Nothing sets a reliable brand apart from its competition like great attention to detail. And there’s arguably no better way to show just how meticulous your company is than investing in your promotional items. As it goes, high-quality promo products are more likely to appeal to your potential clients and consequently boost your sales.
Still, that doesn’t mean you should only rely on mass-producing your advertising merchandise. Instead, you’ll need to follow a few branding rules to make your promo items truly stick out. As a result, you’ll gain more loyal customers who would never trade your company for another brand.
5 Important Branded Merchandise Rules Your Brand Should Always Follow
1. You Should Develop a Unique Design for Your Brand
One of the first branding rules is coming up with your own brand identity. If you’ve already established yours, it probably means you also have a distinctive logo or slogan representing your brand. Besides, you may have already opted for a colour palette that perfectly matches your company’s spirit. If so, remember that your promotional products should reflect whatever brand identity you may have created.
For instance, you may want to include similar design elements in all your goods. At the end of the day, your products should look like they all belong to the same collection. Otherwise, it might seem like your goods are all over the place. If so, it will prove more difficult for your clients to understand your company and connect with it.
2. You Should Always Stick to Your Recognisable Style
Can you imagine a Coca-Cola promotional item that’s yellow instead of red and white? Probably not — and that’s why your merchandise should always feature the colours that your company is already famous for. Also, all the promo items your company is giving away should bear the same logo as your brand. Unless your promotional products scream your company’s name and are dressed in your unique colours, no one will recognise you.
The same goes for being consistent with the type of promo items you offer. For example, if people already know your brand for its traditional merchandise like custom pens, personalised bags, and branded notepads, don’t confuse them with personalised tech products. Still, if you never improve your goods, your clients might soon get bored. So, try to find a balance between being up-to-date and staying true to your brand identity.
3. You Should Keep It Simple at All Times
When designing the perfect promotional item, remember that less is always more. Thus, your goods shouldn’t include too many colours, logos, or slogans. Even if all these elements fully reflect your brand’s identity, avoid combining too many of them. The reason is that such products will only seem confusing to your clients and won’t leave a long-lasting impression.
Instead, you should pick only one or two elements to print on your promotional items. The more minimalistic your design appears, the better it will carry your message across. Also, if you include too many colours, textures, or inscriptions, your products will likely seem kitsch and tasteless. So, even if there’s plenty of branding space, always go for a more simplistic design.
4. Your Promotional Products Should Always Speak for Your Brand
Whichever type of brand you might have developed, it probably has a unique story to tell. Its practical ideas may be what sets your brand apart from the rest of your competitors. If so, you’ll need to ensure all your promotional goods convey this very message to your potential clients.
For instance, your company might be an advocate of environmental awareness. Thus, you can opt for eco-friendly, reusable, or recycled materials for your promo items. On the other hand, your brand might be focusing on innovation and technology. In that case, make sure your products are so modern that they spark creativity in your clients.
5. You Should Get to Know Your Target Audience
Last but not least, take a moment to consider who the recipients of your promotional items are. Which age group do your clients belong to? What are their core values, and what are they looking for in your products? Only when you understand your target audience will you be able to create items that will appeal to them.
If you fail to do this, your marketing strategy won’t result in a good conversion. In other words, people who fall in love with your promo items might not be the same ones ready to make a purchase. Also, if your products don’t have a clear purpose, no one will like them. As a result, the ROI of your goods will likely be very low. So, try to come up with useful merchandise that your clients will genuinely enjoy.
Related content:
7 Things You Shouldn’t Do in Promotional Marketing
Final Thoughts
Designing a unique and cohesive set of promotional items will help your brand stick out from the crowd of competitors. So, you should dress your products in your company’s recognisable colours and adorn them with your famous logo. Just try not to overdo it since no one likes a busy design. Focus on your clients’ needs and the message you’d like to carry across and watch your ROI go wild.
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If you have any more questions about branded merchandise, you can contact GoPromotional. You may call us at 0800 0148 970 or simply email us today. We have been in the business for years and know the ins and outs of the industry better than anyone. Give us a call, and let’s talk about all things promotion!
