By Admark360 SWAG DIGEST #SWAG
In today's highly digitalized world, including promotional products (SWAG) into a company's marketing strategy may seem somewhat ridiculous. After all, online advertising has advanced immensely, offering an array of benefits. However, you shouldn't cancel out SWAG yet because it's still the only tangible way of increasing brand awareness and opening more business opportunities.
Recent studies concluded that more than 50% of consumers keep promotional products for anywhere between one to four years. FOUR FREAKING YEARS! Thant's a significant amount of time to embed your brand's image into somebody's daily routine. These items are rare and must be special to stick around so long. What SWAG do we think will hang around long enough to get a college degree?
1. "Mask it or Casket" - Masks and neck gaitersMany retail shops and restaurants, cities and countries have mandated wearing face coverings. Whether this is a mask or neck gaiter, either is suitable to enter buildings legally. Because of this, branded masks are a superior product to select. Consider this; 72 percent of U.S adults say they'll always wear a facemask so that you can guarantee your branded face wear won't be making its way into the trash until it starts to smell.
Masks are an excellent choice; they are relevant to everybody. This infographic from the DMG showcases that 57% of consumers who receive a promotional mask will happily wear them. And consider this, everyone looks at everyone else's face, so the anticipated life impressions per mask are 4,235.
2. Eco-friendly products – save the planet with your brand.
Additionally, eco-friendly products are another superb SWAG item to consider. Taking care of the environment is everybody's business. With global warming and human waste damage becoming more visible on our planet, many individuals have started to develop more sustainable living methods.
The eco-friendly products you can giveaway range massively, such as:
- Reusable Stainless-steel coffee mugs
- Reusable bags
- Clothing from hemp, bamboo, etc.
- Reusable water bottles
Above is a small selection of what's available within this market. Choosing these products is excellent because 88% of consumers want brands to be more environmentally friendly.
FYI - In 2018, the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta sponsored a river clean-up, resulting in over 90,000 disposable plastic water bottles picked out of the Schuylkill over the 3-mile course in one day. That is a lot of trash.
3. Stationary is stationary and sticks around.
Stationary has been a popular go-to option for promotional giveaway merchandise for years. Why? Because it works. Everybody uses stationary. Whether you're writing a letter, a daily to-do list or your version of Homer's Odyssey's stationary sticks around. Additionally, business cards, presentation folders and pens are items that highlight your brand.
The ASI conducted an in-depth study back in 2019, which determined that nearly 9 in 10 consumers reported owning a promotional pen. It's a considerable amount, meaning it entails high retention rates, making them excellent investments.
4. Multi-Use Bags (Grocery Bags) give you multiple years of marketing freshness.
The last product we suggest that won't end up in the trash is bags. Let's be honest; everybody uses bags. A trip to the grocery store, outdoor markets or going to friends and bringing a bottle of wine. It's a product that's been around for decades but is becoming more prevalent in longer-lasting and environmentally friendly materials. Plus, multi-use bags are in demand, with many municipalities banning single-use plastic bags.
According to CGC, 73% of consumers own a promotional branded bag, offering a per-product impression of 3,300 (eyeballs on your brand). It's a phenomenal choice for a giveaway and makes your customer a walking billboard.
In the end, when utilizing SWAG in your marketing mix, always consider the end-user. Think about the product's functionality, uniqueness, exposure, and general likeability. Once you've thought about these fundamentals, you'll see your marketing dollars and brand stick around for years, keeping them out of the round file.
At Admark360, we know that offering excellent quality branded merchandise keeps your marketing dollars working hard for years because Great SWAG has no expiration!
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