Are you trying to attract a new customer base but find yourself struggling with traditional marketing efforts? Maybe you could use a little boost in not only new customer acquisition, but also retention. Perhaps some brand recognition could help give your sales the little extra bump you’re looking for. You’re not alone. Many businesses face these same challenges every day. However, there is a solution that can assist in all these marketing efforts and more. Promotional products are an excellent way to grow your business with additional clients; hold on to the customers you have; and help spread the word to potential new clients on the horizon.

Still on the fence? Here are 5 things your business should be doing to get the most out of promotional products:

1. Set a Goal

Determine what you would like to achieve by adding promotional products into your marketing efforts. As previously mentioned, promotional products can benefit a business in a number of different ways. Among other things, promos can help you to bring in new customers. They can also be used to coordinate with your branding strategies, promote your business at trade shows, or be given as high-end gifts to your VIP clientele. A custom rally towel with your logo, for example, would be a great way to attract new customers during football season.

2. See What Your Competitors Are Doing

Now that you’ve determined the purpose for your promotional products, it’s a good idea to gauge how others in your field are using them. You may get inspiration for new ways to use these products that you may not have thought of. Take these ideas and make them your own. Ensure that whatever messaging you put on your promos aligns with your company’s distinct voice. Because whatever you choose, be it a custom polo, custom rally towel, or personalized tumbler are likely to go home with your customers, it’s critical that your customers are able to make the connection between the tangible item they have and your company, even when you are not around. Distributing high quality promotional products over more budget-friendly ones will make sure those items don’t end up at the bottom of trade show waste bin. Give them something they’d want to hold on to and use frequently to give your brand maximum exposure.

3. Get Your Customers’ Feedback

It’s important to know how your customers feel about the products you distributed to them. This is the best way to know whether you’re doing something right or if you have opportunities for improvement. This can be done fairly simply; you could send surveys out to clients on your email list, implement a plug-in directly on your website, or even put it to a vote on your social media accounts. To further encourage this helpful feedback, perhaps offer incentive like discount codes or a chance for the customer to choose the next promo. This will let your customers know that their opinions are vital to your company and their satisfaction is paramount.

4. Reward Their Loyalty

You value your customers’ feedback and want to make sure they’re aware of how much you appreciate their business. Choose promos that will work well as gifts. Don’t focus specifically on your brand. Instead give something to your loyal customers that you know they will appreciate. This may mean allocating more of your budget to allow for a higher quality item. Your customers’ satisfaction is worth it. Of course, your logo will still be on the promotional product, so when your customers look back fondly on this token of your appreciation, they will be reminded of your company’s generosity.

5. Appreciate Your Employees, Too

Your employees work hard to make sure customer satisfaction is where it needs to be. Isn’t it just as important to facilitate sufficient workplace satisfaction, too? To this end, your promotional products can be instrumental. You can use custom awards to recognize outstanding work performance in your employees, or perhaps even offer high-end promotional products as added incentive for over-achievement.