Promo Products as a complement to your digital strategy

We all want more clicks, likes and traffic.  Companies have invested heavily in to the digital marketplace to build brand ambassadors and drive revenue to the extent that traditional Ad spending - T.V., print, etc - has been pushed aside for digital content and social media responses.

I would contest that digital-centric marketing can be pushed to higher levels by mixing in message builders such as promotional products to help drive business.  Look to bloggers as a perfect example of how brands have leveraged branded items to push recognition through blog programs.  My wife is the epitome of this, her website www.missinformationblog.com was built as a recipe/DIY site that made recommendations and reviews of certain things.

Brands would send branded merchandise to her as a thank you gift or an invitation to check out their products - and drive viewers back to their sites.  Recommendation selling in the consumer products industry has increased due to mixing promo with digital to increase sales.

Want to blow up a hashtag - try a T-Shirt, you get a walking billboard for your brand and it's message.  Better yet, post to Instagram someone wearing your hashtag shirt in public, then you have something cool.

Don't forget branded items folks - remember that you can't keep a banner advertisement on someone's desk every day to remind them of your awesomeness!  For more info, check out this article in Forbes on Promo Items:

Old Spice bringing the Swagger to Sports!

My boys give me a hard time about using Old Spice, with the emphasis being on the "old" portion!  But, let's face it, the brand our Fathers used has upped its game.

The ad campaigns and collateral that their creative agency Wieden + Kennedy have brought to the table has driven awareness and buzz to Old Spice.  Moreover, the brand has been able to reach a younger audience, thereby increasing the marketplace. How's that for Po Po Po Power! (insert Terry Crews commercial and whistle here)

Nowadays, you'll see that Old Spice has brought it's brand flavor to the hardwood courts of NCAA basketball with it's Sweat Mop Boys play on the 80's pop band name Sweatshop Boys.

Sweat Mop Boys

Utilizing custom branded t-shirts, oversized deodorant stick replicas, and custom displays, Old Spice has been taking sports integration to a new level of engagement.  I do have a personal affinity with the brand as it's my own cousin who is one of the creative wizards behind it - Matt Sorrell, proud of ya! 

Watch the Sweat Mop Boys in action here!