Many myths are surrounding promotional products. Some will say that they are a thing of the past and don’t work anymore. Others will tell you that promo products are not the best for your industry. Still, others will try to convince you that online marketing platforms are the way to go today.

We have put together this detailed article to bust the most common myths surrounding promotional products. You never know that promo products might be the ultimate way to beat your competitors!

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Popular Myths About Promotional Products

Myth#1 People don’t use promotional products anymore.

Myth#2 You cannot measure the Return on Investment of promo products.

Myth#3 Promo items are too costly.

Myth#4 Ordering cheap branded products will save money

Myth#5 Most promo products go straight to the bin

Myth#6 It is better to invest in online marketing or mainstream media.

Myth#7 Promo items will not work for my business

Busting the Myths!

Myth#1 People don’t use promotional products anymore.

It is quite easy to argue against the logic of this myth: people love to get freebies! If you don’t believe this, maybe this statistic can help you: According to the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), 53% of the customers who received a promo item used it at least once a week or more.

However, you must make sure that the promotional product you are offering is useful, unique and memorable. There is an entire checklist of the traits for a good promotional product. If you want to learn more about them, click here to read the full article.

Myth#2 You cannot measure the Return on Investment of promo products.

Nope! Nada! It is quite easy to track the ROI of promotional products, like any other marketing campaign. If you are including a CTA on your promotional product, you can measure the number of people that get back to you. For example, try funneling the promo items traffic to a special landing page on your website. You can also print a phone number on the promotional product and get those customers to call on that number. In this way, you can easily track and measure the ROI of your promotional marketing campaign.

Another excellent idea is to test different products. For example, you can give away tote bags, shopping bags, reusable bags, etc. and see which one has the best ROI for your audience. Moreover, you can also track the effectiveness of the promo item according to your consumers’ demographics.

Myth#3 Promo items are too costly.

This is far from the truth. In fact, promo items have a much lower cost per impression as compared to mainstream media advertising such as TV ads or even newspaper ads. They have a similar cost as a radio ad but they are far more effective.

Moreover, the cost of the promo item should not be measured just in terms of the initial investment. It is also essential to measure ROI. As discussed earlier, promo bags have an excellent ROI because they get free exposure and can spread brand awareness without any further investment.

Myth#4 Ordering cheap branded products will save money

Ordering cheap branded products will indeed save you money. Of course, the cheaper the product, the more money you save. Right?

If you are thinking in such simplistic terms, then, yes; ordering cheap branded products will save you money. But, in the long-term, you will end up wasting the entire investment in an attempt to save a few bucks.

Remember, when you are cutting costs, you are cutting down the quality of your promotional product. A low-quality promo product doesn’t just get thrown away but it also has a negative impact on your brand. Therefore, it is always a good idea to invest in top-notch quality items that are durable. The initial cost will be a little higher but the product will serve as a brand ambassador for your business for a long time. With this free exposure, you will be able to get a maximum return on your investment.

Myth#5 Most promo products go straight to the bin

This myth is a tricky one. In some cases, it can be true if your promo product is not useful or valuable. Also, you must keep the quality and durability in mind. If your promo item is not made of good material, then it will go straight to the bin.

Therefore, it is best to ensure that your promo item is valuable, durable, and useful for your customer. Make sure that you understand what your target audience would like and choose the promo item according to that. Also, never compromise on the quality of the products, thinking that they will be thrown away anyway. Remember, your promotional item speaks about your brand. If it is of low quality, it will negatively impact your brand as well.

Myth#6 It is better to invest in online marketing or mainstream media.

Many marketers think that mainstream media advertising, like TV ads, is the way to go. While they do get your message across to a huge audience, they are not personal like a promo gift. When you are giving a promo gift to a customer, you are offering something personal that the customer can touch and feel.

For example, if you give a promotional bag that the customer takes to work every day, you are increasing both brand recognition and also the value of the gift for the customer.

This does not mean that mainstream media and online advertising isn’t useful. It just means that if you use them both together, you can enjoy a much greater ROI and get quick results.

Myth#7 Promo items will not work for my business

This is an absolute myth for two reasons. First of all, you cannot decide for your customers. Your customers will always like to get a free gift from your company. If you want to drive traffic, boost brand recognition, or increase sales, promo items are your best bet. According to PPAI, 85% of the customers do business with a brand after receiving a promo gift.

They are many myths about promotional products. Many people will make you believe these misconceptions, but don’t believe everything they tell you! Make sure that you do your research and look up the statistics.