Tweet

What constitutes a good promotional product for your event

Guest post by: Elyse Cabral

Article Overview: An overview of what an event promotional product is and also how to pick a good one.

What constitutes a good promotional product for your event

What is an Events Promotional Product or better yet what constitutes a good Events Promotional Product?

This is a question that every good Event Manager should be asking well before they finalise the details of their Client's big event. As a distributor of promotional products it is a question I also ask myself when I too am at big event. I, naturally take a great interest, in looking closely at anything I am given at any major event. Lets face it we distributors LOVE promotional products. Having said that, some products are definitely better than others or at least better suited or perceived to be of higher value even to myself.

Now, back to that question I posed at the start of my article, as far as I am concerned many things may be used as an Events Promotional Product but they may not be an Events Promotional Products in the true sense. A promotional product of any sort must be branded or personalised with a logo for it to be considered a promotional product otherwise it is just a product. The Events Promotional Product to be a good one it must reflect the event by at least displaying the logo of the company who is holding the event and even further identification of the actual event with the name and date when held. Here is what everyone needs to keep in mind when selecting a promotional product for an event:

1. The product must have a high perceived value
2. The product must include reference to the specific day - this can be achieved by printing dates on the item etc.
3. Be eye catching and recognisable so that visitors can associate that particular product with the event
4. Be cost effective, with out losing marketing effectiveness, if you are wanting to create a large amount of products
5. Practical items create a positive emotional impact on visitors

I sometimes ask myself why are people so happy to receive a gift (sometimes a cheap one at that) and the only thing I can only come up with is that it is the child in everyone of us. It takes you back to childhood and special events like Christmas and Birthdays they were remembered for the gifts you received.

The funny thing is that even the very rich are not beyond sharing in this feeling of happiness when gifts are given at big events. This is definitely the case at events such as The Oscars where gift baskets are handed out to the 'stars' as they participate in handing out awards. Mind you the gift baskets are brimming with very expensive gifts such as Rolex Watches and other very expensive products.

Okay so maybe your budget does not allow you to suggest Rolex watches but you could suggest a personilised Citizen Watch displaying your client's logo or even something much cheaper that may be in keeping with the event. Many inexpensive items such as Glassware can be included as a gift with branding that will continue to reminder the user of the event for years to come.

My own daughter used champagne flutes as bombanire at her wedding and we still the look at the flutes fondly when we see them in the cupboard. She and her then fiance though it would be fun to design a new family 'crest' and had them printed in gold on the flutes. It was inexpensive and everyone loved them. We got to toast the bride and groom and then everyone took their flutes home!

Fundamentally, a good Events Promotional Product should aim do the following:

Assist in achieving the events goals and objectives
- Brand association and recognition with the event, helping to assist in attracting major sponsors
- They can work as a "keep sake" and assist in visitors contacting the sponsors, etc. after the event
- Create word of mouth after the event, and repeat exposure of the brands featured at the event
- Brand exposure with visitors using the products given to them after the event

So here is my advice to you, make sure you think about the event and who will be attending and make sure that you give yourself a bit of time to contact someone such as myself and it will pay off. Your event will be remembered for its uniqueness and success for years to come!

Related Articles
  Use Promotional Products To Communicate Your Marketing Campaign Message
  Sometimes the most common Promotional Products can be the most effective
  5 Tips on How to Choose Which Wholesale Promotional Products to Offer
  A Basic Guide to Promotional Products
  Choosing the Promotional Products Company That is Right for You -V2

Article Tags: emotional impact, many things, marketing, printing dates, promotional product, promotional products, true sense



Related Forum Posts
Protect vs Promote - Definitely protect your idea first. Once you know the patent is in place, you can begin to promote. There are inexpensive things you can do to start getting your promotional message to the public. You will also need time to create a marketing plan and many things need to be compiled and developed before the actual promotion will begin. That will give you time to get your promotional plans organized and to save some money or secure some financing to begin promoting your product. Chris
franchising - I've got a couple of clients that have franchised recently with different experiences based on their promotional capabilities. One is a lifestyle-event company that has done well with 6 franchises up and running and 3-4 ready to go so for for 2007. They did a good job of promoting it through their personal networks and through their web site. They also worked hard to connect quickly with the potential investors. We usually had a full package in their hands within 24 hours. The second one is barter exchange organization that after 2 years of trying has signed up 2 franchisees. They were slow in moving - didn't promote it through their connections and were more concerned about trying to not let poor franchisees in I think they eliminated everyone else. In starting up its about using good connections until you can build up a critical mass that attracts people you have no connection with. Cheers
Re: What makes a good sales rep? - Thanks Mary for your contribution,this reminds me of another quality of a good sales rep that i would like to share is product knowledge.you cant be a good sale rep if you dont have a good product knowledge. product knowledge enhance good sales because that is the test of the ability of a sales rep.
Promote your products with voice - If you have a great speaking voice you could actively promote your best selling product, like you could say "Looking for xyz? You can buy it now for 10% off" and as soon as they hear the product in voice it will capture their attention... where as they could possibly ignore promotional text on a webpage in comparison. The only reservation I have against using voice is that it may feel a bit intrusive to visitors having someone talk to them. In fact everytime I visit a website and hear a voice start talking I just turn my volume down or off completely.
Re: Speed Networking anyone doing this? - Could you elaborate a little bit on 1) the format of the speed networking event? 2) how did you promote the event and what was the target crowd of attendees?


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

20 MORE Must-Have Search Engine Marketing Tools

Remind Me...

What is the bottom line to you?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.