Creating a strong brand is critical for your business: it presents a united front, functions as a valuable asset, and helps turn leads into sales. Branded products are a cost-effective, low-risk investment with long-term payoff.
Branded products are an excellent tool to establish brand identity, increase sales, and remain competitive in an era where businesses are adapting quickly and developing more and more creative ways to grab consumer’s attention. Branded merchandise is not new – in fact, many companies have seen success by way of improved brand image or recognition due to branded products. However, not all businesses have taken the leap and tasted success. Below are reasons why your business should consider integrating branded products as a part of an overall marketing strategy.
Improves Recognition
People buy products out of necessity or out of desire. People purchase brands because an effective brand captures who they are, either by aligning with their values, mission statement, or vision. Half of all individuals use a promotional product daily – whether it is a hat, a travel mug, or a pen. More impressively, 60% of those individuals keep promotional products for two or more years! For the cost, branded products have the potential to reach a wider audience over a longer period of time than any other marketing campaign strategy.
One important facet of branding is perception: a brand is what allows customers to know what to expect from your business. When consumers are aware of a brand, they can recognize that brand instantly and are more likely to buy from the same brand in the future. By repeatedly seeing a company logo, they learn to recognize it even when it appears in other contexts. However, consumers also begin to learn other brand elements of your business, like the company colour scheme.
Builds Financial Value
A brand by itself functions as both an asset and a tool, making it a critical component when trying to generate sales or when leveraging power or influence in a given industry.
A business without branding will never see wide-reaching or continued, long-term success. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a business with excellent branding can appear to reach overnight success – even if the business concept itself is under-developed. Companies with excellent brand awareness and a positive customer perception can utilise their brand to leverage, for example, a higher sale price.
When used effectively, a brand can also be utilised as a tool to generate leads, sales, and revenue for your business. People are more drawn to companies with strong branding than companies that do not. Company merchandise helps businesses retain customer loyalty. As a result, business can leverage their branding to inspire more sales from customers and continue to foster customer loyalty. In fact, recent polling shows that 85% of consumers purchase from or otherwise engage with a company after receiving a promotional product!
Supports Advertising Efforts
A small business can support their existing advertising efforts by creating uniquely branded products. These products give consumers a reason to share your brand – whether by accident when drinking out of their travel mug on the way to work, or when wearing a company-branded mask.
Compared to other forms of advertising, branded products offer a more cost-effective approach to promoting a brand to a similarly-sized audience. Unlike a television ad or billboard placement, however, the more branded product you purchase, the lower the price of the product. And since consumers can share their promotional products to other individuals, the reach of branded merchandise often exceeds that of other forms of advertising.
A marketing strategy that relies on branded products can further instil customer loyalty. For example, if a local gym sells fitness merchandise, it can establish itself as an expert in the industry. When customers observe a business selling specialised merchandise, they also start to see that business as an authority in those areas. Alternatively, customers can find themselves a part of a small or niche “club.” They can use your branded product to find other, like-minded customers who share their same values or interests.
Inspires Employees
Employees who use branded merchandise during client meetings improve the client’s perception of your business, thereby helping close more sales. In turn, employees feel accomplished for having closed another deal and generated more profit for the company. By helping the company achieve its objections, employees can be one of the biggest assets to a business and a critical component of an effective marketing campaign.
For smaller businesses, branded products can also be a way to inspire creativity and build excitement in employees. Branded products can be provided as an incentive to employees to meet certain goals or participate in company events. In the same vein, working for a brand that has a positive reputation in an industry helps employees feel more fulfilled in their roles.
Generates New Customers
Generating new customers starts with strong branding. An effective branding strategy will create customer loyalty with customers who will continue to purchase your brand repeatedly. In turn, these loyal customers tend to engage in word-of-mouth marketing with new customers who may be unfamiliar with your brand. An effective branding strategy can help existing customers influence new customers to purchase products from your company.
Branded merchandise can also directly help turn leads into sales. Providing company-branded products to potential customers builds a positive relationship and encourages customers to refer your business to their friends and family.
Contact QW Direct Today
QW Direct has the necessary knowledge, experience, capacity, and resources to deliver quality products within demanding budgets and schedules. We utilise a personalised approach to work alongside our clients at every step of the production process, from imagining the concept to manufacture and delivery. Contact QW Direct today to discuss your idea or obtain a quote, and let us help you develop the strong branding your business deserves.
