. You know how they say human beings are never more than a few feet from a spider? Well, we’re also never far from a promo item of some kind. Take a look at the logo pens in your desk cup, the mugs in your kitchen cabinets, the t-shirts in your closet, and the license plate frame on your car if you don’t believe it. Heck, your favorite TV shows and movies probably show promo items on the air, too! They’re everywhere.
Chances are, the haters out there are the ones who tried promotional advertising once, did it wrong, and never went back again. I firmly believe you’d be satisfied with the results if you gave branded merchandise a chance.
Now, with all of that said, please use common sense when choosing giveaways for your brand. You won’t see many new customers if you blow your entire advertising budget on a handful of expensive items or hand out things that have little to do with your audience’s interests. You have to use your noggin! And if you need help, don’t be afraid to ask an expert.
Have you ever used branded merchandise? Do you know any haters who have told you not to use them? Leave a comment if you’d like.
Hey Jill,
I am completely agree with your opinion .
himanshi recently posted..Top Music Apps For Android
Twitter: deep_singh13
hi,
I like your blog. I am totally agree with you!1 and your pic also really good
Thanks for share with me!!
deepak mehra recently posted..University College Management Software
Twitter: PromoScholar
Thanks, I appreciate it!
Thanks for the post! negative promotion is also promotion)LOL
Evan recently posted..Cute Animals & Pets WordPress themes
Twitter: PromoScholar
Sometime’s that’s true, Evan! Thank you for stopping by to comment.
Twitter: Drw3c
Nice post : Haters are going to hate ^^.
steve wec recently posted..Htmlogiste en folie 3 : Avion Pikachu
Twitter: elanawinfrey
(Lol!) Ye-ah! What Steve said! “haters are going to hate”
Plus, I love getting free pens, and can say I hav used them to call when I needed a service. it was handy to have the phone number right on the pen. Oh–and sticky notes too. Can never get enough of those, and your info is always right there in my face.
Elana Winfrey recently posted..Dear Employer, Do You Have A Social Media Policy? You Must!
Twitter: PromoScholar
I love freebies as well, Elana. I work for a company that sells them and I still grab ‘em wherever they’re being handed out! Thanks for the comment.
Twitter: PromoScholar
Haha, yep. Thanks Steve!
Twitter: umpreetturtlers
Yes very good points there. This would certainly help , and good tricks.
myles recently posted..Top And Cool Google Fun Tricks
Twitter: PromoScholar
Thanks, Myles!
You said:
“You know how they say human beings are never more than a few feet from a spider?”
… how many feet are we talking?!?!?
Twitter: PromoScholar
Too close for comfort, Bret.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Shoryabist
Hi Jill,
I think you have justified the title very correctly , the points you put are very correct and true , which make me compeltly agree with you..
Thank You
Shorya Bist
From Youthofest
Shorya recently posted..How to become fair
Twitter: PromoScholar
Thanks for reading, Shorya!
What an interesting way to frame your arguments. Thanks for the interesting read.
Robert Koenig recently posted..Tuna Recall Expanded
Twitter: PromoScholar
I appreciate that, Robert! Thank you for reading
You’e absolutely right, those haters can pop many a dream. We all need da haters too. Lol
Nickie Leaks recently posted..Hot Sauce: Nicki Minaj Teases ‘High School’ Video Snaps
Twitter: DiscoverAuction
Hi Jill,
The Hater Argument: “People Don’t Care About Cheap Junk They Don’t Need” might be a statement someone would make who is a couch potato.
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, and even if your promo item ends up in a box of “this and that” at a local auction, that promo item just landed in front of a whole new group of potential customers.
D Hayes recently posted..Email From PayPal Discover If It Is Real
Twitter: PromoScholar
I completely agree! Thanks so much for the comment!
Twitter: anilrancorgmail.com
that point are good .so i realy help the article .so thank alot
Anil Bhogia recently posted..Mobile Recharge Software Company
Twitter: googlai
Hi Jill !
Thank you for sharing a excellent ideas. i love to read your post.
Googma Sansar recently posted..The Effective Ways to Web Optimization
Twitter: Rohitkabdwal
you have bolded the haters arguments so that, one could only read the haters arguments, and few of them think that yes these peoples are saying the wright thing
i suggest you to “bolden” your arguments also.
by the way nice article
rohit recently posted..Black Hole: Untold Story of the Cosmos
Twitter: PromoScholar
Thank you to everyone who has commented!
Twitter: deep_singh13
Hi,
these very good points there. This would certainly help , and good tricks.
Thanks for share with me!!
deepak mehra recently posted..Accounting Management Software India
Twitter: Techblowup
Great points, as advertising doesn’t make instant results. We have to put efforts and wait for a long time to get good results.
Prakash recently posted..Download Kik Messenger for Android Smartphones | Tablets
One way of becoming a successful Internet marketer is branding. it will hugely help you promote your and spread the word about you and your website as it builds credibility.
These are great tips on brand management!
Nice retorts, Jill…but I keep coming back to the “haters gonna hate” line. Why even acknowledge those negative people whom, let’s be honest, you are not going to convince of your product’s value anyway? I would rather spend a minute bringing a new customer into the fold, as opposed to trying to convince someone that my product/advice has value.
Make sense? Good points at any rate. =)