Promotions catapulting the corporate gifting sector

Promotion is a form of corporate communication that uses various methods to reach a targeted audience with a certain message in order to achieve specific organizational objectives. In these competitive times all companies have to look at various marketing tools to help sell their products. When competition is strong in any business you have to have a strong marketing strategy in order to achieve your sales targets. A big part of a well-developed marketing strategy is business promotional gifting.

Research indicates that promotional gift giving definitely enhances sales. Be it being done by small business sectors or by big organizations. So in many corporate houses there are special teams organized to look after these mega promotional activities; where people can't afford a full-fledged team they hire people from markets to do their share of promotional gifting. There are many strategies, mind and skills behind every corporate gift you give and receive. Promotional business gifts or freebies can be a very effective branding and promotional tool for any company. No matter what you're selling, branding your company's logo, motto and sales message can play a significant role in the success of your business. You must promote your company. You must get your company's name or product out there in the marketplace. Therefore, some effort and planning is required if you want your promotional strategy to succeed.

Corporate gifting is more than just normal gifting

A business promotional gift does not mean just engraving your company name or logo on the pen and giving it away to all your clients. The goal behind a business promotional gift idea is to build brand awareness. Personalized promotional gift requires a lot of thought and planning. When promotional logo gifts are used they leave a lasting impression on your client or incentive program, and it should be a positive one. It should be done tactfully. Use a unique and creative corporate gift giving idea to brighten gathering and you will succeed in making a memory and creating an impression that lasts. For a smart and efficient marketing campaign, a corporate gift giving idea will help any company to put their most favorable foot forward to an emerging client, again creating the lasting impression that translates into continued business success. And no matter where you are standing on the corporate ladder, you will discover a variety of options to make each corporate gift giving idea have a personal touch, thus offering some unique corporate gifting idea to every team member. You will be able to keep it fresh and new for any professional occasion when you find a new corporate gift giving idea. Like most marketing decisions, an effective promotional strategy requires the marketer to understand how promotion fits with other pieces of the marketing puzzle like product, price, distribution, sales etc. Thus, marketers should not work in a vacuum when making promotional decisions. Rather, the overall success of a promotional strategy requires input from others in impacted functional areas. When asked by us to many renowned corporate they were of the opinion that in corporate gifting "Themes" are very important. A gift given without a reason or if the gift fails to convey the message to the receiver is a waste of time and money. Making proper themes helps give the receiver a proper resourceful gift thus serving the actual purpose of promotions. So what are themes? When the manufacturer wants to advertise for a particular product, he should study the features of that product and then should find some similar features in the gift, which he proposes to give. For example, when the Pharma division of Johnson & Johnson Ltd. had to promote corporate gifts to their targeted doctors for their new tablets which had multiple uses, they had gone for such a gift which itself had multiple uses thus conveying the message 'multiple use' which according to them would continuously remind the doctors whenever they came in contact with that gift thus reminding them of the tablet. So such strategies are said to help a lot in corporate gifting. Also many corporate feel that the gifts with utility purpose in the daily life of the person receiving the gift also makes a positive impact i.e. it should be of some use to the receiver in it's profession or at home. Like in Pharma companies where most of their targeted audience are doctors they prefer to give gifts which are of everyday use to doctors such as a torch, medical charts, prescription pads, scientific models like human skeleton model, cushions, etc. Then there are other personal products like mobile holders, mobile chargers, and mugs with doctor's name on it or pen with personalized message or name and many more. Some of the popular gifts used

Very common gifts seem to be used are the strategy of personalized promotional gifts with your business name and telephone number, it saves the customer time and energy to locate your business. Everyday items such as coffee mugs, mouse pads or pens lend themselves to personalization more naturally than others. Also then there is free T-shirt marketing concept that works for most businesses that need a simple yet effective advertising promotional gift campaign. Everyone uses calendars because they are indispensable. It is a great business promotional gift idea because calendar advertising is one of the most visible, least expensive and most flexible forms of advertising. People remember the advertising message on their calendars and purchases products or services from the company that supplies those. One of the most popular and a very important item to have within the business promotional gift range are the premium quality writing pens. It is the perfect business promotional product to give to your customer that will create a goodwill feeling and also break the ice and create a relaxed atmosphere with your clients. Even food items by many are the most popular corporate gifts. A touch of creativity would add individuality to a common gourmet gift basket. Liquor and wine are old favorites too.

In many places like fuel stations or restaurants promotional logo gifts such as a good luck charm, a key ring, a piggybank, an ashtray, a cigarette lighter, or even a set of salt and peppershakers in the form of gasoline pumps or crockery etc suiting decor are interesting advertising promotional gift ideas.

