Boost Your Sales: Engage All 5 Senses in Promotional Product Marketing

By Jim Hollis 

Promotional products are unique because they’re the only form of advertising that can engage all five senses. Sensory association plays an important role in forming positive memories for end-users. We’ve compiled a few tips on how you can steer your clients toward promotional products that tap into the sensory experience.

Sight: Capture Attention With Visual Appeal

Visuals are often the first touchpoint in any marketing strategy. Smartly incorporated colors, designs and packaging will significantly impact how end-users perceive products and will help your clients make a great first impression.

• Use Vibrant Colors: Choose colors that evoke emotions related to the product you’re pitching. For instance, green suggests eco-friendliness, blue is soothing and red conveys energy and excitement.
• Professional Design: Ensure that logos, fonts and imagery are clear and high-quality. Professional design also instills confidence and increases perceived value.
• Product Demos: Videos or 3D renderings showing products in action can captivate potential end-buyers and give them a clear idea of how the products you’re pitching work.

Example: If you’re selling eco-friendly tote bags, use earth tones and nature-inspired designs in your promotional materials to highlight sustainability.

Sound: Create a Lasting Impression

The most immersive promotional products usually incorporate sound to create a memorable experience.

• Incorporate Branded Sounds: Use jingles, sound effects or even a signature audio logo that plays when clients interact with your digital content.
• Product Sounds: Highlight products that have a unique sound, such as the click of a quality pen or the crisp pop of a well-made bottle opener. Also, some products are designed specifically to showcase premium sound, like Bluetooth speakers and karaoke machines.

Example: During in-person demos or virtual presentations, emphasize the satisfying sound of a product being used, such as the smooth zip of a custom backpack.

Touch: Build a Tangible Connection

Compared to traditional forms of advertising like TV ads and billboards, promo products have the tangible advantage of physical interaction, which can greatly influence purchasing decisions.

• Sample Distribution: Provide samples that customers can touch. Feeling the texture, weight and quality of the materials cannot be recreated while searching online.
• Tactile Marketing Materials: Use embossed business cards, textured packaging or other tactile elements in your marketing materials to create a more engaging experience.

Example: Distribute a variety of fabric swatches or product samples to allow customers to feel the difference in quality, especially for products like apparel or blankets.

Taste: Delight the Palate

The food gifts market is a growing promo sector – it was even a past ASI Product of the Year. Suggest your clients send branded treats to their target audience as a unique way to show they have great taste.

• Edible Promotions: Tell clients to incorporate edible products like branded chocolates, mints or snacks into their next campaign to create positive associations with their brand.
• Gourmet Add-Ons: Present a bundle with a more traditional product that pairs well with tasty treats.

Example: Your client can send a package that includes a branded mug along with a selection of branded teas or coffees. This creates a multi-sensory experience and encourages repeat use.

Smell: Evoke Emotions With Scents

Scent is closely linked to memory and emotion, making it a powerful (and often overlooked) marketing tool.

• Scented Products: Present products like candles, air fresheners or even scented pens, and remind clients these trigger emotional responses that strengthen brand recall.
• Scented Packaging: Suggest your client infuses their packaging with a subtle scent that aligns with their brand. A fresh citrus scent could suggest cleanliness and energy, while lavender could evoke calmness.

Example: Scented sachets can be a powerful part of a promotional package, where the fragrance is released as soon as the package is opened, creating an immediate and memorable impact.

By appealing to sight, sound, touch, taste and smell, your clients will create a multi-sensory experience that can’t be replicated with other forms of marketing and will resonate with their target audience. Start incorporating these sensory elements into your sales presentations and watch your profits grow.

Interested in learning more promo tips? Read our e-book, Strategies for Growing Your Promotional Products Business.