If you’ve gone through the process to create a great logo for your business, you want it to be seen as much as possible.

Breaking through the clutter of marketing messages is often seen as the biggest barrier for business owners to get new clients.

Promotional products can be used to help your business cut through the noise. It’s a $23 billion industry because companies see huge benefits by spending marketing dollars on promotional products.

Read on to find out how promotional products can help you build your business.

1. Build Your Brand

Your brand is the base of your business. The stronger your brand is, the more you’ll be able to grow your business. A good brand goes beyond the logo. It’s the connection that people have with your company.

As a business, you promise something to your customers. It can be a superior product, excellent service, or both. Your brand conveys that promise to your customers so when they think of your company, that promise is the first thing that comes to mind.

Look at a brand like Volvo. They go beyond selling cars and promise safety and security.

How can promotional products help you fulfill that promise? First of all, they help you set your brand apart from your competition. There will be no confusion between your brand and the competition.

Secondly, when your company’s logo is seen often, like on promotional products, people are more likely to remember it.

2. Recruit Top Employees

You’re going to spend a lot of time and money to hire employees. You want to make sure that you get the right employee, to begin with.

Promotional products can instill a sense of company pride among your employees, whether they’re new employees or have been around for a while.

When you present promotional products to new hires as part of their welcome package, you’re building a sense of loyalty that can drive employee engagement.

You can also use promotional products at job fairs and recruiting events. This will help prospective employees identify more strongly with your company.

Another great use of promotional products is to create teams within your company. It can spur on a friendly competition to do better. You can separate teams by using patches with different team names on them. View here for more ideas to use promotional patches.

3. Create Loyal Customers

Not only do you want your employees to be loyal, but you also want your customers to be loyal, too. Customers that feel that they are appreciated are more likely to remain your customers rather than go to a competitor.

You can show your appreciation for your customers by giving them gifts. You can give them cards and gift cards to local restaurants. You can also give them promotional products.

People love free stuff that has a purpose, so you want to make sure that your products will be used by customers. For example, a company that deals with corporate executives can use pens or keychains with USB drives on them.

If you have a fitness business and work with an active crowd, water bottles, t-shirts, and bags would be appropriate.

4. Improve Digital Marketing

Did you know that promotional products can impact your digital marketing efforts? Here’s how promotional products usually work.

Someone becomes aware of your brand through a promotional product, such as a pen or a t-shirt. They’re intrigued by your brand and they noticed your website on the promotional product. They look you up out of curiosity.

They don’t need your services right now, so they decide to revisit your company later. When they need your services down the road, they’ll do a search online. They’ll remember your company name and when they see it in search results, they will click through to your website and book an appointment.

5. Higher Brand Recall

Part of the reason why promotional products work so well with digital marketing is that they lead to higher brand recall.

Brand recall is the ability of someone to remember your brand when they see it. About 76% of people remember a brand from promotional products.

In traditional advertising like newspaper ads and billboards, it can take between 6-7 impressions before your brand is remembered.

6. Look Professional

Do you deliver products directly to clients? You don’t want your employees to look like they just threw on what was clean and roll out the door.

You want them to look polished and professional. After all, they represent your business. It’s the same when you go to a trade show. When you wear the same shirts with your branding, you look like a unified unit as opposed to a team of individuals.

7. Promotional Products Deliver ROI

You want to see a return on investment anytime you spend money. It’s no different with promotional products. Promotional products help your brand stand out and be remembered. How does that translate into sales?

People hang on to promotional products, with some lasting over one year. That creates a lot of impressions in the mind of the person who owns the promotional product and the people around them.

The more impressions, the more your company will be remembered. When someone is ready to use your services, they will remember your name. That’s who they’ll call first.

If you give promotional products to current customers, 79% of them say that they will do business with you again.

You probably spent $8 on a t-shirt, but if it lasts longer than a year, think of the number of impressions that will generate. Then there are the sales that come from that. That’s how you know that you have a return on investment.

