Whether your goal is to launch a new business or you’re interested in boosting your bottom line, one sure fire way to make it happen is through promotional giveaways. It can be very difficult however, to decide the best way to launch such a marketing campaign. There are probably as many different reasons for a promotional product as there are ways to use them.

In order to get the most out of your free giveaway campaign, there are a few things you need to keep in mind as you plan your marketing strategy.

Have a Plan

Once you’ve decided that you want to use this marketing technique, it is essential that you develop a strategy. While promotional bags are very affordable and it can be quite tempting to order a huge supply of them you need to stop and think first. Determine how you will make the best use of your promotional item and how it will fit in with the overall marketing plan of your company.

It is important that you have the customer in mind before you place your order and in fact, it could be a pretty good idea for you to test a few samples before you make the official order. Customer feedback can be a very valuable tool in helping you to determine if your choice of promotional bag is right for your target market.

There is a delicate balance between choosing a bag that will make people think about your company and choosing one that will overshadow it. Remember, your goal is to get people to think about your product or service, not about the freebie they’re getting.

Before You Choose

When choosing which promotional bag you use, look carefully at your options. The item you select should reflect your company’s image. The item you choose should not compete with anything else you’re selling in your regular product line. Know your company’s core values well and make sure that the item you select will display that clearly to the consumer.

Finally, you should check the samples of the product for quality and attention to detail. Shoddy workmanship can reflect poorly on your company through no fault of your own. Whatever you choose for your giveaway should be produced well so your customers will feel that they are getting a thing of value rather than a cheap piece of merchandise.

Think Variety

Using promotional giveaways is an excellent and extremely affordable business strategy. However, if you’re working on a tight budget, you may be tempted to order only one item to represent your company. But if you choose a variety of items (possibly with the same theme) it will be relatively easy to empower your customers by giving them options. This will increase the likelihood that they will use the item of their choice therefore promoting your business even more.

Think Surprise

Everyone loves a gift but it is even more special when that gift is unexpected. Studies have shown that when promotional gifts are given during peak gift giving season that they generally get buried in the chaos of the holidays. However, if you choose to give your gift at another time of the year when they least expect it, you are likely to get much higher results.

It can definitely be a challenge to creating an effective promotional marketing strategy. There are many things to think about when deciding on which promotional item you’ll use, how many, and how best to put it to use.

So, while promotional giveaways is a pretty reliable way to boost your company’s image, it still remains necessary for you to have a strategy and decide which product will work best in suiting your company’s unique goals. Remember, it’s not an exact science but an art instead. Since every company is different you will have to think through each unique set of issues your business will face. However, if you do, you’re sure to see positive results in your next promotional giveaway.