Promotional gifting is a great way to increase customer attention and interest in your business, however, times change and so does the way business is done. Below you will read about the newest ways to attract customers with promotional gifts that are far more affordable, and at the same time just as effective in attracting attention and penetrating the market.

Many companies choose to go with the true and tried method of typical promo gifts like writing instruments, mugs, photo-calendars and desk accessories, besides caps, magnets, key chains or food and wine baskets etc. But in order to make a deeper impact and stay in the customer mind besides encouraging new customers to join their base, business owners need to understand how new technology such as the Internet can be harnessed for penetrating a growing number of online purchasers.

This is one of the most powerful and still untapped (for conventional businesses anyway) avenues for marketers to pursue in the effort for establishing a larger customer base. E-mail lists are a good example of reaching out with a relevant business message that can be read by multiple customers, especially before a product or service launch. These are great for using as teaser-trailers, much like soon-to-be released movies show as e-mail formats now accommodate colorful, attractive and visually appealing characters, emoticons, music, voice messages and even videos for a powerful presentation that can also include a primary promotional gift, such as a discount when responding to a call-to-action button.

One can use this form of promotional advertising in regular rotation to a selected bulk mailing list that can also be purchased for a small fee from Internet marketing experts and integrate special offers, business promotion details for a contest where applicants will be eligible for free gifts if they refer a certain number of prospective clients. Alternately, business owners can choose to only send an offer or info about certain promo gifts to specific customers from their list and target remaining clients in future efforts to keep the expenses of promotional gifting low.

However, unless professional help is sought for making out the mailing list, business success is usually limited to one new client for every thousand mailers sent out. This low percentage can be depressing to learn, but savvy business owners today know the importance of online promotional ventures and investing in measurable advertising results.

It’s a matter of being ready for that change, maybe not leave the promotional gifts behind altogether, however, make sure that a mailing list is used in order to attract further clientele as that will take your business one step forward. By having a well organized website you can offer discounts that the client clicks on and it directs them to the website, where they are offered discount packages, as well as free gifts when a purchase is made. Instead of giving a free promotional gift, they must make a purchase to receive it, doubling your income.

To add to the effect you may combine the email with a postal mailer, which includes gifts that will not cost a lot to send but still have a great affect, like bumper stickers, post-it notes, and fridge magnets. This way you have an even greater effect on the customer.

Liz Logan is the manager of Phoenix Corporate Gifts. You can read more about her writing at Promotional Merchandise and don’t forget to check out the Corporate clothing.