Promotional Products Are a Smart Investment

You want your business to stand out from the competition. That’s how you’re going to get new customers to your business.

There are plenty of reasons to use promotional products. Customers and employees love them. They create a more loyal fanbase and generate a return on investment.

Do you need a spiffy new logo to put on your promotional products? Create your own using our logo maker.

Search engine ads are an important part of building your website’s presence. They can bring a targeted audience to your site, which can transform into subscribers and sales. However, search engine ad campaigns aren’t as simple as pumping a ton of money into a super common search time. 

Understanding some of the nuances of how search engine ad networks function, and what you can do to put yourself at the top of the pile, can help drive more traffic to your site. 

What is a Search Engine Ad?

Search engine ads are ads that search engines place at the very top of their results page. This lets you target customers as they search for related terms.

While almost every search engine offers its own form of ad network, the largest network and the one worth dedicating your time to is Google Ads. Google captures 92.62 percent of all global search traffic. Any digital marketing agency worth its salt will tell you that Google is where you’ll find the largest audience. 

Google search engine ads work by writing a sample search result and then setting a maximum amount of money that you are willing to pay per click. 

Tailoring Your Search Engine Ads

However, as already mentioned, you can’t simply list a high cost per click in order to dominate specific keywords. This would make it too difficult for spam to get through.

Quality Score

The quality of your ad plays a large role in determining whether or not your ad actually shows up. Google shows you the quality of your ad through its quality score, which is a scale from 1-10. The higher that number, in combination with the more you are willing to pay per click, the more likely it is your ad will show for its associated keyword. 

Long-Tail Keywords

You’ll also want to make sure that you’re targeting the right keywords. Long-tail keywords refer to keywords that make up the “long-tail” of associated searches – which means that they don’t get searched often, but the people who search are deeply interested in your business. For example, if you’re a pet store, “puppies” would be a short tail keyword, but “husky puppies for sale in Columbus Ohio” would be a long-tail keyword.

By adding many long-tail keywords into your account, you can capture more targeted traffic. This can lead to additional conversions and sales when compared to short-tail keywords, and you’ll pay for fewer wasted clicks on your ads. 

Negative Keywords

In a related vein, you want to make sure that you block out specific keywords. For example, if you’re only selling Dodge cars, you’ll want to block out searches for other makes of vehicles. People who are looking to buy a Mazda, for instance, are harder to convert, so your ad money is best spent elsewhere. 

Keep it Dynamic

While the above tips can help you tailor your search engine ads to drive more traffic to your site, running an ad campaign is a dynamic process. You’ll want to be constantly testing new wordings, locations, and keywords to capture new audiences.

For more information about running a search engine ad campaign, or digital marketing in general, check out the eCommerce and business sections of our website. 

There’s no arguing that digital marketing is the way of the future. In fact, according to studies, chief marketing officers (CMOs) spend two-thirds of their marketing budgets on digital strategies.

However, this influx of dollars and expected continued popularity has led the digital space to become extremely crowded. Consumers are increasingly turned off by digital ads that can feel intrusive and even creepy. 

At a time when everybody else seems to be all about getting ahead in the digital marketplace, the key to success may lie in taking a step back, kicking it old-school, and focusing on traditional advertising.

If you’re still not convinced that offline advertising deserves at least a part of your marketing budget, stick with us. Here are seven extremely effective methods that you’ll definitely want to try!

#1 Traditional Advertising Technique: Television and Radio

Although digital marketing is the big dog in town, there’s still plenty to be said for television and radio advertising. Most people watch television, in fact, there are 119.9 million TV households in the U.S. alone. And 227 million people also still listen to AM/FM radio, primarily in their cars.

It’s easy to see that allocating a portion of your marketing plan to these media outlets can help you reach a large audience. And, since so many companies are leaning away from this type of advertisement, it’s an easier space for you to make a name for yourself. 

6 More Marketing Ideas You Need to Try

Although TV and radio ads continue to be an excellent option, many business owners just can’t stomach the expense. For this reason, they tend to lean towards other traditional marketing methods that are less expensive but possibly just as effective. Check out these six exciting ideas.

1. Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Word-of-mouth marketing is extremely effective and is also one of the least expensive traditional marketing methods. This strategy often focuses on online review sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook recommendations.

Since 80 percent of people ask for a personal referral before choosing a vendor, managing your online reputation is critical. Consider offering incentives to your happy clients to provide you with positive reviews on these types of sites. Also, always monitor your reviews and respond to negative comments immediately to reduce potential damage.

2. Vehicle Advertising

Wrapping your car with branded advertising is an excellent way to market your business. Every time you get into your car, you’re essentially a mobile billboard.

If you’re not ready to go for a full wrap yet, consider branded car decals. These are far less expensive and easier to remove if you change your branding or are no longer happy with the look.  

Driving a branded car also shows that you’re committed to your business and are proud to represent it no matter where you go. This can help with goodwill, especially in smaller communities where people are likely to start recognizing your business’s vehicles.

One word of warning, however. Make sure that anyone who drives your branded vehicles understands that they are representing your company when they’re behind the wheel. The last thing you want is road-rage or some other incident tarnishing the brand you’ve worked so hard to establish.

3. Printed Ads

Printed ads are another old-school marketing technique that isn’t going anywhere. In a world where you can read a book, search the internet, chat, and visit social media all from the same device, the distractions can get overwhelming. For this reason, many people are once again starting to lean towards printed media as their go-to source for information.

Magazine ads and newspaper flyers are an excellent way to capture the audience that’s simply exhausted by the constant flood of digital media. To succeed in this space, you’ll need eye-catching artwork and a tagline that hooks the reader, pulling them in.

4. In-Store Displays

If you’re selling a product that someone can purchase in a store, then eye-catching in-store displays is another great way to grab your customers’ attention.

Done right, these displays can stop shoppers in their tracks. Since they’ll already be in the store, it’s super-easy for them to pick up your product and toss it in the cart.

You make money, the store makes money, and the client gets instant gratification. That’s what we call a win-win!

5. Direct Mail

Did you know there were approximately 281 billion emails sent last year? When you’re looking at a huge number like that, it’s easy to see that you’ll have some competition while fighting for attention in someone’s inbox. 

On the other hand, there are far fewer businesses sending out direct mail. When your ad lands in someone’s physical mailbox, you’re more likely to at least get a glance. If your ad is well made with attention-grabbing visuals and headlines, you might even connect with your ideal customer.

6. Event Marketing

If there’s one surefire way to earn goodwill among your ideal customers, it’s by making your brand visible at the events they attend. This is especially true for local businesses who sponsor area charity and community events.

When you sponsor an event, you’re often able to include your logo on banners and signage, on the back of t-shirts, and more. You may also have the opportunity to included branded promotional items and/or discount coupons in swag bags that go out to all of the attendees.

When seeking out events to sponsor, look for those that fit well with your brand or that you are truly passionate about. This will help you make true connections with the right types of prospective customers.

Is Your Brand Positioned for Effective Marketing?

Now that you have some excellent ideas to incorporate traditional advertising into your marketing plan, you’ll want to make sure you have your brand positioning ready to go. This includes having a killer logo design.

Even if you already have a logo, giving it a refresh can breathe new life into your brand. Check out our tutorial to learn how you can make a new logo for free! Once your update is complete, you’ll be ready to move forward with your new and improved marketing plan. 

The average American now spends 24 hours each week perusing the internet. This includes social media, streaming services, and even the news. 

This leads many business and marketers to believe the majority of their resources should go toward digital marketing. 

Although digital formats seem to be taking over at an alarming rate, print is nowhere near dead. For businesses, print advertising still creates valuable space for gaining visibility. 

Without a comprehensive marketing plan, you could be losing out on potential customers and profits. 

Here’s how to create a marketing plan to include both digital and print platforms. 

Do Your Homework First 

Many businesses jump the gun and start on their marketing strategy before they’ve done their research. There are a few important aspects you need to consider before you start putting any plan into action. 

