Logo Gifts - Business Gifts That Build Brands
By: MARK YOKOYAMA
Almost every company gives some type of business gift each year, but unfortunately they don't all understand how much more effective logo gifts are at building both relationships and brand recognition. Find out when, why and how to imprint company gifts with your logo for the maximum impact and best results.
To Logo or Not To Logo?
When it comes to corporate gifts, that isn't even a question. You should always incorporate your branding when giving anything on behalf of your organization and business gifts are no exception. You would never design trade show signage or print business cards without your logo, and your gift program should be as much a reflection of your organization and it's message as anything else you do.
How to Brand Your Gifts
There are many ways to add your logo to a gift that are both tasteful and effective. Many higher-end corporate gifts are particularly suitable for imprint methods such as debossing, embossing and laser-engraving, which will show your brand clearly, yet unobtrusively. For apparel and bags, often embroidery is the best way to add your logo to gifts. Another great way to tastefully add branding to a gift is to use tone-on-tone printing (printing your logo in the same color as the item makes your logo visible, but subtle). It's often a good idea to make your logo smaller than you normally would on a promotional item, or even move it to a secondary imprint area, such as the sleeve rather than the chest of a shirt, to make it more subtle.
Achieving Marketing Goals with Logo Gifts
The marketing goal of a corporate gift may be different than that of a typical promo or giveaway. Typically client gifts are given to recognize top customers for their business, or to commemorate important deals or projects. In these cases, branding can be simple, because the recipients are already familiar with what you do and how to reach you. In most cases logo gifts don't need to include contact information or a call to action, and leaving these things out of your artwork will help you brand the item more tastefully. If you do use a tagline, it should convey a message of thanks, keeping the focus on the customer and the relationship.
Logo Gift Programs: Put It All Together
Ultimately, your Your corporate business gift are going to have the most impact when they are well thought out and well executed. This includes the presentation of the gift. Cards and gift packaging can both accentuate the gift and increase the impact of your branding. Imprinted packaging and cards will make you look more professional and give you another chance to convey your twin messages of branding and thanks.
Mark Yokoyama is Director of Marketing for ePromos promotional Products, Inc., one of the largest promotional product and corporate gift distributors in the US. This article is copyright protected.
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