Forget about turkey for a moment: making business customized branding is more than just putting your logo on a mug. It’s an art to choose swag that works for your brand and doesn’t just sit in someone’s desk box collecting dust. Think about this: you’re at a trade show, going through the people with a coffee in your hand. Someone gives you a water bottle with a funny saying on it and an eye-catching design. It stays with you, you use it at work, and maybe even laugh about it with a coworker. It’s a tiny billboard that does its job every time you drink.
When your products tell a story, they can get a lot more attention. Go beyond the usual pens and stress balls that don’t help. Think about branded socks at a winter meeting or sunscreen at a summer one. People remember things that are useful and that they do every day. That is where the magic takes place. Are you thinking outside the box? Maybe USB chargers, bags that can be used again and again, or cool collar pins? It’s important that your brand is functional, but adding a little surprise makes it live.
Color and style are important, but don’t try to be too smart. Keep it simple but strong. A sharp logo and a smart tagline can be all that’s needed sometimes. Don’t forget how powerful a clever phrase or a joke that only people in your business will understand can be. In the thoughts of brand minds, that’s guerrilla warfare.
Distribution is the hero that no one sees. If you give swag in the wrong place, people will forget about it. If you give out hats at a December volunteer event outside, your logo will be all over social media before you can say “post.” When timing is right and content is relevant, publicity can go through the roof. Having the right eyes at the right time is more important than having a lot of them.
Let us not forget about survival. People will throw away fidget spinners if you give them to them. Pick things that people will actually use—things that they would buy themselves, things that can be reused or recycled. Your business and the environment both win. It’s the gift that keeps giving.
Taking part matters. As a way to choose the next set of t-shirts, why not hold a contest? Make your workers go to the polls. People love knowing the secret. It’s a cool way to get people to be loyal without much work.
Don’t take the easy way out if you want people to talk about your brand. Do something crazy, use a play on words, and stay sensible. Your goods can be loud, smart, quiet, or welcoming. But most of all? When people pick it up, it should make them smile. There are a lot of people like you in the world, but that little spark is what makes you unique.