Branding is one of the most essential marketing tools for a business. Good branding in particular forms an imprint on the customers’ minds, giving them something memorable and familiar to look at when they’re scouring the market for the best provider. Branding puts you in the limelight, making it one of the most effective ways of communicating the identity of your business.
Developing your brand from a simple logo to a household name that the consumers connect with takes time and lots of concentrated effort. Offering branded merchandise and promotional products to your customers is one impactful way of doing this.
What Is Branded Merchandise?
Branded merchandise are any products that have the name or logo of your company. These products are typically used for promotional purposes and are offered at no additional cost to customers. When executed properly, this strategy has been found to drastically improve brand identity, thereby increasing brand awareness and, ultimately, sales.
What Are the Benefits of Branded Merchandise?
Branded merchandise is incredibly important, especially for relatively new brands that are looking to establish their identity and grow their customer base. Here are four benefits of using branded merchandise to enhance your business growth.
Brand Awareness
Giving out branded merchandise is only worthwhile if the products you give out will add value to your customers’ lives. Depending on your target audience you can move away from the traditional business cards and experiment with branded umbrellas, t-shirts, hats, or key holders. Customers perceive these items as far more valuable than that embossed business card and look forward to receiving such merch.
Next time your customers see your brand name and logo again, they will associate it with the unique merch they received from you. The psychology behind this strategy is called positive brand association and is one of the key goals of marketing.
Increased Customer Loyalty
According to a recent study, 70% of customers are willing to purchase a product from a brand after they’ve received a gift. Giving out free branded merchandise to customers makes them feel valued and appreciated, and is likely to win you many more loyal customers.
Emotional Connection
Using branded merchandise to establish your brand’s identity and promote your company is essential as it makes for tangible advertising. It appeals to all 5 senses, giving the customers something they can see, touch, and experience.
By investing in high-quality, well-designed premium merchandise, you establish your brand’s identity as one that is strongly committed to quality and customer satisfaction. This connection will dictate the first impression you make on new customers.
Uncomplicated Marketing Model
Unlike television and social media ad campaigns that require a detailed and well-thought-out plan to execute, the strategy for handing out promotional branded merchandise is simple. You could incorporate this model into your current business operations by branding products that your company already gives away for free, such as pens, notebooks, mugs, and key holders.
If you have a brick-and-mortar establishment, you can take branded merch to another level where you can design and print custom reusable shopping bags as giveaways for your customers.
Final Thoughts
Different businesses have different models and offer different services and products. By understanding the impact branded merchandise can have on your business, you can devise a strategy to incorporate it as a part of your existing and future marketing campaigns.
