If you are a new business owner who would like to explore online advertising, then you should definitely learn about advertising specialties. What are advertising specialties and why should you be interested about it?

Direct marketing advertising strategies are best accompanied by advertising specialties. These are tangible things that you can offer your prospects to encourage them to respond positively to your advertising campaign. Simply put, advertising specialties are benefits, incentives or rewards that a customer can enjoy.

What’s In It For Me?

When a certain prospect pays attention to an ad, there is only one question running in his/her mind. “What’s in it for me? Indeed, people are always interested to know what benefit they can get out of it. Why should they go out and buy your product? What can they gain from your offer? Of course, the more exciting the offer is, then the more attractive the ad becomes.

An advertising specialty can be useful information that consumers can use to enhance their lives. It can also be something that is functional or something that can be utilized. Of course, it is offered for free, with no obligations in return.

Advertising specialties are used to build-up a company’s image or to introduce products and services. In fact, many new business owners use this technique get the market’s attention. Needless to say, specialties do not need to be expensive or be of exceptional value. They can be the simplest of gifts and consumers will still appreciate them.

What Are Advertising Premiums?

There is another form of strategy similar to advertising specialties. It is known as advertising premium. Premiums often have a much higher value and are accompanied by a message that requires a specific action from the recipient.

Advertising premiums are generally used when doing follow ups with existing contacts. It is also an effective way to strengthen customer relationships. Obviously, when you offer premiums, you are building up a good image for your company.

Enhance Direct Marketing Advertising Through Specialties & Premiums

In launching your email marketing campaign, you may consider offering a specialty or premium. Examples of advertising specialties are caps, shirts, coffee mugs, pens, key chains, and other novelty items. You can also offer a free downloadable ebook along with your marketing email.

What about premiums? A premium can be a significant discount such as 50% off from a purchase or a free item of the customer’s choice for every purchase of a product from your shop. It can also be a gift certificate which can be used from an affiliate shop or diner. Again, offering an advertising premium encourages the recipient to actually place an order or make the purchase in order to claim the incentive. This is a great technique to increase sales using direct marketing advertising although it does involve a higher marketing budget.

These special promotions can be sent to a few selected recipients. For instance, you may offer these incentives for customers who have made a purchase from your shop within the past month or the past year.

About the Author

Luie De Von is a marketing consultant with Easy Postcard Marketing and has been providing consumers and business owners with marketing strategies. For years he has helped businesses to have more and growing clients through campaign internet marketing, direct marketing advertising and post card marketing.