WebsiteAlways.com


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:

Mobile Marketing Consumer Response is Heavily Influenced by ...
MarketWatch - 2 hours ago
NEW YORK, Sep 05, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- While most consumers' initial reactions to marketing and advertising messages on their mobile phone can often be ...
What Are The Opportunities For Subscriber Growth Across The ... MarketWatch
Enterprise Mobility Forecasts: Highlights MarketWatch
all 62 news articles


Direct Traffic Media

Spending Gap Between Search and Display Advertising Widens
Wired News - 19 hours ago
By Meghan Keane September 04, 2008 | 3:07:36 PMCategories: Advertising Online advertising spending may be growing at an annual rate of 20 percent but the ...
Gap Widens in Online Advertising Wall Street Journal
Verizon and Yahoo extend portal deal CNET News
Can Yahoo! Me Now? Good! Motley Fool
Search Engine Land - ZDNet.com.au
all 64 news articles


Direct Traffic Media

Obama, McCain have contrasting styles in Web advertising
Los Angeles Times, CA - 9 hours ago
By Jim Puzzanghera, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer It's been hard to avoid Barack Obama's distinctive red, white and blue "O" logo on display ads as you ...
Obama Expands Lead on McCain in Online Advertising Battle in June ... MarketWatch
Study says Obama beating McCain in online advertising Direct Traffic Media
Obama online advertising trumps McCain by 75:1 in June TG Daily
WebProNews - PC Magazine
all 24 news articles


BBC News

Crucial Movie Plot Points Too Risque for British Advertising Standards
Jossip, NY - 1 hour ago
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 ...
Qantas UK ad claims probed Melbourne Herald Sun
Latest James Bond flick criticised for glorifying armed violence Oneindia
Bond poster under fire from anti-gun campaigners Utalkmarketing
Boxwish - Reuters
all 201 news articles


Curbing advertising will cut obesity
The Australian, Australia - 59 minutes ago
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 ...
Weasel words on junk food ads Brisbane Times
all 2 news articles


SpongeTech(R) Delivery Systems, Inc. to Air Promotional ...
PR Newswire (press release), NY - 1 hour ago
SpongeTech(R) To Begin Test Promotional Advertising Campaign on NESN TV over This Weekend NEW YORK, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SpongeTech(R) Delivery ...


Mixpo Announces Online Video Advertising Pacts with Leading Local ...
Business Wire (press release), CA - 8 hours ago
Under the agreements, Mixpo’s new partners can leverage the company’s recently launched online video advertising platform to enable their advertisers to ...


Back up the truck for good advertising
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 49 minutes ago
So I searched a little pile of trade magazines to find a few shining examples of good advertising in the category. After a couple of hours I had found none. ...


Media not killing advertising – Ishiekwene
The Punch, Nigeria - 10 hours ago
By Olufemi Adeosun Senior media executives have debunked the notion that the media industry was killing the advertising business in Nigeria. ...


Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome will vie for induction into Madison ...
Carolina Newswire (press release), NC - 5 hours ago
Since 2004 the Roaming Gnome, creation of Travelocity’s advertising agency McKinney, has traveled the world as the online travel leader’s “spokesgnome,” ...
BUSINESS BRIEFS Durham Herald Sun
all 2 news articles

Advertising - Google News

Interesting articles | Home | site map | Link
© 2006
Job posting sites Breast enlargement Jobs Mahoubi.net Free Online Dating | Free personals | Married personals | Totally free personals | Dating online lakeland fl | Free dating sites | Travel Vacations | Multiple listing service real estate