What do you think are the best business freebies?

pgj2015

If you have to pick 1 item to give away free to customers to promote your business, what would you pick?

Gloomtastic!

Great question. A key ring with an air tag attached.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120484313#Comment_120484313

Would the air tag be very visible to others?

the_amazing_raisin

Pens, I'm always losing them so handy to get a free spare

Atlantic Dawn

Fridge Magnet with contact details

Gloomtastic!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120484642#Comment_120484642

No. The air tag would be in a pouch, with your branding on it. 😋

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120484672#Comment_120484672

Im looking for something that would be seen by lots of people. umbrellas maybe or bag for life.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120484690#Comment_120484690

They're good and always in demand from people. Baseball caps work too.

Mick Tator

@OP - Are you sure you asked the right question?

Giving your customers a pen/cap/umbrella/widget is not going to get them to promote your business. Certainly a €15 golf umbrella will display your logo to a specific audience, get your company name out there periodically for a limited time, but that is developing brand recognition, not promoting your business.

Your customers already are semi-captive because they have invested in your business. Invested in it heavily, because to grow and develop their businesses their futures depend on the quality of your product/service. So, you need to give them the best quality product/service/satisfaction, etc. possible. That’s how/why they will promote your business by recommending it to others. Lots of people forget that.

When was the last time you rang/emailed your business? How long did it take to get a response? Have you tried a blind call to see what the service/product offer was like?

I could have a drawer full of pens from big name businesses…. if I bothered to collect them. I don’t. Anyway, a €3 pen or (god forbid) a baseball cap, is not going to make me loyal to or promote anything.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120486151#Comment_120486151

Sorry you are correct. it is really brand recognition im looking for but where I operate some people think there is only one company providing the service I provide and that isn't me they are thinking of, even though I'm nearly 7 years in business. Business is good but if people saw a shopping bag with my logo they might also realize there are other businesses proving the service.

I'm a 1 man band so there is no point in me emailing or ringing the business.

Mick Tator

You wrote  ‘I'm nearly 7 years in business. Business is good’ so you certainly are doing a lot right!

It’s impossible to give precise advice because you don’t say  what you do – e.g. what I would say to a tradesman or to a bookkeeping service would be quite different. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) varies hugely by sector, for example CAC in professional services (accountancy/banking/estate agency) costs about double that for IT & Managed Services. You don't say if your customers are once-off or repeat buyers.

Logos and branded freebies are for building a brand which is neither easy nor cheap.. As a ‘one-man-band’ you don’t need to build a big brand image unless you have ambitions to grow very much bigger and take on extra staff. I think what you are tying to achieve is to grow your customer base sustainably.

If you are a tradesman you should have advertising on your van – clear contact details, a website, (spend some money on SEO). Same if you are a landscape gardener – put up a temporary advertising panel on the boundary of the property you are working on. If you are an architect, do the same on the hoarding around the building job. Things like that get noticed and used more frequently than a name/logo on an umbrella.

If you simply want to keep the work coming in and ensure that your business grows steadily, you need to concentrate on your existing customers and get them to promote you. When you finish a job give them a few leaflets or business cards ‘In case one of your friends needs me’.  Is there any way you can reward or incentivise them?

pgj2015

Thanks for the reply Mick.

Its more about building a brand so someone doesn't make the mistake of trying to use the same business name as me which there was signs of in the past.

im going to put adverts in the local paper and maybe sponsor certain local sports teams etc as well. I have my logo ready to be put on my vehicle soon.

Mick Tator

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120487563#Comment_120487563

If you are using a business name it should be registered at the CRO. It costs almost nothing and gives you protection. It would be stupid to spend money on any branding without doing this.

https://www.cro.ie/Registration/Business-Name

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120489953#Comment_120489953

I did this years ago.

callaway92

If any of your customers are 40+, a calendar can be nice. We've had customers specifically reach out to us early 2023 regarding our calendars (they feature GAA Photography). They use them in their offices etc. and have been a hit it seems

dave3t

If I had to pick one item to give away to promote an airline, it would be a stylish, durable travel toiletry bag. It’s practical for travelers, enhancing their journey while subtly promoting the airline's brand. A well-designed toiletry bag can remind customers of their experience every time they pack for a trip. For more travel updates, check out