When it comes to advertising, these words are as true for a global campaign as they are for a low budget promotion : “It’s more important to reach the people who count rather than count the people you reach”.  The choice of communications or media channels is a crucial aspect in the advertising strategy, and they have to deliver the message directly to the target audience.

And there are many different channels to consider – from mainstream print and electronic to social networking media like YouTube, MySpace and Twitter, direct marketing and speciality advertising ie promotional products.  Budget will generally dictate the scale and scope of a campaign, but one media type that has found favour with organisations large and small, is promotional products.  Research has shown these items to be highly effective in terms of reach and recall.

Audiences can ‘tune out’ of other forms of advertising, but not really from promotional products.  Because everyone likes to be given something, the handing over of a promotional item elicits a sense of gratitude and therefore creates a favourable marketing environment.  Items that are practical and that serve a purpose are most effective as they are used repeatedly by the recipients, thereby reinforcing the advertising or brand message.

As there are so many thousands of speciality products available, it’s impossible to list them or even categorise them.   Perth promotional products range from sportswear and leisurewear, kitchen accessories, IT products, glassware, sunscreen sachets, marquees, lipbalm and confectionery to bar accessories and sunglasses.   It’s always best to talk to established consultants in the industry before deciding on any particular product as they can give practical advice and suggestions based on their own experience.  Quality is another important aspect to be considered.  A mass-produced economy item such as a fridge magnet can serve a very practical purpose and can be extremely useful, it’s always worth considering whether a low quality item will erode the quality of the advertising message.  

Following are some typical uses for speciality advertising :

·         Opening of a new shop or branch

·         To launch a new product or service

·         Motivate, reward or encourage sales staff

·         Welcome new members or new clients

·         To develop sales leads

·         Encourage visitors to a trade show/stand

·         Provide customers with easy access to your contact details or location

·         Encourage people to attend an event

·         Pave the way for sales calls

For each of these applications, there are hundreds of products which could be used to convey an advertising message to a specific target.  But it’s important to get it right first time.  First impressions count – and choosing the right promotional product is vital in making sure that that first impression makes an impact for the right reason.

The internet is the best place to search for promotional products and to get ideas, but always check the supplier’s reliability.  A reputable supplier will offer not only sound advice, but will be able to manufacture actual samples before proceeding with the bulk quantities to enable marketers to make informed decisions.  Whatever the Perth promotional products you’ve chosen to get your message across, you’ve chosen a channel that has proven effectiveness and offers value for your marketing money!

This much is true – “You can’t do today’s job with yesterday’s methods and be in business tomorrow”.