Like every aspect of business in the modern age, computers and the Internet are changing the very nature of even these simple promotional tools. Many computer buffs are present in the market in the form of your client, business associate or your employees and a totally separate range of promotional gifts like a pen drive, a play station, musical or wireless mouse, a software CD or DVD of games of their interest and many more such products can be gifted to them. Strategize your promotional gifts

Companies and organizations in consumer promotions also use merchandise; such as gift-with-purchase offers, contests or sweepstakes, self-liquidators and continuity programs. Another popular method of using promotional products is as part of a two-part gift marketing strategy. These are especially popular as promotions for a grand opening, trade show or other marketing event. In this the gift receiver has one part of the coupon or invitation or discount and on making a call for sale or for inquiry the gift receiver gets the other part of the coupon and is liable for a gift or discount as mentioned in the offer. Such promotional activities are boosters in disguise, which create interest to the receiver, as everyone today wants more than just a common sale. People are looking forward to value added products and this is an ideal way which not only promotes but creates sales for your products too.

One of the main advantages of using a two part gift marketing strategy is that it allows you to track the effectiveness of your marketing campaign which is one of the biggest problems faced with most promotional product or gift mail-out campaigns. If there is any confusion in what to buy for the person you are not well acquainted with, the last but not the least is the gift vouchers. These are amiable in many departmental stores and give the receiver a choice to buy any kind of product he desires rather than you forcing him to have a product he is not going to use. But while giving such vouchers only one thing should be taken into account and that is the coupons must be of some value to grab the potential customer's attention. Many banks and other service sectors use these strategies for corporate gifting.

The corporate gift idea should be based on the closeness of the business relationship. An extravagant gift may be misconstrued as a bribe. An inappropriate gift damages the business relationship. The timing when the gift is given is also a relevant factor to be considered. Gifts given too frequently do not go down well with clients or employees. Give a corporate gift on holidays and other special occasions. Send a gift on personal occasions depending on the nature of the relationship. Never give a corporate gift during a bidding process. The holiday season is the standard time of the year for corporate gift giving idea. Other suitable occasions would be when promoting the company's products and services, showing appreciation for a hard-working employee or a client for new or continued business, celebrating a special occasion like a business anniversary, the birth of a baby, a birthday, a retirement, a new job or promotion, completion of an important project, the opening of a new office etc.

But the most crucial thing about corporate gifting is before sending out corporate gift check the corporate policy on gift presentation. Many companies place a restriction on the value of the gift or the situations in which gifts may be given. Choose a corporate gift that reflects the recipient's tastes and interest. It should have a great utility only then its purpose of gifting is fulfilled. Your customers or potential customers must want your free gifts; they must have some use for them. Whether it's a cool looking company cap that keeps the sun out their eyes or a favorite mug that displays your logo as well as serving up a cup of coffee; your customers must use your business gifts. The more they are used, the more effective your promotions will be. Apart from tangible gifts many gifts providing entertainment or pleasure are also a new techniques used for corporate gifting like you should provide your clients with tickets to his / her favorite singing or dancing show or tickets for an important event he wishes to go, also you can provide him with vacation to his favorite holiday spot or dinner for two to his favorite restaurant, or movie tickets to newly released movie. Here knowing your client well is the most crucial part as even if there is slight difference between your choice and his preference you are likely to create a negative impact, you should be aware of his taste, class, his likes and dislikes while giving such gifts or invitations. Such gifts and promotional activities are preferred when not only your professional but also your personal relationship with a client is close enough to know him thoroughly.

The gift presentation

Promotions and corporate gifts are known to be good motivators but lastly like the slogan says 'All is well that ends well' end part in corporate gifting and promotions is packaging. It is an aspect forgotten by many and which may be looked upon as down market act if not done properly. Also some judge a book by the cover and if the packaging done is not attractive enough, the person might lose interest and excitement that a gift brings with it. So it is an art which should be carried out very tactfully. Use good wrapping paper and don't forget to enclose a personal note with the gift. If you have no idea about packaging a gift, do not pack a gift but again this might seem very odd. So, instead take guidance from professionals available in the market. Remember it is the first impression and if not done craftily and smartly it might bring a bad impression, which later can be hard to change. So do your packaging with a lot of thought and consideration before gifting to your client.

Follow the strategies above and achieve success through unique corporate promotional gift items and innovative campaigns that are bound to give you lucrative business and good long-term relationships. But always remember that uniqueness and innovation is always welcomed and appreciated in this industry. Even when promotional products don't bring an immediate return, they continue to work for you as advertising. So be patient as most promotional gifts and items are far less costly than other methods of advertising.