To be honest, everyone has at least one water bottle either sitting on our desk or hanging on our purse. The worst part is that promotional drink bottles are small advertisements that travel everywhere people go, not only about satisfying thirst. You could find that logo or appealing statement you print on a bottle in the gym, in yoga class, on the metro, on a Sunday hike, or next to someone’s laptop at the co-working space. Using common items like drink bottles could be your ace in the hole in a scene where it is more difficult daily to stand out.
Numbers do not lie. The ASI Global Ad Impressions Study shows that 82% of those who get promotional items have a better opinion of the brand. More crazy is what you mean? Average two to three times a week usage is for drinkware. If your brand finds hands with someone that frequency, you are investing in repeated exposure rather than only purchasing a blank item.
This is when it becomes fascinating. Improvements in materials, printing technology, bottle design, and manufacturing mean you won’t have to compromise for ho-hum freebies. Each choice—stainless steel, BPA-free plastic, glass, collapsed silicone—fits different settings and uses. Does your audience usually go outside? On a climb, choose insulated metal bottles to keep water cold. Do your followers spend hours seated at a desk? Simple, elegant glass bottles suggest environmental sustainability and style.
One size does not usually fit all either. Think on the way people really utilize their water bottles. While some people desire slender bottles to fit into a small purse, others like large 1-liter jugs for all-day drinking. Pay close attention to features: leak-proof lids, carrying straps, built-in infusers, or large mouths for ice cube dumping. Though little, these useful details demonstrate consideration and help to make your gift the one people grab for daily.
Let’s get inventive. Branding should transcend just putting a logo on plastic. Organize a limited-edition run including locally produced art or an inside joke dear to your customer base. Think, “Refill, not landfill,” or “Stay cool, drink up,” and even a smart joke or strong color choice can make a typical giveaway interesting. This makes passive branding active in every day living.
Companies all over the map are picking up this approach. New member gifts from gyms are hard-as-nails shakers. At product introductions, tech entrepreneurs drop high-gloss bottles. Universities provide branded drinkware to graduates and students, therefore preserving their identity in hand— literally—over cities and continents.