5 Best Small Business Promotion Give-aways

People love free things, and there are catalogs full of great stuff you can give them.  Give-aways are another way you can promote your small business, as I was discussing yesterday.  Looking over the huge number of possibilities (so many, they fill catalogs), you may wonder which are the best.  These 5 are, I believe, the ones that can give you the most for your money:

Why Give Stuff Away? Three reasons why you should be giving stuff away to people: (1) People respond to gifts by feeling a sense of obligation.  It’s the principle of Reciprocity I talked about several months ago.  If you give them something, they will feel they should do something for you. (2) People can put the gift somewhere to remember your business. (3) They can share the gift with friends as they refer your business to them.

Business cards. This one is pretty obvious.  Every business needs business cards.  The main thing to remember about business cards: They only work if you use them.  You have to give out hundreds of cards to get one person to use it and call you.

Flyers/Brochures. A brochure or flyer can help promote your business if you can get them in the hands of people who will call you.  Flyers are for posting on bulletin boards around town; brochures are for handing out at those events where you will be working.  In both cases, don’t be stingy and order just a few.  Order lots and make sure people take them.  Better yet, get a brochure or flyer in the packet or “goodie bag” that gets handed to everyone at the convention, health fair, or other event.

Something related to  your business. Chiropractors give out bend pens; dentists give out toothbrushes. Health food companies give out water bottles at races.  My hairdresser gives out candy wrapped in paper with her business information on it.  If you can give people something that is cute and funny and reminds them of your business, they will remember you.

Refrigerator Magnets.  I’m a huge fan of refrigerator magnets, especially the ones that look like business cards.  What better place than the refrigerator to put your information so people will see it?  I have magnets on my refrigerator for my veterinarian, appliance repair place, my hairdresser, and my favorite bed and breakfast.

T-shirts. These are a little pricier, but they are fantastic give-aways because people love to wear t-shirts and they will wear them forever.  I worked for a company several years ago that gave away t-shirts at a race, and I still see those t-shirts around town.  Kids particularly love t-shirts, and they get handed down and sold at garage sales, so your good name gets spread everywhere, for many years.

One final thought about give-aways.  Be sure the give-aways are:

(1) Perfect.  Every piece of information should be proofread and double-checked.  A wrong phone number on your business card isn’t going to get you any new customers.

(2) High qualify.  A give-away that doesn’t work, falls apart, or breaks, is not going to help you.

Give-aways are an important part of your business promotion effort, so find a couple that work for you, spend the money and get lots of them.  You will be glad you did.