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Promotional products are powerful tools that can help your brand get noticed and remembered. When you choose the right items based on current trends and what people want, they do more than just look good; they work hard for your brand.
To better understand these promotional items, let’s take a closer look at how they create lasting impressions and offer real value to support your marketing goals.
How the Right Promo Items Boost Brand Visibility and Engagement
When chosen wisely, the right promotional items can help your business stand out, build stronger connections with your audience, and leave a lasting impression after events.
1. Boosting Brand Visibility
When people use or wear your branded items, such as water bottles, tote bags, or phone chargers, others also see your logo. This turns every item into a mini billboard for your brand.
According to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) 2023 Global Ad Impressions Study, a branded tote bag generates 1,940 impressions over its lifetime, making it one of the most effective visibility tools.1 So, the more useful the item, the more often it gets used, which means more eyes on your brand.
2. Increasing Customer Engagement
Giving away thoughtful promo items can make people feel appreciated. It also encourages them to interact with your business, whether they’re visiting your booth, signing up for a newsletter, or following you on social media.
You can see companies like Tim Hortons and McDonald’s have used these to drive app downloads or purchases, turning a promo into an interactive game. The item starts the conversation and keeps your brand on their mind.
3. Improving Event Recall
After a busy event like a trade show or conference, people often forget which businesses they talked to. A great promo item helps them remember you. Especially if it’s something useful, fun, or eco-friendly, it’ll remind them of your brand long after the event is over.
For example, mini desk plants with logo tags are not only memorable but also stay on desks for months, serving as a long-term reminder of your brand.
Not all promotional items are created equal. Trends change, and your audience’s needs may shift too.
Top-Performing Categories That Customers Want
When it comes to promotional items, some categories stand out because people want to keep and use them. These top-performing items are used every day, which helps your brand stay visible and memorable.
According to the 2023 ASI Global Ad Impressions Study, let’s look at the most popular types and why they work so well.
1. Tech Gadgets
People love tech, especially when it’s free and useful. Tech gadgets are some of the most kept and appreciated promotional items.
- Phone chargers and power banks are very popular. According to the 2023 ASI Global Ad Impressions Study, 51% of people keep promotional power banks because they’re useful.
- Bluetooth speakers, wireless earbuds, and charging cables also rank high in usefulness and appeal.
- People tend to keep tech items for at least two years, which gives your brand long exposure time.
2. Drinkware
Everyone needs to stay hydrated, and branded drinkware makes it easy for your logo to be seen everywhere: offices, gyms, cars, and more.
- Stainless steel tumblers and insulated water bottles are especially popular. ASI reports that drinkware items are kept for an average of 12 months, generating 3,162 impressions during that time.
- Reusable coffee mugs are another favorite, especially in office or school settings.
3. Eco-Friendly Items
Sustainability matters more than ever. Eco-friendly promotional products show that your brand cares about the environment, which leaves a good impression.
- Recycled tote bags, bamboo pens, and wheat-straw utensils are increasingly popular.
- ASI found that 46% of consumers have a better opinion of a brand that gives out eco-friendly promo items.2
- Items made from recycled materials or packaged in minimal waste designs are more likely to be kept.
4. Writing Instruments
Since many people work remotely or in hybrid settings, useful office gear is in high demand.
- Notebooks, journals, planners, and branded desk organizers are all appreciated, with 2,436 lifetime impressions generated during that time.
- These items make everyday tasks easier, while keeping your brand in front of the user throughout the workday.
5. Apparel
Branded clothing is still a strong performer, especially when it’s stylish or comfortable.
- T-shirts are common and often worn in public, giving your brand great visibility.
- The ASI study says apparel items like shirts get 5,053 impressions, more than most other items.
Choosing from these high-impact categories means you’re not just giving stuff away; you’re putting your brand into people’s daily lives where it can be seen, used, and remembered.
Why Branded Giveaways Still Matter in a Digital Age
Nowadays, where so much marketing happens online (emails, ads, and social media), it might seem like physical giveaways don’t matter as much. But they do. Giving people something they can touch, use, and take home can often make a bigger impact than a digital ad.
1. People Remember What They Can Touch
Online ads come and go, but a well-chosen giveaway sticks around. When someone gets a useful or fun item with your logo on it, they’re more likely to remember your brand.
A study from ASI shows that 85% of people remember the brand that gave them a promotional product.3 That’s hard to beat with a quick Instagram post.
2. Eco-Friendly Giveaways Show You Care
Sustainable items, including bamboo pens, recycled tote bags, or wheat-straw utensils, do more than promote your brand. They show people that your company cares about the planet.
According to ASI, almost half of men and women would think more positively about a brand that gives them an eco-friendly promo item. That’s a great way to build trust and loyalty.
3. Event-Ready Giveaways Make You Stand Out
Trade shows, conferences, or pop-up events can be crowded and fast-paced. A good giveaway helps you stand out.
Think of branded notebooks, phone chargers, or reusable water bottles. These are items people want to keep. When the event is over, those items go home with your audience, and your brand goes with them.
4. They Work with Digital, Not Against It
Branded giveaways don’t have to compete with digital marketing; they can support it.
For example, you can include a QR code on a product that links to your website or ask people to post a photo with their freebie on social media. That way, your physical giveaway turns into online engagement.
5. Giveaways Build Goodwill and Connection
Giving someone a free item (even something small) creates a moment of positive connection. It makes people feel noticed and valued.
And in a digital age where interactions are often fast and forgettable, that personal touch can make your brand stand out.
Choosing Promotional Products Strategically
So, how do you get the most value from every item you give? It’s time to strategize.
1. Identify Your Audience
Start by asking: Who are you giving these items to? A tech company might do well with wireless chargers or phone stands. A wellness brand might go for water bottles or yoga mats. The more the item matches the person’s lifestyle, the more likely they’ll use it and remember your brand.
2. Focus on Quality and Usefulness
Cheap items that break easily can hurt your brand image. Go for things that are made well and actually serve a purpose, like insulated drinkware, eco-friendly tote bags, or notebooks. Useful items stay on desks, in bags, or at home to keep your logo visible every day.
3. Follow Current Trends
Pay attention to what’s popular. Right now, eco-conscious products, tech gadgets, and work-from-home essentials are in demand. People are more likely to keep and use these items, which means longer exposure for your brand.
4. Match the Item to the Event
What you give away at a trade show may not be the same thing you give to loyal customers or employees. Make sure the item fits the moment. Something small and easy to carry is great for events. Something a bit nicer, like a premium tumbler or backpack, works well for client gifts.
Choosing the right promo items doesn’t have to be hard.
The Printery makes it easy for marketing teams to find quality, on-trend products that people want. Explore our catalog here and discover hit promotional items that can make your brand stand out.
Sources:
- ASI Central. (2023, April 27). ASI’s 2023 Ad Impressions Study: The Impact of Promo’s Top Products. Asicentral.com. https://members.asicentral.com/news/web-exclusive/april-2023/2023-asi-ad-impressions-study-powerful-stats-on-promo-s-top-products/
- Advertising Specialty Institute. (2023). 2023 ad impressions study [PDF]. https://media.asicentral.com/resources/Ad_Impressions_2023.pdf
- Central, A. S. I. (2019, January 8). 2019 Ad Impressions Study. Members.asicentral.com. https://members.asicentral.com/news/web-exclusive/january-2019/2019-ad-impressions-study/
