So you have a good group of loyal customers. They all know where to go when they require your products and services. You have been sending them promotional products over the years to ensure that they do. You have even sent the odd executive gift to show your appreciation for their continued businesses and loyalty. Where do you go from there?
There are few better advertisements than those that come direct from your customers’ mouths. If you offer an exceptional service and/or product than it pays to encourage your army of satisfied customers to tell other people about you.
One way to get this word of mouth advertising underway is to actively encourage your clients to tell their work colleagues and friends – anyone who will be interested – about your business.
Using promotional products and is an excellent way to do this. Your existing customers are a gold mine for attracting new customers. By using direct mail offers and incentive programs you can harness this marketing power and reach new heights.
A 2005 study by the by the faculty at Louisianna State University showed that as many as 500% more referrals were received from a group of people who received a letter asking for their referral together with a promotional item and eligibility in a sweepstakes than another group who were sent a letter alone. That is some finding and it is definitely worth strong consideration.
I could regurgitate interesting studies all day but I prefer to tell you how actual customers have used promotional products to get referrals.
One customer sent a letter out to his customers asking for testimonials for his website. He wanted his clients to help promote his business. He actually went so far as to say that they would receive a Parker Vector Steel rollerball/ballpen gift set just for writing a paragraph about his products and services regardless of whether the review was good or bad.
How is that for gutsy.
He received over 150 replies from his mailshot which gave him an amazing testimonial page – the likes of which would have been admired and envied by his competitors.
Another client gave away free promotional gift sets including a t-shirt, Senator Pen and a fabric mouse mat to each of his customers who ‘liked’ his Facebook page and encouraged a friend or work colleague to do the same.
I think you get the idea here. There are so many promotional products on the market that people will enjoy receiving and want to own. Why not try it out or yourself. You only need to purchase as many products as you receive referrals.
Isn’t a new customer worth the couple of pounds you may be spending on promotional merchandise?
By Dan Toombs
Tags: business gifts, promotional gifts for clients, promotional items, referral gifts