Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?...

Hi All

I keep on getting emails from VistaPrint offering all sorts of 'free' stationery where you just pay the postage, such as free fridge magnets, free branded post-it notes and so on and so forth.

Have resisted the temptation so far, but I wondered what people think in general about branded stationery and other small items that you can give away to clients.

Do you think these are useful or just a bit of a gimmick. I doubt, for instance, that anyone has ever chosen a provider on the back of getting a free set of post-it notes from them, but I guess you never know.

Interested to hear what you think

Thomas

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

Hi Thomas

It's something I've considered but never had created - I don't think branded stationery or 'free gifts' would sway me one way or the other on whose services to engage...

Dan
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Web Design

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

For me, branded stationary is part of a professional look and feel you want to convey to your clients. You do not want to look like an amateur. It shows that you take projects seriously. It's part of the toolkit of doing marketing on a shoestring.

Free gifts need to be relevant to your audiance and if you decide to invest, they need to stand out from the crowd. Also, it needs to be obvious what it is. I remember a while ago that I received one of these free gifts and I still do not know how to use it and for what which means that you need to think carefully. Therefore, things like magnets, mousemats, etc are not doing it for me.
Ingrid

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

Hi Thomas

I would say 'yes' to having your stationery branded in the sense of compliments slips and headed notepaper etc, but I think free gifts are much more of a nice to have than something you need.

Lianne

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

I honestly don't think I would think less of a company that didn't use branded stationery - unless of course they were a stationery company or something related to that!

Stephen

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

Hi I think branded stationary is a good idea, but use it with care

1Plan carefully Make sure the design is attractive, clear to read and gives the correct information. You would be amazed at how many illegible, badly spelled cards adverts letterheads I have to deal with in my job with Goodprint. Dont use wacky designs unless you are sure they will work for your product/ service (humour similarly)

2 If you are mailshotting research your market first - are there competitors doing the same thing - is it the right time of year - are there events etc that you could link into that either raises your profile or focuses on your business? etc

3 Plan follow ups carefully

4 Use the best quality materials you can afford and try to avoid companies that put there own advertising on - it confuses your message

5 There is more information at http://www.goodprint.co.uk - if you want to try out some ideas use their simple designer templates



7 AT the moment you can get an amazing 50% DISCOUNT for business cards- simply type in FORUM50 in the discount code field in the order basket before clicking on checkout.
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Goodprint Ltd http//www.goodprint.co.uk Online business cards and instant matching letterheads, compliment slips and postcards. Design online or upload your own

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

Thanks for the information there Sue - is an online print business profitable to run?

Thanks

Thomas

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

HI Tom
Hopefully!!
The company is quite new and is now beginning to establish a very good reputation. Its taken alot of very focussed planning and and hard work to get it there! I think the main thing with a good business is to identify your strengths and play to them - then get good help for the rest!!
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Goodprint Ltd http//www.goodprint.co.uk Online business cards and instant matching letterheads, compliment slips and postcards. Design online or upload your own

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

Hi Sue

Certainly sounds like a solid strategy to me

By the way I think the URLs in your signature aren't quite formatted right at the moment...

Thomas

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

Thinking about it a little more logically, there does seem to be a fairly simple way of seeing if branded gifts work for you:

Run a mailing campaign with only one variable: in half the information packs or adverts you send out, include a 'freebie', in the other half don't include the freebie.

See what the difference in enquiry rate is, and if the excess income from the branded stationery set of adverts outweighs the cost of production of those goods, then you have found a cost effective way of making your marketing more effective

Stephen

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

I love freebies; one of the best things about going to shows, fairs and exhibitions is going round and picking up all the freebies, you can get some really good stuff that way!

Now whether it actually helps a company make money is a different question

Tim

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

Just checked back and seen this post has drawn a lot of comments - perhaps that in itself suggests a good reason to get some branded stationery made - a good talking point!

Lianne

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

Thomas
Thanks for letting me know about that - can do the design and enjoying the forum, but the web signatures and linking is all a bit new to me - not my forte!!
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Goodprint Ltd http//www.goodprint.co.uk Online business cards and instant matching letterheads, compliment slips and postcards. Design online or upload your own

Re : Is branded stationery a good marketing tool?

Sue

If you need help getting the link active in your signature let me know!

Dan
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Web Design