Have you ever stopped and wondered why so many brands just give away custom tees? Sure, they turn whoever is wearing them into a walking, talking billboard, but are they really as effective as other marketing tactics? Why would a brand spend hundreds on custom tees when it could spend less on social media, or other, more modern marketing strategies?
The simple answer is because it works. Promotional items like custom tees are still highly effective ways to spread brand awareness.
The longer answer is because it works really well. Here’s how.
Promotional Items Are Incredibly Cost Efficient.
For many small brands, the cost per impression is the bottom line. These brands need something that will generate the most brand impressions for the least amount of money. They need a marketing strategy that will put their brand in front of the most people for less. Promotional items are, naturally, one of the most cost effective ways of generating impression. On average, branded tote bags and custom tees generate 1,000 impressions per dollar, and 200 impressions per dollar, respectively. So if a brand spends $100 making custom tees, they can expect 20,000 impressions to be made. Said another way, they can expect their brand to be seen 20,000 times.
People Like Promotional Items.
Another big reason why so many brands still give away free, promotional items is because they know people like them. In fact, 95% of people wear tee shirts, and 90% of Americans have a tee shirt that they refuse to throw away because it has sentimental value to them. If a brand gives a person something that they like, then that person will in turn like that brand.
Promotional Items Lead to Return Business.
People remember what brand gave them something for free, and are more likely to do business with that brand, believe it or not. In one study, 76.1% of respondents said that they could remember the name of a brand that had given them a promotional item in the past 12 months, while only 53% — barely half — could remember the name of a brand they’d seen on TV.
The appeal of customized apparel is undeniable. It’s why you find so many companies, businesses, and brands giving away cheap custom tee shirts at any event you go to, be it a networking social, a music festival, or a literary convention.
If you want to know more about the marketing power of cheap custom tees and items, feel free to ask in the comments. For more information see this.