An experimental study conducted by Georgia Southern University shows that recipients of promotional products have a significantly more positive image of a company than those who do not receive promotional products.

  The group receiving the promotional product was significantly more likely to recommend the business to others than the group that received nothing.

  Accompanying a request for referrals, an offer of a promotional product incentive or an offer of a promotional product incentive and eligibility in a sweepstakes drew as many as 500 percent more referrals than an appeal letter alone.

  A study by Southern Methodist University found that:

  New customers who receive promotional products, on average, return sooner and more frequently, and spend more money than new customers who receive coupons.

  The inclusion of a Promotional Product to a mail promotion increased the response rate by 50%.

  The use of Promotional Products as an incentive to respond generated four times as many responses as a sales letter alone.

  The use of a Promotional Product as an incentive to respond reduced the cost per response by two-thirds.

  View more study results below!

I was called upon to deliver a speech to a business group on one week's notice. Because it was an opportunity to gain new clients, I accepted. The speech was to include information on accounting which is outside of my specialty. I invited an accountant who I frequently refer my clients to and vice versa.

After reading Diane's tips, I understood the importance of getting promotional items in the hands of the audience which would provide a reminder of us in the weeks & months after the speech.

Unfortunately, because I wasn't given enough time to notify Diane to order our chosen promotion product, the dual-advertising piece for both my firm and the accountant's firm weren't ready until the day after the event.

Being the professional she is, Diane, free-of-charge, provided two sets of pens with each of our company's names and contact information on them. The accountant and I will be returning to speak to the group in a month at which time we will deliver the original promotional piece.

What impressed me most was how resourceful Diane was in a time of crisis. The temporary products were fantastic and the promotional products we now have are fantastic and have drawn oohs-and-aahs amongst our current clients.

What kept the cost down was cross-promoting with another company, something Diane helped coach us through. Thanks for your help and the wide array of products to choose from. -- Jamie Kahn - President, Four Peaks Planning, Inc.