Combine Promo Products and Social Media for a Big Marketing Bang!

by On Point Promotions | October 22, 2018

This is a great quote for every business to remember:

“Marketing is a creative endeavor … the brands who make headlines are those who think outside the box and truly make a statement.” – Rishon Roberts

Using swag as part of your marketing is a keen idea. But HOW you use it can multiply its impact on the outcomes.

Swag and the traditional route

It’s nothing new to go to a trade show or convention and see all sorts of cool swag offered in booth after booth. There could be raffles for some big-ticket items or practical and useful items such as pens, notepads, and thumb drives. Top quality drink cups or even a quick chocolate or nut snack are also viewed favorably.

Most of the swag plucked and dropped into totes (another branded item) are taken back and sorted by attendees just like Halloween candy after a night of trick-or-treating. The “good stuff” goes home and might be a nice reminder of who to call for this or that service. The rest of it gets left in a hotel room, rental car, or restaurant table.

So, in that regard, working with a professional promotional products representative can either make or break making the cut back home with the participant.

Swag plus social media is a partnership truly made in marketing heaven

There is nothing wrong with the traditional route of using swag at major events. It’s traditional because, in its best use, it works, right? Right.

Move your marketing with swag in a new direction … Remember, marketing is not limited to events. No, marketing is something that should be happening every day of every week of every month of every year for your business. So how do you make that happen?

Let’s use an example. Let’s consider something like a tech company that provides a service to other businesses. In order to grow their reach and exposure on line, they decide to undertake a digital-meets-physical world kind of approach.

As a metaphor, do you remember Flat Stanley from your school days? A child would be given a paper sporting an image of “Flat Stanley” and be asked to color it and cut it out. The child would then be instructed to take Flat Stanley on an adventure, take picture during the adventure, and then report that adventure back to the group. The marketing campaign is loosely based on this sort of concept.

Instead of being handed a piece of paper to color and cut out, digital visitors are asked to register or request a piece of branded swag, such as a mug, a banner ballpoint pen, bottle opener sunglasses, or even a pair of socks.

In the initial phase, the viewer likes or follows the social media page, which allows them to either register on line or submits a DM with their mailing address so the swag can be sent to them.

 The next step is that upon receipt, the viewer receives a sticker that asks them to take a picture of themselves with the swag and share it back on the platform – Twitter or Facebook, for instance. When they do, the business is provided another avenue to interact with them.

This process builds the network of followers and brand supporters in the online universe. As you continue with your social media campaigns, you will be touching them on a regular basis to educate them on your products and services.

You are creating not just brand recognition but building a reputation that can extend out far beyond the life expectancy of trade show booth swag. The images shared, and comments made, as photos come back from viewers will continually work for you online. Your fans and followers become part of your brand’s story.

How do you decide on marketing swag?

There are so many choices, especially when you visit a site like On Point Promotions. I mean the options are endless. Then, oh, some people view marketing swag as difficult to choose as the perfect pair of underwear that don’t sag or ride up. But it doesn’t have to be as serious – in fact, it can be, wait, FUN. Show a sense of humor, create a buzz online with something that is “cool” and “fun.” It can be useful, too, which would be like hitting the trifecta, wouldn’t it?

At On Point Promotions our exposure is well beyond the small town of Ladoga, IN where we are located. We have been involved with programs, trade shows, and events far flung out and away from Indiana. We are a fun bunch with senses of humor to help you be creative and think outside the box to build a campaign that will increase your reach, and, in the end, make your marketing dollars go further.

In other words, stroll through the different products on our website, then contact us at 317-762-4309. We can help you get the details down perfectly as far as the actual branding, be it an imprint or an embroidery. We will make sure it looks great for you. We will also steer you away from or toward options that we know work well – or not. Use our experience and knowledge.