Promotional Items
by Tash Hughes of Word Constructions

To get your business exposure beyond advertising, it is worth looking at distributing some promotional items.

Promotional items can be given out at trade fairs, at networking events, in goodie bags at various events, in hampers, at exhibitions and as gifts to clients; they can even be given to other business owners to distribute for you.

You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to have promotional items that will make an impression on your clients and potential clients. The most obvious promotional items are product samples, vouchers and flyers, but that aren’t the only items you can use.

Be creative and have some fun with your promo items. The following ideas may get you started…

• Make a bookmark – it could just have your logo and business details, or you could add a beautiful image, a funny or sentimental verse, some tips relevant to your business, a cartoon or anything else you can think of!
• Attach a packaged tea bag or coffee serve to a flyer or business card with a message like “Take a break on us”
• Print an article that will be of use or interest to people
• Add a card with useful information on it – a recipe, some business/parenting/health tips, a list of websites related to a topic, positive affirmations
• Get some magnets made as these are practical and likely to be kept somewhere visible. For even more interest, consider a photo frame, calendar or useful information magnet.
• Choose a small treat that matches your business message and attach it to a message, business card or flyer. Some treats you can try are:
  • Bath salts for a person to relax
  • Lollies to sweeten their life
  • Old fashioned lollies for sentimentality or memory
  • Frogs so they can hop into…
  • A balloon for hope
  • Matches to set their lives on fire
  • Monopoly house as a symbol of their dream house
• A gift card they can use (if your business details are on this, you get double the exposure, but be tasteful with it!)
• Prepare some puzzles or a quiz, or even some colouring-in pages for their kids
• Add a promotional item with your logo or business name such as
  • A notepad or sticky note pad
  • A pen or pencil
  • A container of mints or lollies
  • A yoyo
  • A ruler (there are lots of different types to chose form)
  • An eraser
  • Lip balm or sunscreen
  • A sticky tape dispenser
  • A mouse pad
  • Coasters
  • Personalised chocolate wraps
  • Lanyards
  • keyrings – don’t make them too big or they won’t be used
  • a cap or beanie

Tash Hughes is a Mum of two in Melbourne. She is also a writer and owner of Word Constructions. Tash is available to write articles and profiles for any business, as well as doing other business documentation projects. You can see her site and services at www.wordconstructions.com.au