Promo merch vs Advertising.
With so many options for Marketing Managers to choose from when it comes to spending their budgets, how do they decide where is best to spend their money?
They need to ask themselves these very important questions;
What is going to have the best reach?
What function has the best return on investment?
What is going to make us look good?
What is going to have the best long term effect?
The reality is there is a place for a multitude of activities within an overall marketing strategy, but the differences are which ones are going to actually make a difference to your bottom line.
Advertising has evolved over the years, from traditional forms like TV and radio advertising, printed ads and the good old billboard. All of these functions are extremely hard to measure with certainty. The people selling the ads could tell you how many cars drive past the billboard on any given day, but could they tell you how many of those drivers actually interacted with the ad and then acted on them? Ah, I am afraid not.
Enter in the digital advertising era…You can measure everything now. With data analytics being one of the top skills required in marketing and advertising, they are able to tell you exactly who has looked at your ad and what they did after they saw it.
Whilst advertising drives attention to a potential customer or client to your business, promotional merchandise is what keeps them around for longer. Promotional merchandise can be used in many different ways to attract new clients and then, retain them. And let’s not forget to point out: promo merch is advertising.
Consumers have learnt to ignore standard advertising because there is so much, merchandise is tangible, placing your brand in the hands of consumers whilst also providing them the benefit of the product.
Some key facts to keep in mind when deciding to invest in promo merch;
Most people keep promo merch for up to 8 months after receiving it. That means your brand is in their hands and minds for 8 months.
Most people pass on their products if they don’t need them, rather than throwing them away. Hello, word of mouth marketing right there. You are reaching a new audience that could have otherwise gone unreachable.
Majority of people who receive promo merch are more favourable towards the company that gifted them.
88% of people could remember that brand they received merch from, showing that it makes a memorable impact.
And the biggest reason to choose to invest in merch is that it is a great way of showing your customer you care by giving them thoughtful, on-brand, usable gifts. It makes your company look nice and it makes your brand look even better.