Bankers Advertising Articles

How to Choose the Right Promotional Product for Your Audience

November 4, 2024

 

Selecting the ideal promotional product is key to building lasting connections with your customers. Promotional products are more than giveaways—they’re tools that reflect your brand’s values and message. A well-chosen product reinforces brand awareness and makes your company memorable. But selecting the right item requires thoughtful audience targeting, brand alignment, and budget management.

Here’s a guide to help you make the best choice for your campaign—and how Bankers Advertising can support your efforts every step of the way.

  1. Know Your Audience: The Power of Targeting

Understanding your audience is essential for choosing products that will resonate. Consider their age, interests, profession, and lifestyle to select products that are not only relevant but also practical.

  • Example: Busy professionals appreciate items like wireless chargers or tech accessories, while families may prefer branded water bottles or household items.
  • Healthcare or Eco-Conscious Audiences: For targeted audiences, items like hand sanitizers or reusable tote bags show you understand their values.

Ask yourself:

  • What are the key demographics of my audience?
  • Are there specific needs or trends I should address with my product?

How Bankers Advertising Can Help:
We can assist with audience research and suggest creative product options that match your specific customer base. Our industry expertise ensures the right product is chosen for maximum impact.

  1. Align the Product with Your Brand Identity

The right promotional product should reflect your brand’s voice and mission. Think of each product as an ambassador for your company—delivering a message and leaving a positive impression.

  • Example: If your business promotes sustainability, offering eco-friendly products like bamboo utensils or reusable straws reinforces your values.
  • Quality Counts: Even a small giveaway like a pen should feel well-made, reflecting the high standards of your brand.

Ask yourself:

  • Does this product reflect my company’s identity and message?
  • How will customers feel when they receive and use this product?

How Bankers Advertising Can Help:
Our team will help you find custom products that align perfectly with your brand values. We offer extensive customization services to ensure every detail—from colors to messaging—reinforces your identity.

  1. Balancing Budget and Value

It’s important to balance your budget with the product’s perceived value. High-quality, useful items tend to stay in customers’ hands longer, extending your brand’s visibility. But different campaigns may call for different strategies—some events require premium gifts, while others demand high-quantity, lower-cost giveaways.

  • Example: Tote bags or pens work well for large trade shows, but VIP events might call for premium journals or insulated drinkware.
  • Smart Spending: Plan ahead to take advantage of bulk order discounts and seasonal promotions.

Ask yourself:

  • Should I prioritize quality or quantity for this campaign?
  • How can I stay within budget while maximizing value?

How Bankers Advertising Can Help:
We’ll help you strategize based on your budget, ensuring you get the best value without compromising on quality. With access to thousands of products, we’ll identify creative solutions that fit your financial plan.

  1. Timing and Trends Matter

Aligning your promotional products with current events, seasons, or trends boosts their impact. A product given at the right time—like a branded blanket in winter or a festival-themed giveaway in summer—feels more thoughtful and relevant to recipients.

  • Example: Seasonal campaigns using holiday-themed items or branded calendars offer year-round visibility.
  • Trending Products: Today’s consumers love sustainable or tech-driven products, making these categories smart choices.

Ask yourself:

  • Are there seasonal opportunities I can tie into my campaign?
  • What trends are currently influencing consumer behavior?

How Bankers Advertising Can Help:
Our product experts stay on top of industry trends and can recommend items that fit seasonal campaigns or tap into popular consumer interests. We ensure your products are relevant, timely, and aligned with what’s hot in the marketplace.

  1. Measuring Success

A promotional campaign doesn’t end when the products are distributed. Tracking results—whether through leads, customer engagement, or social media impressions—helps determine the campaign’s effectiveness.

  • Example: QR codes on products or a social media hashtag can make it easy to track customer engagement.
  • Feedback Loop: Asking customers for feedback on your promotional products offers insights for future campaigns.

Ask yourself:

  • How will I track the success of this campaign?
  • What metrics will tell me if my product made an impact?

How Bankers Advertising Can Help:
We don’t just stop at delivery. We can assist you in measuring your campaign’s success, offering advice on ways to track engagement and gather feedback. Our team is committed to helping you refine and improve your promotional strategy for future campaigns.

