Tips on Using Promotional Merchandise for Client Christmas Presents

Promotional merchandise is fantastic way to give your clients a Christmas present and spread brand recognition. Marketers are always looking for ways to get the most out of their budget and giving promotional merchandise as a Christmas present is possibly the definition of getting the most leverage out of each dollar.

Benefits of Using Promotional Merchandise for Client Christmas Presents

Spread your brand name and improve perception: The promotional merchandise you give to your clients can become a billboard for your brand. You get the opportunity for your brand to be seen by the friends, coworkers and family of your client. You will also improve your brand’s perception, not only in the eyes of your client but also in the eyes of anyone who sees the gift.

Encourage customer loyalty and generate referrals: No matter how small the gift is, your client will appreciate it. Giving gifts puts a face behind your brand and adds a personal touch to your transaction as service provider and client. The customer is more likely to return if they feel a personal connection to your brand, and the service you provide. The happier and more appreciative your client is, the more likely they will pass your name around and recommend your services. It’s a cost-effective way to encourage customer loyalty and generate referrals.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Promotional Merchandise Christmas Gift

Ensure the gift is relevant to your brand: Your choice of gift needs to reflect your brand. For example, if you sell high-end fashion, don’t give away tacky branded hats. If your brand is high-end, then your gift needs to be high-end; that doesn’t mean it has to be expensive, just go for something smaller, but high in quality.
Keep your target audience in mind: Your gift should be something that will appeal to your target audience. Consider your demographic; is it young, middle aged, old, male or female – your gift should be something that will resonate with them. Stubbie holders are an incredibly effective Christmas gift for male tradies—most men will hold on to them for a long time. But, if you’re targeting a young female demographic, the stubbie holder will likely find the bin and your promotional tool will be lost.
Use social media to your advantage: A couple of years ago this tip would have only been applicable to a young demographic, but basically everyone is on social media now. Attach a unique hashtag to your gift and ask your client to upload a picture after receiving it; hashtags spread like wildfire and if you have enough clients you could get some serious social media traction out of your promotional merchandise gift.
Keep it personal: As much as using promotional merchandise for client Christmas presents is essentially an advertising tool, it shouldn’t appear that way. The above example could quickly backfire if you go about it the wrong way. Instead of sending out a gift and asking them to upload a picture, pitch it as a way to ‘join an online community full of our favourite customers’ or ‘join our VIP group.’
Avoid tacky: This is subjective but the general rule is to avoid over-branding your promotional gift. Keep the branding subtle, the message will still sink in but your client will be able to enjoy the product without feeling as though you’re bashing them over the head with advertising.
The message can be as important as the gift: Remember when you were a kid and your Mum would say, ‘make sure you read the card before you open the present’ – everyone takes notice of the note that comes with the gift. The best way to go about this is to hand-write each individual note. Nothing expresses the appreciation, care and gratitude you feel for your customers than a handwritten note. If you don’t have the time or your client list is too large make sure you at least include their name on the email and try and personalise it as much as possible.

So, this Christmas maybe its time to combine your festive advertising efforts with and your gifts your clients. It’s great value-for-money, your clients will feel loved and valued and there’s a fair chance you’ll earn some new clients out of it.

If you’re looking for the perfect promotional merchandise gift this Christmas, then head on over to our Promotional Merchandise Agencies Directory. You’re sure to find the perfect partner in our comprehensive list!

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Sally Wood

Editor at Marketing.com.au

Sally has worked in marketing, communications, and PR for over 15 years. She is the Chief Wordsmith at Wordly: a copywriting and content marketing agency that works predominantly with WordPress powered websites.