Promotional Marketing – Start Small, Think Big!

Nowadays, starting a small local business isn't that hard. If you take a look around, you will notice that coffee shops, stores, as well as other small businesses are opened and closed overnight. You probably already heard from various “experts” that the key for every successful business, big or small, lies in advertising. Yes, that is true, but not if your advertising campaign costs more than your starting capital. A TV commercial is one of the most expensive forms of advertisement, and will not benefit you much if not broadcasted for a month or so. Why get ahead of yourself and pay most of your starting capital for expensive advertising when it is much safer and more efficient overtime to start bottom up.

One of the most represented from of marketing is promotional marketing. Now, I am sure if you check your pocket or bag, you will most certainly find something small and meaningless such is a pen or a key-chain with some companies business card. This is probably the most efficient form of marketing because, let’s be honest, everyone loves freebies.

Promotional marketing can be done using various items, usually small and cheap. Adverts do not require much innovation or some serious design, although it is recommended if you are financially able to withhold it. Pens, key chains, bags, wallets, flash drives – anything small that you lay your hands on every day may be used as promotional material.

The Basics of Promotional Marketing

As every other form of marketing, this one has its rules too. The items, based on their size, have their restrictions in advert design. You cannot possibly put your company logo, catchphrase, business card, with a phone number and your email and/or website address on a pen or a flash drive. You can, but it will look like a spot or a smudge on it. Keep in mind that these items are usually held by people and they keep them at a normal viewing distance.

• Logo

Your company’s logo is the key factor here. Keep in mind that people remember pictures more than words, so be wise when choosing the logo for your company. This is something that will describe your company and your work in people’s eyes and it is the root of all your marketing. Changing the logo can be and is most often destructive for every business, so it is highly advisable not to change it until you build up your business.

• Catchphrase

Coming up with a good catchphrase for your business is also one of the requirements needed for successful promotional marketing. You most probably heard some of the catchphrases known to the whole world, which are implemented and are on almost every product of that company. It is most often easier to remember a company’s name by the catchphrase that follows it.

• Business Card

The more precise information of your company you give the better. In order to attract more potential customers, you need to display some info related to your company such as a phone number, home and/or email address. However, this cannot be done on any promotional material because of its size and visibility.

Which Promotional Items Should You Use to Advertise Your Business and How?

Well, as we mentioned, you shouldn’t just stuff information on every promotional material you lay your hands on. Your logo and catch phrase can be put on everything… yes… but, if you are looking to expand your advertising material with more information, you will need to use bigger items. Bags are the best choice for this, being they are always needed, and come in various sizes. It may be plastic, compost, paper or any kind of non-woven bag. They are usually the cheapest item and are most efficient. As you already know, it is hard to read anything from a pencil or a key-chain, if the person who is holding is holding a foot away. Placing an advert on a bag overcomes this gap and allows more people to notice, read and memorize it. Every person that reads this becomes a potential customer instantly.

To Conclude