Successful promotion campaigns don’t happen by chance. To realize goals, promotional products programs must be carefully planned, taking into consideration the audience, budget, and, of course, the ultimate result to be gained.

Ready to plan your next promotion? Work with a qualified promotional consultant. You and your consultant will discuss these seven important elements to help you plan the best promotion for reaching your objective:

1. Define a Specific Objective

Whether the goal is to increase traffic at a tradeshow exhibit or to boost sales with current clients, the first step in any campaign is to clarify the purpose of the program.

2. Determine a Workable Distribution Plan to a Targeted Audience

The distribution of a promotional product is as important as the item itself. Research shows that a carefully executed distribution plan significantly increases the effectiveness of promotional products. For example, a pre-show mailing to a select audience delivers more tradeshow traffic and qualified leads than simply distributing items to passersby at the show.

3. Create a Central Theme

Linking a recognizable logo and color to all aspects of a campaign, from promotional products to sales sheets to product packaging, helps create an instantly recognizable image.

4. Develop a Message to Support the Theme

Supporting a campaign’s theme with a message helps to solidify a company’s name, service, or products in the target audience’s mind. For instance, to promote its services to small businesses, a bank created the theme “Are you tired of being treated like a small fish?” and sent fish-related products to its prospects along with promotional literature.

5. Select a Promotional Product that Bears a Natural Relationship to Your Profession or Theme You Want to Communicate

A good example is a company that developed a magic motif for its conference at Disney World. Attendees received magic-related products to tie in with the theme “Experience the magic at Disney®.”

6. Don’t Pick an Item Based Solely on Uniqueness, Price or Perceived Value

Don’t fall prey to the latest trends or fads. The most effective promotional products are used in a cohesive, well-planned campaign.

7. Use a Qualified Promotional Products Consultant

A good promotional product consultant will help you answer all of these questions as well as offer a variety of value-added services, including unique product ideas, creative distribution solutions, and insight on the different imprinting methods just to name a few.

Source: Promotional Products Association International (PPAI)