If you’re looking for a smart way to use your marketing budget, browsing everything the promotional products industry has to offer is always a good move. Some items, however, stand out due to their affordability and potential to advertise your business for a whopping 365 days — printed calendars!
You may think that calendars are a bit boring, but they’re still widely used in offices and various establishments where it’s essential to have a visual reminder of one’s obligations. Schools, for instance, always have packed schedules, so both teachers and students would benefit from having personalised calendars to keep track of all the events.
But how do you pick the right calendar for your business, and what must you consider when ordering your next batch? We’ve got all the answers for you down below!
Why Should You Get Printed Calendars?
The main advantage of using custom calendars to promote your business is, of course, their longevity. Some promotional items may generate impressions for just a few weeks or months. With calendars, you have free advertising for a full year!
Another advantage is that the lives we live today are as busy as ever. Our schedules are full, and we must keep track of everything so that we can balance out our professional and personal lives flawlessly.
Naturally, some people have turned to calendar apps, especially if their jobs are mostly done on computers. Yet, the old-school organisation lovers still prefer to write everything down in a simple personalised desktop calendar or a sleek branded wall calendar!
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Holiday Giveaways
Get your staff or clients brand new calendars around Christmas, and there’s a good chance they will end up on their desks and walls just in time for the new year. Don’t forget that there are fantastic psychological effects physical calendars can have on all of us. They clearly mark the start of a new year — the beginning of a new chapter in our lives — so they usually inspire hope and positivity!
A great advantage is that custom calendars may make your staff feel more valued, especially if they’re still working from home and miss the office culture. Clients also love them because they’re freebies that show how much your company cares. A calendar may seem like a simple gift, but it’s still a reminder of your attentiveness and appreciation.
Customer Incentives
Another way of using your calendars is to incentivise them. Instead of offering them entirely for free, you can give them away once customers or vendors spend an X amount of money or buy a set quantity of your products.
Contests
Contests are huge on social media, so use that to your advantage to distribute your custom calendars. Offer complimentary ones to people who like your post and share it with their followers. To increase the value, you can also pair your calendars with other freebies — that’d definitely make your engagement surge!
Trade Show Giveaways
Add a ton of freebies to your trade show booth to ensure attendees drop by and stay for long enough to score some great products. Calendars are a fantastic choice here as classic favourites of the older generations.
However, keep in mind that they are usually universally liked, so you don’t need to keep them always simple and corporate-looking. The key to increasing the appeal of your calendars is to make them easy to use, stylish, and even a bit funny if possible!
Direct Mail Campaigns
Finally, you can also treat your local community to new calendars around Christmas by rolling out a direct mail campaign. It may seem a bit old-school, but unexpected mail gifts speak volumes about your company’s charitable side. Given the product’s longevity, they can also inspire potential customers to finally give you a chance in the new year!
How to Customise Your Calendars
Choose Your Favourite Type
The first step is to pick the right type of calendar for your giveaway. You are spoilt for choice here, as there are a ton of options, including desk, wall, magnetic, and paper calendars.
When deciding on the type of calendar you want, consider:
- What size you want
- If you want people to be able to write on them
- How important it is for them to be transportable
- Which design would work best for your audience (e.g., having a different page for each month or a single page for all 12 months)
Keep in mind that personalised planners are a fantastic option, too, as they would certainly increase the value of your giveaway. With planners, the recipients get not only a great calendar but also lots of pages to write down their schedule in detail!
Think of a Powerful Theme
The theme you go for will advertise your business for the next 365 days, so picking the right one is key to ensuring your calendars are a success. Here are some ideas you may want to look into if you’re having trouble picking the right one:
- Agriculture
- Cars
- Animals and water life
- Landscapes
- Food
- Motivational quotes and sayings
- Jokes
- Wildlife
- History
- Sports
Pick the Printing Method
You’ve put in the effort and picked out the perfect calendars and your favourite theme. Now, it’s time to decide what kind of printing method you’d prefer.
The two most obvious choices are dye sublimation and screen printing. Both come with their own pros and cons, but you also have to take your budget and theme into account.
In general, screen printing takes longer and can get expensive since only one ink colour is included in the cost. However, as factories may have calendar images preset, they may already be colourful enough for you, letting you get a lower price and buy a greater quantity.
In contrast, with dye sublimation, you can print everything in one piece without worrying about additional costs. Nevertheless, this method can be somewhat expensive due to the equipment it uses.
In the end, it pays off to ask experts for advice. We at GoPromotional can ensure your calendars dazzle your target audience but still keep your marketing budget healthy!
FAQs About Promotional Calendars
How Much Should You Spend on Calendars?
It all depends on your budget and the other promotional products you’re looking to buy. If you want to spend a bit more on premium products such as promotional tech gadgets, personalised glassware, or custom backpacks, perhaps it’s a good idea to look into more affordable calendars that still produce the results you desire. Alternatively, set a suitable budget based on market research to ensure you get a solid return on investment.
Should You Go for Stapled or Spiral Bound Calendars?
This choice really depends on your needs. If you are looking to pack the calendars in boxes for delivery, the stapled kind is a better option since it’s unlikely to get damaged during transport.
On the other hand, personalised spiral bound calendars are more appealing overall, especially if you want to sell them (e.g., in your gift shop). Since impressing your customers is key here, consider going for these since they often look more professional.
How Many Should You Get?
Among other things, the quantity is decided by your budget and the audience’s interest in your calendars. A key concern here is that you don’t order too few or too many. If you’re left with too many calendars, you will have essentially wasted your money. On the other hand, order fewer calendars than you need and you may disappoint your target audience with your lack of preparation!
When Should You Order (And Reorder) Your Calendars?
Though you may think you can order your calendars whenever and have them in time for your giveaways, you are risking rush fees by ordering them too late. Keep in mind that some types may take only two days to print, while others may require up to a week.
Similarly, don’t wait around to reorder your calendars. Order them before those 12 months pass to ensure your target audience has a fresh supply for the upcoming year!
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Advantages of Using Promotional Wall Calendars to Promote Your Business
Looking for something different? Browse our full range of branded paper products which includes personalised sticky note pads, custom notebooks, and branded notepads. If for any reason you still can’t find what you are looking for, then simply give us a call on 0800 0148 970 or simply email us today. You may also wish to consider complementing your order of personalised calendars with some printed markers or customised pens which are sure to be well received by customers and employees alike!
