Building a brand is about weaving a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience. Promotional items are not merely giveaways; they are storytelling tools that can enhance your brand’s visibility and connect with customers on a personal level. With 2024 on the horizon, it’s time to consider what promotional items will set you apart and uphold your brand’s integrity.
Your brand extends beyond your logo—every promotional piece should echo your key brand message, align with your company’s values, and evoke the desired emotion.
Here are some of the best promotional items for 2024 that will help you boost your brand image.
Sustainable Products
As consumers continue to prioritize sustainability, incorporating environmentally friendly products into your promotional strategy can significantly impact your brand image. Consider offering reusable water bottles made from recycled materials or eco-friendly bags as promotional items. My favorite types of water bottles are customized HidrateSpark bottles and water bottles with additional features such as a cooling towel in their own carry case or bottles with a secret compartment for protein powder or vitamins. I’ve even seen one that has lip balm in the cap! Even the collapsible bottles that become keychains are great alternatives to your basic (and usually cheap) plastic bottles.
Remember, not all water bottles are created equal or appreciated the same by intended recipients, so be cognizant of your audience when selecting water bottles, and don’t simply go with the cheapest option. I cannot tell you how many “basic” drink bottles I’ve received at events that ended up in my charity donation pile or even trash (sorry, I said it).
Tech Accessories
In today’s digital age, tech accessories are highly sought after and can serve as practical promotional items. Consider offering branded phone cases, PopSockets, magnetic wallets, wireless chargers, or portable power banks. These items provide practical value for customers and showcase your brand as modern and tech-savvy. Keep in mind, however, that if your brand has nothing to do with technology, this might not be your ideal promotional item.
Custom Apparel
Custom apparel is a classic promotional item that will continue to be popular in 2024. Customers who wear branded t-shirts, hats, jackets, and even socks can serve as walking advertisements for your brand. Consider incorporating unique designs or trendy colors that align with your brand’s aesthetic to make your custom apparel stand out.
Customers aren’t the only ones who will rock your branded apparel. Never forget your team, employees, and staff deserve branded swag too! Customized, unique, branded apparel is a fantastic way of standing out and uniting teams at conferences and trade shows. This year, my two go-to branded items for companies to provide to their teams are embroidered bomber jackets and custom-branded shoes. A customer might not wear shoes with your logo (nor do I advise giving customers a brand new pair of shoes), but your sales and marketing team will, and they will make a heck of a statement when standing in your booth inside the exhibit hall. Both options make an impression at company events and trade shows, and the photos and videos make for great marketing content. Oh, and don’t get me started with company-branded flip-flops for summer marketing campaigns!
Pens
Yep, pens. I said it, and some might disagree, but for the right companies and industries, pens are and will forever be GOLD. Promotional pens are unlikely to ever go out of style as a coveted swag item at events, but their desirability by recipients depends on the pen’s quality, style, and type. Oh, and they MUST write well. Personally, I like a solid, heavy pen that glides across paper as if on silk without smearing the ink. No one keeps a pen that writes like cr*p.
And pens can be more than just pens, too. They make pens with laser pointers, pens with a pull-out mini-banner that doubles as a calendar (that’s one I don’t see too often but really makes a statement), pens with rotating ink colors, pens with a highlighter feature on the other end, and pens with company color gel ink and even glitter ink if you so choose. The gel ink pens are especially fun if the company-branded colors are something fun like hot pink or royal purple…because taking all your meeting notes in black and blue ink gets lame after a while. I recently ordered fidget spinner pens for a client targeting pediatric practice managers and owners. These unique pens (that write REALLY well) were one of the most sought-after items at the conference due to their uniqueness, rarity, and entertainment factor.
Personalized Gift Sets
Personalization is key to creating a memorable brand experience. Consider offering personalized gift sets as promotional items, such as customized stationery sets or grooming kits with your brand logo. These thoughtful and practical gifts will leave a lasting impression on customers and showcase your attention to detail.
A great example of a practical gift set for a particular industry would be a reusable cosmetic bag containing a co-branded Wet Brush (see section on collaborations), branded hair elastics, and a branded wide-tooth comb for a company targeting an audience within the hair and beauty industry.
Gift Cards
Gift cards might not be the most creative promotional item, but they can be highly effective in boosting your brand image. Consider offering branded gift cards to reward customer loyalty or as an event giveaway. This will encourage repeat business and showcase your brand’s generosity and customer appreciation. Keep in mind, if the gift card is to something that doesn’t really align with your company’s goals and messaging, it might be a good idea to think of something else.
Collaborations
In 2024, collaborations between brands will continue to be a popular trend. Partnering with other companies to create co-branded promotional items can enhance your brand’s reach and introduce you to a new audience. A well-executed collaboration can also showcase your brand’s versatility and creativity.
Not all companies offer co-branding opportunities, but it never hurts to ask. If you’re a wellness center that promotes natural methods of healing and focuses predominantly on the surrounding community for customers, perhaps partner with a small local natural lip balm, hand lotion, or even soy wax candle company to co-brand a product. Just because you or that company hasn’t done co-branding before doesn’t mean you can’t consider it as an option…right?
Final Thoughts
Promotional items are essential to any branding strategy, and choosing things that align with your brand image and values is crucial. As you plan for 2024, remember that the best promotional items align with your brand’s identity and resonate with your audience. Be bold, think outside the box, and get creative with your promotional strategies. If you need help, let my team at Strazanac Solutions know because this is what we love to do, and we do it all day to great success.
Choosing the right promotional items can effectively boost your brand image and leave a lasting impression on customers. So, start brainstorming now and make 2024 the year for marketing your brand effectively and leaving a legacy beyond just your logo.
