Alan King asked:


If you are considering custom products as a part of your marketing budget, then making wise choices in your items should be your first priority.  Research shows varying statistics on the effectiveness of different products.  In most cases, keeping it simple will be the best way to go.   After choosing the custom product that works best for your company, the exposure you get will be more valuable than any other form of advertisement.

Traditional custom products should clearly advertise the company name and contact information.  You will want to choose an item that has enough room for your logo, company name, phone number, and website at the very least.  There have been countless incidents where people have offered trade show giveaways or free gifts at community events just to attract more traffic, but they forgot to brand their items.  The blank item that was given was probably remembered for about as long as it took to pick up.  Custom products with the company information have a life of at least six months or longer.

Items that are affordable and useful work as everyday portable billboards.  Some of the most popular custom products include promotional pens and writing instruments, tote bags, mugs or stainless steel coffee tumblers, logo key chains or key tags, and calenders.  These items are used repetitively because they work.  Promotional products offer more exposure on a daily basis than any other form of advertisement.

The best custom products are the ones that you use on a daily basis.  Things like sticky pads, pens, and notepads seem to be used most often by businesses.  Unless you have something out of the ordinary to offer or the budget for cool items like USB flash drives or memory cards, the traditional items will get you the most recognition.

Maybe you are looking for something that is new and interesting, something that will catch the attention of your client base and set you apart from the crowd.  If you cater to a certain profession, the career-orientated options are endless.  Maybe you are selling a product for building houses.  In that instance, a tape measure or carpenter’s pencil are ideal items that will be valued and used over and over again. 

Something that sets you apart from the crowd is a good idea, but choose wisely and make sure you don’t cross over into “trendy” territory. Once the trend loses its impact, so do your advertising dollars.  What you choose says a lot about the image you are trying to portray.  Most companies will want to appear professional and sensible. 

The advantages to custom products are numerous.  People who receive custom products are usually more willing to generate sales leads.   A promotional gift will also lead to more referrals and reorders.  Goodwill towards a company giving promotional product is more likely to occur.

Custom products are an excellent way to get noticed and can be simply stated.  Promotional items will gain respect and an attachment to your company.  A good custom product will have more impact than any other media because of the repeat exposure to several potential customers that it offers.