Advertising Information

10 Tips to Use Giveaways Effectively


Walk around any trade or consumer show and you will be able to collect a bag full of advertising specialties, or giveaway items all designed to promote. But look a little more closely. How many really do an effective job? How clearly do they get a message across? Is the message sufficiently visible? Is the giveaway useful or unique enough that you would want to keep and use it? All these questions, and more, need to be considered before jumping into the giveaway game.

Everyone enjoys receiving a gift, even if it is "just a little something." Gift giving creates a favorable impression. It can build goodwill, be an incentive, communicate a message and create awareness.

When thinking about advertising specialties for your next show, consider the following ten questions:

1. What do you want to achieve by giving away a premium item?

Your giveaway items should be designed to increase your memorability, communicate, motivate, promote or increase recognition. It is important not only that the message have an impact, but also the premium itself.

2. How will you select your premium item?

There is a multitude of different items you could consider as a premium. However, which one will best suit your purpose? To select the right item, you need to decide your objective. Do you want it to enhance a theme; convey a specific message or educate your target audience? A clear purpose should help make your selection process easier. A promotional specialist can also help you make an effective selection. Remember that your company image is reflected in whatever you choose to give away.

3. Whom do you want to receive your premium?

Having a clear objective for your premium item will also help you decide who should receive it. You may consider having different gifts for different types of visitors. You might have different quality gifts for your key customers, prospects and general passers by.

4. How does your giveaway tie into your marketing theme?

Is there an item that naturally complements your marketing message? Have the message imprinted on the item and make sure that your company name, logo and phone number appear clearly. An important aspect of any gift is to remember who it was from long after the fact.

5. What is your budget?

The price range for premium items is enormous. Quality, quantity and special orders, all impact the price. Establish a budget as part of your exhibit marketing plan. Consider ordering the same item for several different shows. The greater the quantity of your order, the lower the individual unit price.

6. What must visitors do to qualify for a gift item?

There are several ways to use your premium effectively. For example, as a reward for visitors participating in a demonstration, presentation or contest; as a token of your appreciation when visitors have given you qualifying information about their specific needs; as a thank you for stopping at the booth. Avoid leaving items out for anyone to take. This diminishes value and has little or no memorability factor.

7. Will your giveaway directly help your future sales?

Consider handing out a discount coupon or a gift certificate that requires future contact with your company for redemption. Consider premiums that will help generate frequent visits to customers and prospects, such as calling you for free refills.

8. How does your premium item complement your exhibiting goals?

Premiums can be used to prequalify your prospects. One company uses playing cards. Prior to the show, they send "kings" to their key customers, "queens" to suppliers, "jacks" to new or hot prospects. They request that the cards are brought to the booth in exchange for a special gift. When the cards are presented, the booth staff already know certain information about the visitor. They can then act on their previous knowledge and use time with the visitor more productively.

9. How will you inform your target audience about you giveaway item?

A sufficiently novel or useful giveaway can actively help to draw prospects to your booth. So make sure your prospects know about it. Send a "tickler" invitation with details of the giveaway, or create a two-piece premium, sending one part out to key prospects prior to the show and telling them to collect the other half at your booth.

10. How will you measure the effectiveness of your premium?

Establish a tracking mechanism to measure the success of your giveaway. If it is a redemption item, code it so that you know it resulted from the show. Post-show follow-up could include a question about the premium - did visitors remember receiving it and how useful was the item. After the show, critique your giveaway with your exhibit team: Did it draw specific prospects to the booth? Was it eye-catching enough to persuade passers by to stop? Did your customers find it useful? Did it project the right corporate image?

There are plenty of exciting premiums for you to choose from so that you can avoid the usual pens, pencils and keychains. Make your premium work for you and it will be money well invested.

About The Author

Written by Susan A. Friedmann,CSP, The Tradeshow Coach, Lake Placid, NY, author: "Meeting & Event Planning for Dummies," working with companies to improve their meeting and event success through coaching, consulting and training. Go to http://www.thetradeshowcoach.com to sign up for a free copy of ExhibitSmart Tips of the Week.

info@thetradeshowcoach.com

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Direct Traffic Media

Rising US dollar will hurt Internet-based Google, Yahoo, Expedia ...
Financial Post, Canada - 14 hours ago
Another trend affecting Internet companies is how online advertising dollars are being spent as the US economy stutters. A front page story in the Wall ...
Spending Gap Between Search and Display Advertising Widens Wired News
Gap Widens in Online Advertising Wall Street Journal
Waiting Impatiently for a New Yahoo CEO Seeking Alpha
CNET News - ZDNet.com.au
all 67 news articles


Curbing advertising will cut obesity
The Australian, Australia - Sep 5, 2008
Restrictions on junk food advertising to children are a bit like that. The Australian Communications and Media Authority, in its draft report on children's ...
Keep little eyes from junk ads: experts Sydney Morning Herald
all 130 news articles


Advertising With New Media
Forbes, NY - 9 hours ago
Question: Is advertising in the Yellow Pages book still of any value? Should I replace my listing in the Yellow Pages with online advertising? ...


Mobile Marketing Consumer Response is Heavily Influenced by ...
MarketWatch - Sep 5, 2008
NEW YORK, Sep 05, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- While most consumers' initial reactions to marketing and advertising messages on their mobile phone can often be ...
Consumers want incentives to respond to mobile ads Fiercemobilecontent
Examine the Mobile Market in Sri Lanka: Including Opportunities ... MarketWatch
all 58 news articles


DailyTech

Microsoft’s Windows advertising, minus the Windows
Financial Times, UK - Sep 5, 2008
High-profile new advertising campaigns like this often become the target of instant judgment from self-appointed “experts”, and this one was no different ...
Seinfeld-Windows TV Ad Anything But 'Delicious' Slashdot
Windows Vista: The OS About Nothing InformationWeek
Microsoft Launches Latest Windows Advertising Push DailyTech
Wall Street Journal - Seattle Times
all 519 news articles


Tunica CVB Switches Advertising Firms
Memphis Daily News,  USA - Sep 5, 2008
The Tunica Convention and Visitors Bureau has switched the advertising agency that currently represents the bureau to the Memphis-based firm carpenter ...


Prescription Drug Advertising Subject of New FDA Web Site for ...
MarketWatch - Sep 5, 2008
The site, "Be Smart About Prescription Drug Advertising," is hosted by the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and was developed by the FDA in ...


OverTheLimit.info

Want cheap? Keep searching
Globe and Mail, Canada - 15 hours ago
Some investors believe that the recent setbacks are just a blip in an otherwise upward trajectory for Google, as the drift toward online advertising turns ...
Video: Tech Test: Google Chrome Lacks Polish AssociatedPress
Google once reviled computer superpowers but domination is just ... Independent
Google: In search of technology’s new frontiers Times Online
Motley Fool - Reuters
all 237 news articles


Calgary Herald

Crucial Movie Plot Points Too Risque for British Advertising Standards
Jossip, NY - Sep 5, 2008
Advertising regulations exist to keep the consumer safe. This is why tobacco companies can't advertise near churches or schools, why hardcore sex is not ...
Latest James Bond flick criticised for glorifying armed violence Oneindia
jolie disarmed Toronto Star
Advertising Watchdogs Blasting Posters Of Angelina Jolie's Film ... AHN
G4 TV - Utalkmarketing
all 205 news articles


Wired News

Kellogg’s Finds a Windfall in Online Advertising
Wired News - Sep 5, 2008
By Meghan Keane September 05, 2008 | 2:58:01 PMCategories: Advertising Along with Kraft Foods, Hershey, and General Mills, cereal maker Kellogg Co. ...

advertising - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.