As a business person, if you’re going to a conference or trade show, you might just Google “promotional product” and then find some cheap solution. Maybe you’ll proof it online first. Then you’ll order it from goodness knows where and wait for it to show up.
When it does you’ll rip open the box with all the wild abandon of a child on Christmas morning and you’ll hold your breath. Just like that child you’ll be hoping it’s what you want and it’s as awesome as you thought it would be.
But business shouldn’t be about hoping and most of the promotional marketing companies are a lot less dependable than old St. Nick.
Promotional Marketing Companies Deliver More Than Just Promotional Products
Here’s why you really need to worry about who’s behind that promotional marketing company:
Some companies are about return relationships. Others sell in such large quantities, at such low price points, that they’re looking to bring new clients in all the time. They don’t care if you return or not. If they don’t care, they’re not going to put forth an effort to ensure what they’re providing is what you want and of good quality.
Your business is riding on them. Would you trust your business accounting to someone you Googled because they had the lowest price? Of course not. You’d look for referrals from people you know.
Don’t trust your marketing to a company you don’t have an address for. If you don’t see an address on their website, that’s probably because their warehouse is their bedroom closet.
Cheap companies have to cut costs somewhere. Do you know where? Is it their product? Will it break as your attendee is walking away? Some first impression that makes. Or is it their staff? Are they cutting costs by eliminating quality checks and placing that onus on you?
These are important thing to know. No business will continue to operate at a loss. They’re either cutting corners or they won’t be in business much longer.
Your promotional marketing company should be a partner, or an extension of your marketing team. You want them to be as interested in the outcome as you are, after all, your business is relying on them.
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