Brainstorming ideas to implement the most perfect branded merchandise for client and employee gifting is important, but it doesn’t have to be complicated and is a key way you can ensure better brand identity, both internally and client-facing.
Many businesses understand the importance of getting it right when investing time and budget into branded merchandise, but we know it can feel daunting for those who are inexperienced or have been burned by fly-by-night promo companies.
Fortunately, we have a list of 5 easy steps that will lead your company to successful promotional products that loudly boast your brand’s messaging without your having to say a word.
1. Define Your Mission
This one may feel like a freebie you can just check off your list, as most firms have invested time and energy to build the foundations of who they are at their core and how they serve their clients.
Remember, every practice and industry group may have slight variations. Why? Because they have different clients and recipients. We always want to craft everything we do around serving the client and their needs.
The communication you’ve crafted around your firm’s or practice group’s purpose and goals goes great on your branded gear and is a subtle reminder to your clients that you have meaning and purpose behind your name and logo, and those corporate tag-lines look great on the branded SWAG you want select.
Crafting appropriate mission messaging can also be cyclical or exclusive to certain events. Many of our clients support various causes and celebrations throughout the year, and melding your own company mission with that of non-profits you support or annual months of observation, such as Women’s History Month or Pride, is a great way to further instill in your clients and company the crux of who you are and what matters to your organization.
They say a picture says 1000 words… We like to use imagery & graphics to tell the story. To make the messaging sticky and memorable. Your mission, no matter what it may be, can be visual!
2. Use Premium Materials
You would think this tip is a no-brainer, but so many clients come to us with horror stories of poor promo providers (big & small promo companies) who peddle shoddy merchandise, just trying to sell you a useless piece of plastic that the only impact will make is on environment as it ends up in landfills. Looks can be deceiving, especially with online retailers who offer you a small thumbnail photo mockup of what you order. You brand and messaging fall quite flat when you put it on merch destined for the garbage bin.
The expectation vs. reality trend is funny on TikTok, but not when you use resources and want to make an impact. That’s why we always deliver clear visuals and even tangible examples of branded merch made of the highest quality materials. You provide top quality service, and we can help you select merchandise that reads high-end, too.
It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it has to be right.
3. Solve a Problem
Solving problems is actually what many of our clients do each day. Professional service firms tap into the needs of their client base and solve issues, both large and niche. Make sure your branded merch is doing the same.
For instance, if you’re traveling to the Pacific Northwest for a conference, you can probably bet on rain. That’s a problem. Solve it in a way that promotes your brand and matches your messaging. In this instance, branded umbrellas and a “we’ve got you covered” messaging land with creativity, usefulness, and a strong reminder of your commitment to service.
If you know your client often travels for work, finding items that are serve on-the-go needs is perfect, and coming up with fun messaging in themes tied to useful items is always fun!
4. Look to the Past
When creating branded merch with meaning from the ground up, we often look at top trends and see what other companies are doing, but taking care to look at the past is very helpful to ensure your messaging lands. A simple Google search for brand messaging flops reveals endless lists that make you wonder what in the world people were thinking. Take note.
It’s easy to miss the mark and appear tone-deaf. Looking to your own past messaging and merch orders is helpful, too. You might have loads of leftovers from promo materials that missed the mark. Think about that and the reasons why those items weren’t fan favorites, and try to avoid those pitfalls in your future orders.
5. Consistency is Key
Yes, we just talked about the past and not repeating it, but that was for mishaps only.
Consistency and repetition are very important when it comes to who you are and your visibility. Your clients and employees will be scratching their heads if you try to design a logo refresh for every branded swag order you place.
Instead of new taglines, incorporate your logo into fun designs that speak to your audience. Your service is strong and consistent, and your branding should speak that, too, but fresh and fun.
We’d love to help you explore branded material options that fit who you are, what you do, and how you want to make your clients feel. No matter from where you order your materials, ensure that it’s a premium provider who understand you and your messaging.