Business Gifts by Karam Advertising

Monday, 3 February 2014

The Benefits Of Using Promotional Products In Your Business Marketing

There are many ways that you can get your company brand and logo out into the public view. Using promotional products in your business is one of those ways. It does not matter if you have a big or a small business, you need to get word out to the public regarding your business and what you do if you want to be successful. Let us review some of the top benefits in using these types of materials to promote your business.

1. Stand above the competition with promotional items:

Using these products will help provide your company with a unique, creative flair that other companies are not using. This will help you to stand out from the rest of the competition. By passing out these types of items, you are opening the line of communication within a community about your company and the services that you provide. It makes an excellent icebreaker and the recipient is more likely to listen to what you have to say.

2. Actual and inexpensive advertising solutions:

These types of products are much less expensive than radio or television advertising is. For a small investment, a company can obtain effective exposure that is typically reserved only for large companies that have huge budgets for advertising. Think of a promotional tee shirt. The recipient will wear it out in public to the gym, to the store, while they are active– it is like a walking billboard for your company. All for just a fraction of what you would pay for an actual billboard advertisement.

3. Useful, tangible items for giveaways:

These products are useful items that people can keep with them at all times for future reference. The usefulness of the item goes beyond the person who receives it. If the product is unwanted, it is typically passed along to the next person who may use it and benefit from it. The more that a potential customer is exposed to your brand the more likely they are to think of your company when they need assistance. A promotional item such as a tote bag has the ability to show off your company logo on a daily, even hourly basis.

4. Flexibility of items purchased:

These types of items are flexible and can be made to match the theme of a business or holiday event. Although they are inexpensive, these items can create a positive impression of the company. You can use these inexpensive items to reach beyond the scope of your normal target audience and to draw in new clients or customers.

5. Unique way to introduce a new product to a target audience:

This is a unique way to introduce a new product into the market. The target audience can evaluate the product, determine if it is good or not and then the company can collect data to perfect the product. Not only does this work to improve the new product but will also increase consumer confidence in the new item if the target audience finds them useful.

*Source: Joshua Cintron

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

Marketing with Promotional Products

It can be tough to market your business, especially if you have eager competitors at your heels. Promotional items can be useful marketing tools, and they can improve your brand and your reputation if they’re correctly used.

Just like with any effective marketing strategy, you need to do the research and ask yourself a few important questions before you dive headfirst into marketing your company with promotional products.

Why Promotional Products are Effective Marketing Tools

They provide extended brand exposure. Unlike a traditional advertisement, promotional products are difficult to miss. A tote bag with your logo will surely get more attention than a newspaper ad and your clients will be able to get repeated use out of it.

They're valuable. Flyers have become less effective means of marketing because they are often ignored and thrown away. Promotional items like t-shirts or stress balls aren't likely to get tossed because they are more like gifts than advertisements.

They present a creative marketing spin. Billboards, radio spots, newspaper advertisements, and television commercials are fine, but they're not exactly original. Promotional products are not only more creative but also more tangible to customers.

They're inexpensive. Any experienced marketer can tell you about the high costs of traditional marketing methods. Promotional items are available in such a wide variety of shapes and sizes that there is something for any budget (even if it's just a key chain).

How Promotional Products are Used for Marketing

To generate brand awareness. Promo items quickly spread the word about your business. People love free gifts and samples, and clients are likely to tell their friends about the personalized merchandise you distributed with your friendly slogan!

To commend a job well done. Employees deserve rewards for their hard work and dedication, and high-ticket promotional products like desk awards can improve morale and reinforce loyalty.

To say "thank you". Sending follow-up emails to clients is always smart, but giving a high-quality promotional item is even better. When you send a gift like a photo calendar after a big sale, you can bet that you'll see some repeat business.

To use as coupons and special offers. Many businesses print coupons on promotional pens or offer t-shirts that entitle customers to discounts. There's no limit to what you can do if you get creative with your promo items.

To organize a giveaway with prizes. By using your own custom merchandise as prizes, you'll give winners what they want while exposing your brand at the same time!

To provide exclusive gifts to members. Membership fees are standard for numerous clubs and organizations, and many people are reluctant to pay them. Giving an exclusive promotional product as a member gift may encourage people to join.

To raise money for charity. Non-profit organizations and charities often hold fundraisers and auctions. Make yourself known by donating a high-end promotional item or a fancy gift basket; the cause will gain funds, you'll gain exposure, and the customer will receive a memorable gift.

