I don't know a person alive who doesn't like free things. Even when it is something you just end up putting in your junk draw, free things attract people to booths like a bear to honey. With the downward economy effecting almost every business, people are naturally looking at ways to cut costs, but should these freebies be spared? How valuable are these little tinker toys?Georgia Southern University was wondering the same questions. They conducted a survey on just how powerful the promotional product really is, and you may be surprised. More than 70% of trade show attendees who received a promotional product remembered the name of the company that gave them the product after the show. Even more interesting than that fact is the in depth survey seeing just how effective your promotions are when increasing the quality of the promotional product. Pre-registered trade show participants were put into three categories. The first group received only a postcard inviting them to visit an exhibit. The second received the same postcard along with a branded magnet. The third group received a postcard with a coupon to redeem for a free T-shirt at the booth. The study found that 78% more attendees responded to the T-shirt offer than the postcard/magnet offer, while 57% more people responded to the postcard/magnet than to the postcard alone.
When choosing products to represent your company its important to have just that, something to represents your company and does so logically. Just because you can't live with out your free bottle opener you got doesn't mean that its a great item for your business to give away. I think three key objectives should be hit when looking for what product to choose. Make it fit. It's important that your item tie into your compay or the event you are attending, or better yet both. Make it functional. You want people to use this item over and over again, thus seeing your name over and over again. Make it memorable. You want people to get excited about the product, so excited they need to show their friends the gadget, its all about visibility and getting that little gadget to do a lot of talking for you.
