Before we talk about promotional pens, let us ask you this:
How many competitors do you have in your industry?
Our guess is at least several thousand, if not more. All of you are scrambling to snatch customers from the same pool, hoping that the quality of your products and services, along with your risk-free guarantee, friendly service and reasonable prices, will lure them to your business.
But what if your best competitors have a similarly high standard of service, so there's no obvious reason for these potential customers to choose you?
This is where promotional pens come in.
Have you ever wondered why you come across so many promotional pens?
It's because they're one of the most cost- effective ways for any business to keep its name and contact details under the noses of its customers.
It's a case of counteracting the old maxim, "out of sight, out of mind".
What details should you have on your pen?
A promotional pen needs very little information to be effective. For a start, you'll need two items:
- Your business name
- Your contact phone number or web site URL
But more creative businesses add one small but important detail to this: a description of what they do.
Bearing in mind that you have very limited space on a pen, you need to come up with one word or a short phrase that will remind your customer instantly of what it is that you do.
Some companies have a self-explanatory business name.
- Hairdressing for Men
- Smith's Pet Shop
- Ralph's Mowing Service
But other company names give no clue as to their products or services. If you fit into this category, you can do what Ronson & Co Pty Ltd, a plumbing supplies business, did on their company's pens:
- Ronson & Co * Plumbing Supplies * 4465-5762
If the pens had a large enough surface, they could have expanded the description to read:
- Ronson & Co * Quality Plumbing Supplies * 4465-5762
Or
- Ronson & Co * Discount Plumbing Supplies * 4465-5762
The asterisks are optional.
Other examples of effective pen inscriptions:
- Judith Nash Solicitor 3695-8798
- Lasting Blooms Florist www.lastingblooms.com
- Tom Jackson Family Dentistry 5643-7695
Pens with a smaller surface length can accommodate this text in two lines.
Always something there to remind me…
Promotional pens work best when they serve as a reminder rather than a first time advertising tool.
Ideally, the people you give your promotional pens to should have had at least one interaction with you or your business. Even if the encounter is a preliminary meeting or a social interaction, the recipient needs to have one image or memory that your pen is linked to. Without that, the pen has less chance of evoking a response.
2 reasons to choose promotional pens as an marketing tool
- The fact that a promotional pen is a useful tool in its own right guarantees that it will be used and not thrown away. And the more times a person glances at your name and contact details on the pen, the more they will become embedded in the person's subconscious mind.
- Additionally, the pen usually remains on the person's desk, the same place from which they make phone calls to set up appointments, order products or go online. This makes it more likely to stimulate them to think of you when they need your product or service.
Choose your promotional pens carefully.
Take the time to select a style that fits with your business or service.
If you have a specific color in your logo, you might choose a pen that features a similar color. Or you might select one that fits with the tone of your business, professional, fun or fast.
To take a look at some of the products available, visit our catalogue of promotional pens to find one that's right for your business.