How to Distribute Your Promotional Products

Bulk mailings. Direct mail is still one of the most effective marketing mediums because it puts your message straight into customers' hands. You'll need potential clients' names and addresses to pull this off, though, because mail addressed to "Current Resident" always ends up in the round file. Also, don't forget to pre-calculate your shipping costs!

Personalized pencils or magnets may work just fine, but plastic sports bottles might not.

Trade shows, expos, and conventions. Trade shows usually have a wide variety of attendees from different career fields, which means there are ample opportunities to market your company and drum up new clients. There tends to be a lot of competition at conventions so you should work hard to customize a stand-out promo item that will draw interest.

Conferences and meetings. Conferences are excellent resources to market to others within your industry, and meetings give you the chance to meet face-to-face with customers. Give participants a personalized gift for attending your seminar and you'll boost your brand.

Grand openings, holiday parties, and special events. People get excited about social gatherings, and it's easy to strike up a conversation with potentially-interested clients. Market your business by giving away custom-shaped stress relievers at the grand opening or year-end party that are good for an exclusive discount on their next visit, and you'll have people lining up around the block to shop with you.

*Source: Marketing Made Simple

Sunday, 22 December 2013

Promotional Water Bottles: Which One is Right for Your Brand?

We expect your reaction to be: Where do I start?!” There's tons of water bottles available!

Don’t worry. We, at Karam Advertising are here to help you make the first choice in your promotional water bottle journey. The first choice you’ll have to make is what type of water bottle will be best suited for your giveaway. Below are short descriptions of and uses for the four different general styles of water bottles we carry.

Metal Water Bottles. This category includes both aluminum and stainless steel bottles. While you could argue that one material is better than another, they both have the same level of appeal when it comes to being a promotional item. Since these reusable bottles have the longest shelf life, they are best used to promote companies or brands as a whole, and not specific events. The downside is that if dropped, they can dent.

Great uses: General promotion, anniversaries, grand openings, wedding favors.

Plastic Sport Bottles. The least expensive option of all the promotional water bottles, these bottles are nice and flexible and all have easy openings to get water quickly. Plastic bottles are wonderful for special events, especially if they are for a charitable cause. Sport bottles, however, can start to warp if hot liquid is placed inside of them. [Note: I don’t know why you would put hot liquid in a water bottle, but stranger things have happened in the world.]

Great uses: Company picnics, fundraiser walks, special events.

Acrylic Tumblers. Even though many of the tumblers on our site are better suited as travel mugs for coffee, there are a handful of bright and colorful tumblers that are just perfect for holding water. The dual wall insulation in acrylic tumblers means that water will stay cooler longer, and not condense on the side of the tumbler. Many come with straws which keep spilling to a minimum. These should also not be used with hot liquids.

Great uses: Employee rewards, resells for fundraising, general promotion.

Polycarbonate Bottles. Not all polycarbonate bottles feature a screw off lid, but most do. Polycarbonate is plastic, but it is harder and inflexible, unlike the sport bottles. These bottles are ideal if they are going to be in the middle of the action, as they don’t shatter, dent, or puncture from normal use. They are the ideal bottle for athletic events.

Great uses: Fitness events, athletic teams, resells as fan merchandise, trade show giveaways.

Still need some help? As always, our sales teams are standing by to help you pick out the perfect promotional water bottle for your next giveaway or promotion. Feel free to contact us through email: sales@karamadvertising.ae or call directly to 00971 562919715.

*Source: Mandy Kilinskis

Monday, 9 December 2013

Why Promotional Products Still Matter

Marketing has become an incredibly clever form of publicity - after all, it seems that no matter where we turn, there is advertising of some sort or another. Whether it be television adverts, bus ads, magazine adverts, online banners, social media and sponsored ad, it seems to be never ending.

And yet more traditional forms of advertising, such as Promotional Products - are still going strong. Whilst many people may have assumed that this form of advertising and marketing was dead in the water - the opposite is, in fact, true as promotional products are still an incredibly powerful marketing tool.

What is the point of releasing Promotional Products?

Promotional products allow people to see your brand, associate your brand and recognise your brand. All these things are important as the more people who become aware of your brand - the better results you will see in business and sales.

What items should I use for Promotional Products?

