USB Memory Sticks - Is There Any Promotional Value Left?
In the last couple years, USB memory sticks have become an essential tool for every frequent computer user.
Like the floppy disk before it, USB memory sticks (or flash drives) are portable access to all your important files and information.
With capacities up to 16GB available now (more than the available space on my laptop right now), they are like mini hard drives.
But is there still promotional value in the stick? Some may argue that there are so many promotional notepads, pens and rulers around that corporate gifts have lost their impact.
I don't agree.
Who doesn't like receiving a gift? It's great to feel that someone thought of you even if the gift is small.
When looking for a promotional item, you ideally want something that your client or prospect would use daily.
Studies have shown that the majority of prospects recall the names of the companies on the items that they use regularly.
They are also more likely to do business with those companies.
If your website address is printed on the USB stick, your client will be reminded of your presence every time they pop the stick into their USB port.
Is the memory stick worth the additional cost? Yes.
The USB memory stick is a little bit special.
You can preload the memory stick with software that would be useful to your client or prospect.
Or you can include a sales presentation created in Flash or even a catalogue in PDF form with links to your website.
This information can load every time your prospect uses the drive.
In case they might find that annoying, I always recommend including the information in a locked partition of the drive instead of using the autorun.
A small disadvantage is that some prospects are no longer "wowed" by the memory stick.
If they have been to a trade show, they have been almost certainly handed one or two.
One way around this is to use USB shapes and colours that are not the norm.
You can even have a custom mould created which could increase the drive's chance of being used.
Every business, especially a small business, needs everything marketing advantage they can get.
Promotional items such as USB memory sticks are the perfect way to increase awareness of your business or to say thank you to a client.
Like the floppy disk before it, USB memory sticks (or flash drives) are portable access to all your important files and information.
With capacities up to 16GB available now (more than the available space on my laptop right now), they are like mini hard drives.
But is there still promotional value in the stick? Some may argue that there are so many promotional notepads, pens and rulers around that corporate gifts have lost their impact.
I don't agree.
Who doesn't like receiving a gift? It's great to feel that someone thought of you even if the gift is small.
When looking for a promotional item, you ideally want something that your client or prospect would use daily.
Studies have shown that the majority of prospects recall the names of the companies on the items that they use regularly.
They are also more likely to do business with those companies.
If your website address is printed on the USB stick, your client will be reminded of your presence every time they pop the stick into their USB port.
Is the memory stick worth the additional cost? Yes.
The USB memory stick is a little bit special.
You can preload the memory stick with software that would be useful to your client or prospect.
Or you can include a sales presentation created in Flash or even a catalogue in PDF form with links to your website.
This information can load every time your prospect uses the drive.
In case they might find that annoying, I always recommend including the information in a locked partition of the drive instead of using the autorun.
A small disadvantage is that some prospects are no longer "wowed" by the memory stick.
If they have been to a trade show, they have been almost certainly handed one or two.
One way around this is to use USB shapes and colours that are not the norm.
You can even have a custom mould created which could increase the drive's chance of being used.
Every business, especially a small business, needs everything marketing advantage they can get.
Promotional items such as USB memory sticks are the perfect way to increase awareness of your business or to say thank you to a client.
Source...