Why Bankers Advertising is Your Promotional Partner

At Bankers Advertising, we understand that the right promotional product can make all the difference. With decades of experience in the promotional products industry, we’ve helped businesses of all sizes connect with their customers and grow their brands. Whether you need a high-quantity order for an event or a unique, premium gift for VIP clients, we’re here to guide you.

Our advantages:

  • In-depth expertise in audience targeting and product trends
  • Creative solutions aligned with your brand and budget
  • Customized products with superior attention to detail
  • Long-term partnerships focused on your business’s success

Let us help you make every giveaway count. Contact us today to explore your options and get started on your next promotional campaign!

Advertising,Apparel,Bags,Branding,Marketing,Promotional Products — Molly Beavers @ 1:10 pm

The Scoop

June 15, 2021

Sales Manager
Melanie Lamb

During my travels last weekend, I decided to test out a couple of promotional items.
The first was the back-of-seat airplane pocket. This item was nice but would be even nicer for longer flights. It fits over the tray in front of you which will provide a clean surface to eat and work on. Once the tray is in the upright position, it serves as a nice organizational piece. Great to store your phone, earbuds, books, etc. during your flight. When your flight is over, it easily folds up and is ready to use for your next flight.

The next item I put to the test was the Traveling Organizer Set. I was only going to be gone for one night, so I had to pack very sparsely. I thought I would try rolling my clothes up and putting them into the travel cube and lo and behold, they fit!
This was easy to pack into my backpack and kept everything all together. I used the smaller one to pack my snacks. Again, it kept everything all together and not scattered throughout my bag.

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Marketing,Promotional Products — Melanie Lamb @ 8:46 am

New Year’s Revolutions

December 29, 2020


 
Everyone has a horror story about a New Year’s resolution: a diet that was broken before the leftovers were gone; an exercise routine that tanked at the first snow; the novel that languished in the back of your mind for months until the creative impulse faded. And this year, everyone likely has a horror story about 2020 as well. We’ve all felt pressure to learn a language, take up a new hobby, “be productive” with all of our supposed downtime during pandemic lockdowns.
 
[[Insert slow clap for those who have actually achieved something like that here.]]
 
For the rest of us, why follow disappointment with disappointment? I say we scrap the New Year’s resolutions this year and go with New Year’s revolutions instead.
 
A resolution is a commitment to maintaining a certain sameness — to persistence, steadiness, and consistency. But a revolution is a commitment to change. You can’t “fail,” because it’s a process, not a presumption. Every step you take is on the path to success, even during the times when you’re simply marking time.
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Marketing,Seasonal — Genevieve Trainor @ 9:43 am

Which Way Do We Go?

December 28, 2020

When stacked up against history, there are certainly at least a few moments we can point to as antecedents to our current era. But for most of us alive today, especially those out in the workforce, we have had no frame of reference for the kinds of radical changes our lives and businesses have had to go through over the past nine months. We may not all be in the same boat, but we are certainly in the same storm — and that storm has made our paths forward unclear.
 
So — as individuals and as businesses — we have had to become agile. Since the future became less predictable than ever, we’ve had to learn how to let each moment guide our choices. With our understanding of the novel coronavirus changing almost daily, with constantly shifting regulations and recommendations from national, state, and local authorities; with the needs and concerns of customers constantly getting rearranged — we have been standing on sand at high tide. We’ve had to learn to find new footing, repeatedly. We’ve had to learn to think in all directions at once, to be ready to choose the right course as it became clear.
 
In short, we’ve had to learn to pivot.
 
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Advertising,Marketing,Trends — Genevieve Trainor @ 2:17 pm

Pantone announces another two-color year!

December 11, 2020

A sunbeam cracks through the gray clouds above. You turn your face toward it, basking in its unexpected warmth and beauty.

Congrats; you’ve just experienced Pantone’s Colors of the Year for 2021!

For just the second time, the Pantone Color of the Year is in fact a pair of colors: PANTONE® 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE® 13-0647 Illuminating (this happened previously in 2016, when PANTONE® 13-1520 Rose Quartz and PANTONE® 15-3919 Serenity were featured). The Pantone Color Institute, which has selected a Color of the Year since 2000, regularly forecasts and consults on color trends, brand identities, and the leveraging of color psychology and emotion in design.

