Though some may consider them to be a bit old-fashioned, promotional items are a tried-and-tested marketing strategy that can work for almost any business. Of course, it makes sense to focus most of your efforts on producing freebies for your primary target market. However, you may be surprised to learn that a large chunk of your customer base is likely made up of pet owners.
Indeed, surveys have found that nearly half of the US population consider themselves to be pet parents. Moreover, it’s highly likely that there is some overlap between your ideal customers and pet owners.
So whether your business is pet-related or not, handing out custom pet products with your branding could prove to be beneficial. If you’re still not convinced, read on to find out why they’re so effective and why you should make them a part of your marketing strategy.
Why Should You Invest in Promotional Pet Products?
They Can Help Boost Your Brand’s Reputation
Studies have found that people who receive branded freebies are more likely to have a positive impression on the business that gave it to them. Additionally, giving away well-made branded merchandise can boost your company’s reputation, as potential customers will associate this with a high quality of service.
They Can Help with Brand Recall
Promotional items are so effective because people love getting free stuff, especially if it’s particularly useful. So when you give away pet-related products, you can expect your recipients to use them on their furry friends as often as possible.
Think about it: on a typical day, owners interact with their pets several times a day. For instance, they feed their furbabies, take them out for walks, as well as bathe and groom them. And to wind down from a hard day at work, owners love to spend quality time playing with their pets.
Now, consider all of the products that are involved in those activities. At a minimum, a pet owner would need food bowls, collars, leashes, brushes, and toys. Each of these items presents you with a chance to show off your logo and company name, maximizing their exposure to your branding.
They Can Help You Reach a Wider Audience
It’s no secret that pet owners regularly interact with each other. Thus, offering promotional items can help you reach a wider audience.
For example, when pet owners walk their dog using your branded collar and leash, they essentially end up advertising your product for free. Other pet owners may even ask them where they got the products, increasing your brand awareness.
With that said, opportunities to promote your brand aren’t limited to the offline world. In this day and age, social media has proven to be a marketing powerful tool. And online users love sharing stories and photos of their pets, which tend to generate a great deal of engagement.
To take advantage of this digital marketing trend, encourage your customers to take photos of their pets with your promotional item. With just a single post, your company will be immediately introduced to your customer’s circle of friends, which may be made up of hundreds of people. It’s also likely that some of their friends own pets, thus expanding your potential client base.
Now that you know why you should invest in promotional pet products, it’s time to go over everything you should know to create effective ones.
What Makes for an Effective Promotional Pet Product?
When deciding on what specific freebies you should offer, you need to consider three main factors:
- Usefulness. Ideally, the item should be something that the customer can use on their pet every day.
- Relevance. The product you choose should be relevant to your brand while addressing a pet’s needs. If you sell canned soda, for example, you could create dog chew toys that look like miniature versions of your most popular beverages.
- Proper Representation. By their very nature, pet products must be designed to withstand daily wear and tear. Hence, make sure to give away only high-quality products to give pet owners a positive impression of your company.
What Should You Consider When Choosing Promotional Pet Products?
When investing in freebies for pet owners, you’re catering to two customers at the same time: pet parents and their pets. Thus, pick a promotional item that’s not only useful for pets but also appeals to their owners’ sensibilities.
Let’s take pet apparel, for example. Not only can these products protect furbabies from the elements, but they’re also perfect for owners who love to do photoshoots with their pets. That being said, some of the most popular promotional items include pet bowls, toys, treats, brushes, collars, and leashes.
Overall, branded pet products are a great way to help your business stand out, no matter what industry you happen to be in. Whichever items you choose, you’re sure to capture the attention of many pet owners and rise above the competition.
