Many businesses put a good amount of their marketing efforts into acquiring new customers. However, that can be costly in terms of both money and time. It is much more effective to invest in nurturing your relationship with your current customers and show them that they are appreciated. According to the British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA), customers are far more likely to feel appreciated if they receive a promotional gift than through mediums such as television and direct mail. The appreciation is felt even more strongly if the promotional gift is a useful one, such as a smartphone charger, bag or sports water bottle.

Not only are promotional gifts a great way to show customer appreciation, they are also an effective marketing tool, provided that the gifts are useful to the customer. The largest potential marketing area is actually around your customer’s desk! Pens, notepads, calendars, and mugs are among the items that customers have reported they find most useful. Seeing your brand name and logo on a daily basis will keep your business at the top of your customers’ mind so that whenever they need a product or service similar to yours, they will think of you first.

Customer loyalty is the ultimate goal for any business owner. You want your customers to continue purchasing from you any time they need your product or service. Especially if you are in an industry that is highly competitive, you need something that will set you apart from businesses that have offerings similar to yours. A promotional gift is a visual motivator for customers to reach out to you. In fact, according to a BPMA survey, 50% of consumers report that a promotional gift they received encouraged them to reach out to a brand and make a purchase. Those are great odds!

Promotional gifts offer a lot of value to both you as a business owner and to your customers. When planning for your marketing strategy, be sure to keep these benefits in mind.