3 Ways to Turn Promotional Products into Conversation Starters (and Why My Husband is a Lucky Guy)

My husband is a lucky guy. Whenever he needs a random item such as a lanyard, keytag, etc., he doesn’t have to go to a store. He just has to ask, “Heidi, do you have a ______ I can have?” Ah, the advantages of being married to me.

On one recent occasion, he asked me for a sturdier lanyard for some transit passes. Luckily, I have a bunch from my primary lanyard supplier (see which one he got here). It was a random sample that had been imprinted for legendary Big East conference sports college Villanova University. So he starts sportin’ the new lanyard. And he got a little more than just utility from it…

People on the train and at work stopped him with comments like these: “What year did you graduate?” “I’m an alum, too!” “So you’re a ‘Nova fan?” He was a little confused at first because he certainly is not a grad of Villanova and definitely not an NCAA basketball fan. He was inadvertently starting a conversation by merely displaying the logo and name of a brand that made an instant connection with some of his “audience.”

Yes, friends, promotional products have the power to be quick and easy conversation starters for your brand. Here are some suggestions to boost the conversation factor:

Go Bold. The Villanova lanyard my husband was using was an almost neon royal blue. Definitely eye catching. And with a big, bright white imprint, it really stood out. Make your message bold and easy to read for maximum attention.
Use on a Product that has Utility. Even if an item is big, bold and attention-getting, if it doesn’t have high utility, your message will still get stuck in a drawer somewhere. Choose an item they’ll really use.
Use on a Product that is Worn or Used in Public. No matter what the environment, people love to watch other people. So if your promotional product is one that people want to wear because it’s stylish or useful, the more likely that your message will be worn and seen. T-shirts, lanyards, unusual or attention-getting buttons, hats, tote bags or backpacks that are attention-getting, but highly usable, all qualify.