Why we don’t do “cool” promotional items

Consider this a brief study on why practicality always wins.

On The Ball Promotions (that’s us) is a small business, and we’re devoted to helping business owners and event planners like you find the best promotional items for your business.

We help you choose a product that will stick within your budget and advertise your brand in the most effective way. It’s all about ROI, right? Right.

Which is why “cool” often falls short.

“Cool” promotional items often generate buzz immediately after an event, but like fast fashion, their purpose is all-too-often short lived.

Instead, we focus on practical promotional giveaways because they have proven, time and time again, that their advertising impact lasts.

Are billboard ads and promotional calendars cool?

If a business decides to place a billboard next to a busy expressway, do they leave it up for a week or a year? Billboard ads are an old idea, but they’re still around for a reason: they are a constant brand reminder.

We’re in the suburbs of Chicago; millions of people see billboard ads on their way to work each day. Yet no one looks at a billboard ad and says “COOL!” No, they look at it, and the branding sticks with them.

The same idea applies to promotional calendars. Since they come with a full-year’s calendar pad, people hang onto them for that full year, giving your business constant, repeated brand exposure.

We’ve talked about how effective promotional calendars are, and we really mean it. You can add a really creative, eye-catching brand design to a calendar, but rarely is a calendar thought of as a “cool” promo item. They are practical, but practicality wins.

Because let’s face it, a fidget spinner won’t be as helpful as a reception desk reference calendar.

Does the cool promo giveaway reflect your brand?

Also, is it the best giveaway for your audience? When buying promo items online, sometimes we forget about our advertising ROI and get caught up with what’s hot in the marketing giveaway world (fidget spinners, anyone? That’s so 2017).

Remember, these are your hard-earned dollars you’re spending. We want you to get the biggest impact for the best value.

We’re not saying that your fifth-generation furniture restoration business can’t have a little fun with your branding. But what fits your brand image more, a single-use plastic cup, or a reference calendar that lasts all year?

We get it. With online shopping and cheap prices from overseas production (we work with American manufacturers), it’s easy to get caught up in the fast, the cheap, and the “cool.”

But when you buy cheap cool promo items, what are you really getting?

You’re getting something that was made with little more thought than, Well, this should hold their attention for a little while. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a small business owner, or manage a chain of restaurants, your brand deserves better.

Don’t settle for products that pop and fizzle. Choose something like a presentation folder for meeting new clients, or table tents to display in all of your branch locations.

If you want your brand’s image to be one of reputability and timelessness, choose promo items that reflect those qualities.

Short term clutter vs. long term brand visibility

The thing with cheap promo giveaways (let’s just call them “tchotchkes”) is that they can come across as a desperate way to catch your customers’ attention. Often, they just add clutter to desks or counters, and end up in the garbage after a very limited number of impressions.

Let’s look at calendars. These things last. According to a 2016 study by the Advertising Specialty Institute, customers do hang onto promotional calendars for the full 12 months, and 76% of branded promotional calendar recipients display them prominently in their home or office.

So what does a study on calendars have to do with your brand?

If your brand is one that values lasting customer relationships, and you build your business on referrals, things like calendars matter. Not only are you giving your audience a practical item for their home or office, you are giving them something that advertises a product or service they will likely use again or use in the future.

What is the product’s true purpose?

We put the focus on your brand, using the calendar, notepad, or folder as a vehicle for your brand’s message. Those “cool” promotional items? The focus is on the product first, your brand second.

Ask yourself this: what matters more, the promotional item or my brand?

We think we know your answer, and we’re here to help.

Browse our selection of practical promotional giveaways at OnTheBallPromotions.com, or call our customer service team at (800) 475-2255. We’ll help you choose a promo item that really reflects your brand.