Learn how to market smart with promotional products.  This section shows you how.  Read on for an introduction to the concept.  Then come back for more detailed advice at these pages:

A Fresh Approach  

Promotional products are a form of advertising and lead generation.  They have the greatest impact when coordinated with other forms of advertising and integrated with the broader marketing and branding efforts of your company.  They’re an indispensable tool for supporting your sales effort.

Promotions, when used intelligently and creatively, can be a very efficient, cost-effective form of advertising—especially when compared on a cost per impression basis.  

When used in conjunction with other advertising and brand-building tools, promotional products contribute distinct advantages to the mix.  They can:

• put your brand, message, and contact information in the actual hands of customers, in their offices, their homes, and even on the street

• make walking billboards of your employees, customers, and even strangers who wear or carry your items

• create thousands of impressions for less than the price of a 30 second radio spot

• create a viral marketing effect as people share or show off the items

• target narrow market segments

• at trade shows, attract attention and draw new prospects into your booth

• increase the hit rate of direct mail (“free gift inside.”)

Promotions Conquer Clutter

As a marketing person you’re very aware of “clutter” crisis facing advertising.  It’s increasingly harder and more expensive to create recallable impressions when the customers’ environment is saturated with advertising messages.  Promotional products are one way to cut through the clutter because customers pick them up and use them. 

Promotional products are fertile territory for creative marketing.  Alone or in combination, they offer fresh ways to capture the attention of target audiences.  If you get beyond the clichés of pens, mugs, and mouse pads, you can draw from 800,000 items for unlimited branding, themed, and tie-in possibilities.

Perhaps this explains why promotional products are such a strong marketing growth category.  Promotional sales are up more than 4 percent to $16 billion. 

Advice on Integrated Marketing

Integrating promotions and specialty items with your company’s broader marketing program is a far cry from “hurry! we need to buy some stuff to give away next week.” 

No wonder advertising promotions are the step-child of marketing.  It’s not the products, it’s the way they’re used. 

Some innovative companies have seen the light and are using promotions in sophisticated ways.  It does require strategy and planning.  Gone are the days when you can let a marketing assistant pick something from a catalog.  Or, “Let’s give out pens again.  That’s what we’ve always done.”

Where to Look

The pages in this section offer you a short course on marketing with promotional products.

First, Eagleview Promotions has formulated the best method for integrating promotional products with broader marketing goals.  The method is known by the acronym PAMPI™.   Go to the PAMPI page for a full explanation.

Events—trade shows, expos, conventions—are a special case.  It’s where promotions really shine because it’s where you interact with customers face-to-face.  At events, the sky’s the limit as to the creative ways they can be used to get results—and have fun.  Be sure to read our special section devoted only to Event Marketing. 

Idea Starter is where you go when you’re ready to pick a product. We give you a short survey of the different product categories.  We’re more interested in educating you to the possibilities, planting ideas, and expanding your conception of what’s possible.  We’re not going to send you on a wild goose chase.