First, you need to know who you are and what you’re selling. Without an idea of what your product or service is, you’ll fail to communicate the message to potential customers. 

Sounds easy enough, right? 

These important tips will help you define your brand and communicate it to your customers. 

Compare Yourself to the Competition 

Next, figure out against whom you’ll be competing in the market. Check out similar businesses in your niche. 

What are they offering in their email newsletters? Do they use social media? What kind of content do they create and how often? 

Next, you’ll need to do a bit of honest reflection. Consider your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). 

This will help you determine how you can distinguish yourself from the competition and how to move forward. The idea is to carve out a space for yourself in the market. 

Understand Your Buyers 

If you don’t know anything about your potential buyers, you can’t expect to ever reach them. This is true for both digital and print marketing. 

Start by figuring out where your potential buyers get the majority of their information.

Are they more likely to read one magazine over another? 

Which corners of the internet do they inhabit the most? Do they spend a lot of time on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media platforms? 

Consider investing in advertisements in niche newspapers and magazines. These are especially powerful for people living in urban areas, as they give you a broader reach. 

For digital platforms, you’ll want to consider using inbound marketing tactics. This is the means by which you attract your customers to your content or site. 

You create internet content of value to your customers. Over time, you build trust and confidence in your brand. 

Define Your Short and Long-Term Goals 

After you complete your research, you should have a better idea of who you are and to whom you’ll be marketing. 

Your next step should be to define your marketing goals. These goals should be realistic but still challenging. You want to impose some pressure on your business to do better. 

Take a moment to consider the metrics you’ll use to measure your business’s growth over time. The two major metrics you’ll use are KPIs and ROIs. 

Understanding and tracking these metrics will help you evaluate and adjust your strategy. 

Key Performance Indicators

Different departments may have different KPIs, depending on individual roles and objectives. Overall, these indicators should align with overall business objectives. 

The most common KPIs you may track include sales revenue, leads, and cost per acquisition. 

You might consider traffic-to-lead ratios, organic traffic, conversion rates, and much more. 

Return on Investment 

Your marketing strategy, both print and digital, will cost your money. In order to make money, you need to spend money to get your brand out there. 

Your business should use ROI to understand the return on your investment relative to the original costs. 

Monitor and Adjust Your Goals 

Above all, your business goals should be in line with your overall mission. You should start with a couple of main goals with a few supporting goals. 

Try not to overwhelm yourself or your team. 

For example, you might set a target sales goal number for each day, week, month, and year. Sales goal numbers can be an ideal metric of marketing efficiency. 

Leveraging Print as a Digital Brand 

Some businesses shy away from print due to rising costs of production. However, some companies who started online have taken to physical print media. 

Most notably, these companies create regular content in the form of magazines. Magazines, though, are not the limit of print advertising. 

CNET is a popular online publisher for content related to consumer electronics and technology. They publish reviews, podcasts, news, and more. 

In 2014 the company launched a magazine under the same name with the same goals. However, the magazine offers more exclusive content for those customers who are looking for a little extra. 

Search Engine Marketing 

Your digital marketing strategy should always include search engine marketing (SEM). SEM is an umbrella term for internet marketing strategies with the aim of gaining visibility on the search engine results page (SERP). 

Some digital marketers distinguish between SEM and SEO (search engine optimization).

In general, SEM refers to paid search engine marketing, where companies pay to have their ads displayed. In contrast, SEO aims to gain organic traffic via the creation of quality and relatable web content. 

Both SEM and SEO rely on comprehensive keyword research. Creating content with targeted keywords is essential to generating traffic and driving sales. 

There is much to learn about SEM and SEO alike. It’s important to do your research and find a good agency to help you out. 

How to Create a Marketing Plan That Works 

Marketing is one of the most essential aspects of a business. Without customers, you can never expect to make any money. 

Are you wondering how to create a marketing plan that works? While digital marketing is of utmost importance, print still has its place. 

Are you looking for more ways to promote your brand and drive sales? Check out some marketing and promotion advice.