Pantone notes on their website that the two colors are exemplary of the way that “different elements come together to support one another,” a mood that they found valuable heading into 2021. They emphasize Ultimate Gray’s “deeper feelings of thoughtfulness” and Illuminating’s “promise of something sunny and friendly.”

In color theory, yellow is considered the color of happiness and optimism. It is recognized as the most attention-getting of any color. In Hinduism and ancient Egyptian religion, it was the color most associated with deity. Interestingly, yellow’s negative associations fall into illness and caution, two ideas that certainly lurk in the background of the coming year as well. But overwhelmingly, worldwide, it is a color of creativity and warmth.

Gray is a color associated with wisdom and compromise. It’s a color of stability, but with an eye toward the future, with echoes of industrial design and smooth, sleek efficiency. It can also be considered a color of boredom and ambiguity or uncertainty, which are also ahead for us — but at its best, it is a color of reaching a middle ground, something that would be a welcome respite from the many different types of extremes we’ve experienced in 2020.

“The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude,” said Pantone Color Institute Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman in the announcement of the colors. “Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit.”

In marketing and promotions, teaming these two colors together will give your customers a sensation of a steady foundation from which to launch into a joyful positivity. They work together to make consumers feel safe and secure enough to be hopeful again—something that will be invaluable as we work to lift the economy as well as our spirits. Consumer confidence is going to be crucial to everyone’s experience of the coming year, and pairing Ultimate Gray and Illuminating in marketing opportunities can help to foster that.

“Emboldening the spirit,” the announcement reads, “the pairing of PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 [Illuminating] highlights our innate need to be seen, to be visible, to be recognized, to have our voices heard.”

This is the perfect opportunity for you to listen to your customers’ needs and highlight both your reliable infrastructure and your willingness to cast your eyes forward to a better future.

Advertising,Branding,Marketing — Genevieve Trainor @ 1:29 pm

A Few of Our Favorite Things, Part 5

November 13, 2020

Molly’s Top Fall Guide Picks!


 
Our staff is beyond excited about our current fall guide, which is loaded up with the very best in giving. Over the course of several posts, we’ll be sharing their favorites with you. Share your favorites in the comments!
 

VP Marketing
Molly Beavers

 Aeroloft Collection (pg. 14): I really like this bag series. They are made of lightweight, water repellent nylon. I like that they are not bulky and feature many bells and whistles. The biggest BONUS is they both come with a zip organizer. It is unattached, and it is a great item to keep cords, keys, travel documents, personal items, and more. It has four pockets and makes a great accessory piece for the duffel or backpack.
 
Exclusive America Mug (pg. 5): This item is back by popular demand — a mug Made in the USA! It has the America eagle surrounded by “The United States” and “America” deep molded into the base. This is a great item to showcase a patriotic message. (more…)

Advertising,Marketing,Seasonal,Staff Picks — Molly Beavers @ 2:09 pm

A Few of Our Favorite Things, Part 4

November 5, 2020

Brenda’s Top Fall Guide Picks!


 
Our staff is beyond excited about our current fall guide, which is loaded up with the very best in giving. Over the course of several posts, we’ll be sharing their favorites with you. Share your favorites in the comments!
 

Sales Manager
Brenda Thurness

 8-Foot Dual Charging Cable with USB-C (pg. 6): USB-C is an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power on a single cable. This charging cable is compatible with Apple® 8-Pin, Micro-USB, and USB-type-C devices. The braided rope makes it durable. Has a Velcro strap to keep it rolled up, and it’s eight feet long, giving you ample length to stretch to those hard to reach outlets. I like this length because our couches have USB ports on the sides of them — so when I’m sitting on the couch, I can plug them in and still have plenty of cord to work with my phone while it’s charging. Available in black, blue or red. A good gift for companies to send to their employees working at home as a way of keeping in touch. It’s important that companies with employees working from home brand the offices of their employees — and this would fit nicely in a tuck box. You can story it with “Staying Connected” or “Keeping In Touch.”
 
What’s Pop’N Gourmet Popcorn Gift Set (pg. 9): This makes a great gift for about anyone with a microwave. It comes with Pop ’N Wow Carnival Classic Popcorn and two seasonings: white cheddar and kettle corn. My favorite feature is that it folds up flat for easy storage. This is a perfect company employee gift or a special occasion gift. Banks with branches could use as a donation gift. Local businesses are frequently approached for donations. A main office could buy 20 and put three or four in each branch for when someone asks for a donation. (more…)

Advertising,Marketing,Seasonal,Staff Picks — Brenda Thurness @ 8:55 am

A Few of Our Favorite Things, Part 3

October 28, 2020

Kristin’s Top Fall Guide Picks!


