Gift-giving reasons reported by companies include to thank customers, develop business, recognize employee performance and longevity, and because some customers expect them. Promotional products also can be used as accomplishment and recognition awards to certify organization membership and as attention-getters at promotional events and in mailings. Strengths of the Medium As a communications tool, promotional products have several key strengths. Although there's no way to measure how many exposures a promotional product enjoys in its lifetime, the lasting ability of promotional products makes them one the most cost-effective advertising media. Impact can be affected not only by a message and imprint design, but the object's size, value, shape, practicality, appropriateness, humor, personalization or artistic flair.
Promotional products are the only advertising with built-in ingratiation.
According to research conducted at Baylor University, promotional products improve customers attitudes and favorability toward companies and their representatives. By using promotional products as opposed to thank-you letters only, companies significantly enhance goodwill standings with customers and improve goodwill standings over competitors. Additionally, sales contests often are built on premium and recognition awards. Public service organizations give items to thank volunteers. Employees respond to recognition given from quality and safety programs.