Well, a lot of the time it depends what your business actually is and what your budget is too. Both these things are likely to influence the type of promotional product you opt for. In general though, most companies tend to opt for things such as:

- Stationary: notepads, pens, pencils, rulers, erasers

- Bags: could include purses

- Business items: business card holder, address book, laptop sleeve

- Desk Accessories: Mugs, Glass, Calendars

- Clothing: T-shirts, caps, hats, socks, gloves, sweat bands

Whilst these are the most common items - you really can be inventive with this. In fact, it is often the more inventive choices for promotional products that are the most successful.

Remember your niche

Keep in mind the niche you're hoping to target though too. For example; t-shirts, caps and sweatbands are often great if you're a fitness brand or a gym. Desk supplies and stationary usually work better if you're targeting businesses or corporate niches. Try not to make the item "over branded" too - a product that is subtle and will actively be used will be much more effective.

When can I distribute them?

This depends on you. Perhaps you're looking to catch the eye of a potential client or customer? In which case - sending them a free gift (in the form of a promotional product) is a great idea, as they're more likely to pay attention to your business and brand if you've made the effort to send them something. Another occasion you could distribute them is during a trade show, an open day, or just out in public? You'd be surprised at how much attention "free stuff" will earn you and how people's curiosity will be roused. Have people form a queue around your distributors and watch the curiosity build, and your brand's reputation too with these tradeshow giveaways.

Is it easy to implement?

There are many outlets out there that stock and personalise cheap products that you can then distribute as promotional products. A great idea for small businesses (with small budgets) is to trial a few items first - this way you see which are most successful and which get the best return on investment.

When executed properly a promotional product marketing strategy can be hugely successful and very rewarding, both for sales and revenue, and the brand's awareness and reputation. So don't rush into it, consider your option and find the perfect product.

*Source: Elle-Rose Williams

Thursday, 28 November 2013

Golf Gifts & Hotel Amenities Catalogue

Tuesday, 19 November 2013

2014 New Products

Check out our new products for 2014.

Folding LED Torchlight

Pen Light and Stylus

Light Bulb Speaker with Remote Control

3 in 1 Power Bank Speaker

Smartphone Arm Band

Portable Charger

Salt 'n Pepper Speakers

Cloth Speaker

Retractable Ear Buds

Double Wall Mug with Handle

Aluminum Orbit Bottle

Fruit Infusion Bottle

Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Creating A Win-Win Situation: How To Choose Corporate Event Giveaways

Everyone likes freebies, and so do guests of your corporate event. Varying event goals and attendee demographics make it difficult to decide which giveaway to opt for. A few key rules will help you create a win-win situation for your organization and attendees.

Here are my selection criteria for event giveaways: Choose a quality product that is relevant to the attendees, differs from the usual corporate gift, matches the event’s message, and stands out in design.

Now, let’s analyze the selection criteria for corporate event giveaways one by one:

Rule # 1: Quality is Key

The quality of your giveaways will reflect on your event, and thus on your organization. Positively, or negatively, depending on whether or not the product withstands the test of time. Always verify that the quality of your item is up to par. Sampling is vital! To impress for a long time, giveaways need to last. If you cannot dedicate necessary resources, rather opt to do without. When quality is concerned, no impression is better than a bad impression!

Rule # 2: Be Relevant

Not having usefulness in mind may very well be the largest mistake event managers can make, when selecting promo items. The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) has in a recent study investigated reasons why people keep promotional products. For 81%, the number one reason is the giveaway’s usefulness. Therefore, do invest resources on analyzing demographics, and professional backgrounds of your guests. Knowing the gender, age group, and fields of interest is a good starting point when determining which items would be of relevance to them. Give people something they value, and you will be remembered for it!

Rule #3: Set Yourself Apart

Pens, bags, calendars, and hats … while among the most common giveaways, they are not necessarily among the most effective. ASI’s study has revealed that some of the most popular items generate the lowest percentage of positive impressions about the sponsor. To get the most bang for your buck, I suggest to steer away from the norm. Rather than selecting your giveaways from a catalog of promotional product suppliers, check out the latest electronic gadgets on the Web, or browse gift stores. Set yourself apart, and opt to take a different route. Individuality and style will turn your giveaway into the talk of town!

Rule #4: Convey a Message

Attaching your event’s message to the giveaway is key. Your event’s purpose may be attendee education, customer appreciation, lead generation, or creating brand awareness. You may also want to position yourself as a longtime expert, an innovator, or opinion leader on a specific topic. Write down the message that is to be conveyed with the event on sticky notes. Research and determine three potential giveaways that will fit rules #1 through #3, and print an overview of your options. Next, initiate a little field study: Have colleagues or friends match-up your sticky notes with the images of the potential giveaways. The winner? The item associated with most of your key messages!