 
Our staff is beyond excited about our current fall guide, which is loaded up with the very best in giving. Over the course of several posts, we’ll be sharing their favorites with you. Share your favorites in the comments!
 

Kristin Nalan
Sales Development

 
Bamboo Soy Candle (pg. 3): I love candles in the winter. They add a soft touch of festivity to the atmosphere. Also, when the house has been closed up tight staving off the winter chill, I find it refreshing to light a scented candle. This candle has a bamboo lid — and the candle can be screened on the glass or lasered on the lid; there is also a laser personalization option. This soy candle comes with a vanilla scent. As certain scents can appeal to some and not others, I suggest getting a sample.
 
Custom Back Playing Cards with Custom Box (pg. 3): Playing cards can be used as a game or as a keepsake. I am a game player, and I especially like to use playing cards that come from an event that has special meaning to me. Playing cards are timeless and appeal to all ages. These cards are available with a custom box as shown in our fall gift guide; a plain tuck box with a clear window is also an option. (more…)

Advertising,Marketing,Seasonal,Staff Picks — Kristin Nalan @ 9:48 am

A Few of Our Favorite Things, Part 2

October 21, 2020

Erica’s Top Fall Guide Picks!


 
Our staff is beyond excited about our current fall guide, which is loaded up with the very best in giving. Over the course of several posts, we’ll be sharing their favorites with you. Share your favorites in the comments!
 

VP Sales Erica Kelley-Gogel

 I’ll start with the Bamboo Wireless Light Up Speaker (pg. 6) and the Crumbee™ Desktop Vacuum (pg. 7). I chose both of these items because people’s desks look a lot different today than they did six months ago. Whether people are working from home (at the kitchen table) or in the office (with a web camera and mic), people’s desks just look different. Not only that, they’re being utilized differently as well — and at different times throughout the day. The speaker is nice to have, as hearing out of a laptop or computer speaker can be harder to do — the sound just isn’t as good. The speaker helps with that and brightens up the space. If one is working later in the day, it provides just a bit of light. And the bamboo makes it eco-friendly.
 
Working at home or even in the office (with communal break room use discouraged), I would guess that many people, like me, are eating lunch or having snacks at their desk. I normally eat at my desk, so the Crumbee™ vacuum is just perfect! Helps to keep the desk area clean. Both are perfect gifts for employees still working from home and those who go into the office. It comes with a little brush for your keyboard or calculator. The speaker has a nice-sized imprint area, but the Crumbee™ provides for a full-color imprint on the full top of the item. (more…)

Advertising,Marketing,Seasonal,Staff Picks — Erica Kelley-Gogel, CAS @ 3:08 pm

A Few of Our Favorite Things, Part 1

October 19, 2020

Mel’s Top Fall Guide Picks!


 
Our staff is beyond excited about our current fall guide, which is loaded up with the very best in giving. Over the course of several posts, we’ll be sharing their favorites with you. Share your favorites in the comments!
 

Sales Manager Melanie Lamb


 Urban Peak® Trek Vacuum Camp Mug (pg. 5): This 14-ounce, double-walled, vacuum-insulated, stainless steel mug is perfect for your Keurig coffee maker. The lid features a push-on sip-through lid. The mug is available in white, navy, black, and grey, with a 2” x 2” imprint area that can be pad printed or laser engraved. Full-color printing available for an extra $1.00 each! This would make a great gift for employees working from home.
 
Drip Truly Wireless Earbuds and Charging Case (pg. 6): I use wireless ear buds all the time for meetings, to talk on the phone, or to listen to music. This is the style that I like the best. They don’t tend to fall out of your ears as other styles tend to do. I’ve tested these out and they are good. They work well doing Zoom meetings as well as listening to music from my phone or computer. I even placed and received calls. Again, these would be good for any company that has employees who are working from home or spend a lot of time in their car talking. (more…)

Advertising,Marketing,Seasonal,Staff Picks — Melanie Lamb @ 9:21 am

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