As the saying goes, “If you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. If you give him a t-shirt, he’ll advertise your business for a lifetime.” That’s how it goes, right?
We don’t have a PHd in psychology, so we can’t explain the science behind it, but there is something in the human brain that can’t resist wearing a free t-shirt. When you are deciding the most effective way to spend a marketing budget, you really can’t lose with custom apparel products. Your target market will change the channel when your commercial comes on. Your billboard will be a blur to people driving by. Your mail marketing will just be used for scrap paper. But slap your logo on a customized apparel item, and your clients will happily give your free advertisement when they use it for years to come. If you are interested in gaining business with customized apparel products, here are a few tips for getting the most bang for your buck:
Four Tips for Making the Most of Your Marketing Budget With Customized Apparel
- Be Catchy.
We know you love your logo. We love it too. However, if you want to incentivize people to become walking billboards with your customized apparel, you need to give them a reason too. Make sure your design is visually attractive; your clients are going to be more likely to wear your custom printed t-shirts if they feel more attractive. If you are adding words, consider a catchy slogan that really amps up your brand. Think of Taco Bell’s “Think Outside the Bun” or Chipotle’s “Food With Integrity.” Those are either great slogans to throw on a shirt, or we just have a hankering for a burrito.
Being catchy isn’t just important for encouraging your clients to wear your customized apparel. The more clever you are with your custom shirts, the more likely it will stand out to people who see it. You want people to look at your custom apparel and think, “Hm… That’s clever. And I want a burrito.” That example works best if you sell burritos. - Use Quality.
When your name is attached to a custom t-shirt, it represents your product or service. Even though your business probably isn’t making custom t-shirts, if your logo is on a custom t-shirt that is of poor quality, or the cheap vinyl is pealing off, the message it sends to the general public is, “Hey, I use cheap products and cut corners on my personalized apparel, the product or service I offer is equally low quality.” Once you’re paying for a bulk order of customized apparel, it doesn’t cost a whole lot more get screen printing and embroidery products that say, “Hey, when you use our business, you get the red carpet experience.”
The other benefit of using good quality products when your putting your logo on something is that your clients are more likely to wear them frequently and for longer. When you slap your name on a cheap t-shirt that develops holes and fades quickly, it will inevitably become a rag to wash the car with. That reaches zero potential clients. - Put Your Logo on Kid’s Apparel.
Everyone has kids. All kids have to wear clothes. Putting your logo on a child’s clothing item is a novel way in increase your exposure. Perhaps your clientele is to stylish to be seen wearing a free t-shirt. However, every parent loves getting free clothing they can throw on their child. - Be Relevant.
The point of putting your logo on an item is to develop your brand and reach new clients. Like selling ice to Eskimos, if your swag is not relevant to the people you give it to, it will not be seen by other potential clients. Consider personalizing sunglasses in the summertime. Maybe throw your logo on a jacket when the temperatures start dipping. If your target market are professionals, consider more professional-looking apparel. If you’re going for young, hip college kids, customize “cooler” clothing. Just avoid the fanny pack. No one wants a fanny pack.
What is the best piece of swag you’ve ever received? What made you love it? We want to hear in the comment section below.
