Seven out of ten participants threw away the last generic pen they spotted at a conference. Now, think about the gifts custom padfolio with logo with your name on them. Do they stick in people’s minds, or do they get lost in the sea of free stuff? The fight for attention is a true conundrum. Some companies play it safe and give away boring, forgettable gifts. Some people put their logo on everything and hope for the best. Spoiler alert: that never works.
First, let’s talk about fact one: the more you know someone, the more you like them. When people see a logo over and over again, their brains light up. Put your name on a water bottle, a taco-shaped stress ball, or a diary that has a lot of personality. When it’s time to pick, you’re no longer just another face in the crowd. You are the one people remember. “Oh, that team has USB drives shaped like avocados.” It works like a neon sign in a busy bazaar because it’s so small, strange, and unforgettable.
Here’s another piece of advice: people adore free things, but only if they are useful or cool. Take the branded beanies from the middle of winter that kept a hundred heads warm at an outdoor event. Those were everyday clothes, and you could talk about your business while waiting in line at the coffee shop. Or how about grandma’s new favorite travel cup? She is a moving, talking advertisement. If you give people something they want to keep, your message will go farther than you paid for.
Let’s change the subject for a minute. A story: I once gave out weird, branded chopsticks at a food show. They didn’t just eat with them; they also posted pictures of them on Instagram. We got organic buzz all of a sudden, and we didn’t have to pay more for it. If you do this hundreds of times, you’ll start getting leads while you sleep.
Putting their logo on useful freebies gives them an emotional hook. People will remember your brand every time they reach for your merchandise. This isn’t magic. It’s a plan. Keep that statistic in mind: After getting a freebie, 83% of people are more likely to do business with you. That’s not a little amount. You could keep rolling the dice without these, yes. Or you could give out branded screen cleaners and have a lot of people ask, “Hey, where did you get that?”
It’s not about showing off. It’s about being there, helpful, and memorable. Want to stand out from the crowd of forgettable brands? Stop thinking about just pens and basic t-shirts. Add some personality to the mix; your future sales will thank you for it.