Ever see them use a pen on TV to avoid wasting somebody’s life? Whilst you could by no means use a pen to create an emergency airway, pens are an awesome promotional advertising medium … if they’re backed up by an efficient, inventive thought.

First, a phrase of warning. There’s a enormous distinction between an inexpensive pen and an affordable pen. Bear in mind, even when you need to easily hand out a pen to each Jill, John and Samantha that walks by your commerce present sales space, the standard of what you hand out is a mirrored image of you and your organization.

We’ll assume right here that we’re speaking about promotional priced pens within the .30¢ to .50¢ per unit vary and never costly reward pens. Let us take a look at the differing types.

The most affordable pen you should buy is the cap-off, stick sort pen. A step above a pencil, these are, by and huge, low cost. You should purchase them for as little as 11¢ every. I consider they’re a waste of cash. Individuals lose the cap, mark their clothes then throw the pen away. If a clean writing pen and your picture matter to you, you are able to do quite a bit higher.

Twist-type pens are a step up from cap off. Yow will discover twist-type that write decently. The draw back is, they usually require two fingers to function. For a lot of, that is an excessive amount of bother, particularly in the event that they usually have one thing of their hand equivalent to an order-taking pad. With a twist sort pen within the cheaper price vary, it is also troublesome to discover a pen that has a clean twist motion.

I consider you are finest wager in a promotional pen is a retractable, also called a click on sort pen. One-hand operation is the hallmark of this sort of pen. You need one which has a robust, responsive click on and naturally is clean writing.

Let’s assume you need a retractable pen to advertise your enterprise. Subsequent, contemplate what you need to imprint on the pen. Totally different pens supply completely different imprinting choices and sizes. You need to ensure that the pen you select has an imprint space massive sufficient to imprint your brand or different data legibly.

One other consideration is imprint colours. If you happen to completely will need to have a multi coloration imprint then that may slender your selections and improve your value. A one coloration imprint will broaden your selections and decrease your value.

So you’ve got chosen a pen that’s acceptable in your want and your funds. Let’s discover some methods to make use of that pen to advertise. Whereas not all the following could also be acceptable in your explicit scenario, I’ll paint with a broad brush in an try to generate numerous attainable concepts for you.

Lumpy Mail. A pen is light-weight but causes an everyday envelope sufficient distortion that it’ll normally get opened. If you happen to’re sending a letter to prospects and also you need to improve the prospect your letter will get opened, a pen will do it. Mix this concept with Prize Derby or Design Contest (defined later) and you might have an actual promotion in your fingers.

Focused Placement. The place does your audience hang around? Does your audience frequent a neighborhood espresso store? Possibly the hair salon is one of the best place to focus on your market. I usually depart promotional gadgets equivalent to pens and be aware pads on the counter on the native chamber of commerce the place I am a member? How about your Fitness center or well being membership? The place ever your goal hangs out or frequents, ask the proprietor or supervisor when you can depart a provide of your pens there.

Fast-Draw McGraw. About 4 occasions every week I am someplace when somebody asks, “Who’s received a pen?” I’m normally the primary at hand over my imprinted pen. Key Level:A pen that’s acquired at a time of want is extra extremely regarded than one which’s merely given when no want is current.

Overlook Your Pen. Use your pen and depart it each time you signal a bank card receipt. It would not matter if it is on the fuel station, a restaurant or retail retailer. Depart your pen, ya know … as a public service!

Permission Based mostly Utilization. Take into account making mates with native sit-down restaurant homeowners whose clientele could also be your prospects. Then get permission to provide the wait employees along with your pen. Encourage them to permit patrons to “swipe” the pen. If you happen to select the best, low -cost retractable pen, they are going to need to.

Pen Design Contest. Have your shoppers and prospects provide you with concepts on a novel design for the imprint of your pen. Put up the highest designs in your web site letting your shoppers and prospects know by way of e-mail or snail mail that the designs are up. Allow them to solid their vote for his or her favourite. Ensure you get their e-mail and different acceptable contact data as you at the moment are constructing your database.

The profitable design wins 50 of the pens. You may wager they will present them to everybody they know. This entire tactic is designed to drive individuals to your web site. In fact everybody who votes will get a pen.

Prize Derby. Pay additional, if attainable, and have the pens sequentially numbered. Imprint the pens with “Go to www. _______.com.” and if the quantity on this pen matches a quantity on the prize web page you win!

Prizes can vary from different promotional gadgets or your services or products equivalent to free samples or particular package deal offers. Each couple of weeks you alter the numbers on the net web site so individuals have a purpose to hold on to the pen and test again each couple of weeks.

Search, Discover and ASK! Go searching. I’m going to tradeshows the place a sales space will need individuals to fill out a sign-up card with plain-Jane pens. Typically they let me substitute their plain pens with mine. Once in a while the tube canister on the financial institution drive although would not have a pen. You wager I stuff one in there. Alternatives are in all places, particularly with non -profits. They’ll at all times use just a few additional Plantable pens. Maybe they’d comply with ship your pen out with their subsequent mailing asking for donations.

Pens is usually a highly effective promotional advertising medium when supported by an efficient, acceptable and artistic thought. Alternatives to advertise your self are throughout. However when you do not look, you will not see. And when you do not ask, the reply will at all times be, “no”.

Michael Crooks, writer of “ReThinking Commerce Present Giveaways: Cease Merely Giving Stuff Away,” is a 25 yr promoting and promotional advertising veteran. His articles are featured month-to-month in Sensible Outcomes journal and he is a featured speaker inside the promotional advertising trade having spoken at Promotional Product Affiliation Worldwide’s (PPAI) Expo in Las Vegas and SAAGNY’s Promotions East in Atlantic Metropolis.