Since you have now selected the giveaway by focusing on quality, relevancy, creativeness, and the event’s message, only the design-decision is left to be made: How will your event and organization be represented on the actual item?

Rule #5: Go Subtle With Design

Marketing experts swear by displaying the corporate logo, name, and contact information as prominently as possible. For event giveaways, I don’t agree with this approach. I have witnessed over and over that nobody likes ‘to be caught’ using freebies. And ASI’s study confirmed that recipients of promotional items clearly remember who it came from. To me, the perfect design of your giveaway will keep these two points in mind: A slogan or inspirational tagline, and the use of corporate colors on the items itself will help people remember you. No logo needed! And once people remember you, they can easily find your contact information on the Web. Opt for subtlety with design, and your giveaway will gladly be used!

*Source: Mona's Event Dos and Don'ts

Monday, 4 November 2013

The Surprising Power of Promotional Products

Promotional products are, some say, the oldest form of advertising. American businesses spend $20 billion a year giving away stuff with logos, according to Jerry McLaughlin, president of Branders, one of the largest sellers of promotional products online. Which is pretty good evidence that it works. Mr. McLaughlin credits the effectiveness of promotional products to centuries old cultural norms around the rule of reciprocity. “If you give something, the recipient is honor bound to give something back,” he said. “In every language and culture, research has found there are really pejorative words for people who get and don’t give back. We humans are hard wired to respond if we get someth

Are we really that easy? When you get that survey in the mail with a crisp dollar bill attached, do you fill the survey out or pocket the money and relegate the envelope’s contents to the circular file? I visited with Dr. Robert Cialdini, professor emeritus of psychology and marketing at Arizona State University. Dr. Cialdini, who has written a book on the topic, “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion,” became interested in studying the rule of reciprocity out of self-defense. “All my life I’ve been a sucker,” he said.

Dr. Cialdini observed Hare Krishna Society members in airports, watching them foist paper flowers upon travelers. As soon as travelers accepted the flowers, they became more likely to reach into their pocketbooks and reciprocate with a donation. Sociologists and anthropologists have found, he said, that there is not a single society in the world that doesn’t train its people from childhood to this rule. “Marketers take advantage of this all the time,” he said. “Tupperware parties — one of the things that happen very early on — they play games so everyone at the party wins a prize from the Tupperware representative. And they feel very obligated to give something back in return.”

A well-known veterans’ nonprofit group, the Disabled American Veterans, is a case in point. When the group sends a mailing for contributions, Dr. Cialdini said, it gets an 18-percent response rate. When the same letter is sent with personalized address labels, which cost about eight cents, the response rate goes up to 35 percent. “For the cost of the address labels they get almost a doubling of return,” he said. “It’s very powerful rule and very small things can trigger it.”

How do companies find the right promotional item? Here are four suggestions:

• Give items that members of your target audience will use in the environment where they make decisions about using your product or service. If you go after executives in corporations, give them something they will use in their offices, around their desktop so your company can be top of mind when they make decisions. Golf-related items are exceptions because lots of business happens on the golf course.

• Have it underscore your marketing message and differentiate your company. Mr. McLaughlin recounts a computer software client who makes antivirus software. The client put its logo on boxes of condoms and sent them to information technology types with the message, “Protect yourself, protect your computers.” Results? “Most I.T. people are male,” said Mr. McLaughlin, “and don’t really have girlfriends so that’s particularly titillating. They believe they got pretty good results.” A bit edgy for most companies, but you get the idea.

• Personalize them. While we are fond of our company logos, customers really like to use items that have their names on them. “People like seeing their own name above all else, said Mike Linderman, president of Express Pens, and former chairman of the Promotional Products Association International. His company makes pens in small quantities that can be imprinted with both your company’s logo and your client’s name.

• Skip the logoed water bottles and other items that will be quickly used and tossed. Make your promotional products investment something that will have a shelf life.

Some of the most popular promotional items these days are thumb drives, aluminum sports bottles, reusable grocery bags, and anything green. But will this stuff really replace the calendars with alluring young women? “I don’t know who the folks were who figured out that men would look at pretty girls and if you put your tools, software or cars next to it, they will look at it. I don’t think that trend is going away,” Mr. McLaughin said.

*Credits to: MP MUELLER

Karam Advertising LLC