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Trade show marketing is a $12 billion industry in the United States, and for good reason. Trade shows give marketers the critical opportunity to engage in face-to-face conversations with potential clients, which can help them build their network.

That said, there can also be a lot of noise at trade shows. If you don’t work to differentiate yourself from your competitors, it can be challenging to attract the attention of attendees.

After receiving a promotional item, over half of people have conducted business with the company advertised on the product. Cool promotional items have the ability to, literally, put your business in the customer’s hands.

We’re all familiar with impractical stress balls and various other products you receive at trade shows. Take promotional products to the next level and impress potential customers.

Did you know that trade show giveaways make your potential customers 20 percent more likely to spread the word about your product or business? It's true!

According to the Journal of Marketing Research, consumers who receive freebies are significantly more likely to talk with others about the brand.

Whether you’re thinking pens, lanyards or caps, promotional giveaways may sound decidedly old school. But here’s the thing – your customers actually prefer them to any other form of advertisement.

A recent study showed that had received a promotional pen in the last year. At an equivalent rate of just 1/10 of a US cent per impression, they rank as the best value promotional giveaway.

Gift-giving is a great way to show gratitude to your clients and be a more memorable vendor. But it’s all about finding the right gift. Many a branded pen or stress ball has been tossed aside without use, and without thinking of the giver. If you’re shopping around, here are a few corporate gift items your clients will actually use and enjoy.

Since USB drives are in such high demand and always seem to be the object of unfortunate misplacement, why not take the opportunity to make a lasting impression on the people of Canada? Whether you’re showing appreciation for employees’ long hours of dedication or spreading your business’ name to prospective clients, branded wooden USB drives make for handy gifts.

In line with the growing environmental awareness movement, wooden USB drives also make an eco-friendly statement. The public happens to take notice of businesses’ efforts to go green, so this particular option could say a great deal about your company in this regard.

The average person will lose about 400 pens in their lifetime. While you might think this might create a demand for your custom promotional pens, you could just be throwing money down the drain. This makes it challenging for companies to conceive of custom promotional products that will add value to your brand while staying with customers. Your other enemy in this struggle is the cost of promotional products.

You want to keep the price of your promo products low, while still giving quality items to your clients or potential clients.

Marketing is changing at a nearly exponential rate. Direct mail marketing has been declining for years as a result of the digital economy boom. Email marketing is in a state of constant flux, with more readers opening messages but less clicking-through. Custom items are an excellent way to get your customers excited about your marketing messages.

To help you learn more about how to take advantage of this trend, here are 7 custom items for your next marketing campaign.

Branded merchandise is a sure-fire way to market to local clientele.

First, people love free stuff. It makes them feel appreciated and valued.

Second, branded merchandise is easy to pass around. If one person doesn’t want it, they pass it to someone who does. Regardless, both people become aware of your brand.

This form of branding is taking the marketing world by storm. It is changing how marketers approach appealing to and engaging target audiences.

In this digital age, are traditional marketing tactics at risk of going extinct?

No. Traditional marketing helps digital marketing

Sure, social media campaigns, content marketing, and SEO are important. Just make sure your marketing plan also includes promotional items people can hold in their hands.

Why?

Because it works.