10 Types of Emotions Promotional Products Can Evoke

Advertising is a notoriously difficult game to master. Ads need to be entertaining, informative, and memorable, while simultaneously raising brand awareness. Achieving all these things is no easy feat, especially for a brief 10-second clip customers are likely to forget as soon as it ends. 

In contrast, promotional products are a far more effective marketing medium. They’re a real, tangible piece of advertising customers can interact with and use in their everyday lives. 

But promotional products don’t just capture customers’ attention. They have a unique power to evoke a whole slew of emotions like happiness, comfort, relief, joy, and many more. These positive experiences all contribute to the attachment customers form with a company and motivate them to stay loyal to the brand. 

So, for companies that are still sceptical about the power of promotional products, here is a complete breakdown of how they work, and why they’re so effective—including the 10 types of emotions promotional products can evoke. 

Benefits of Promotional Products

When it comes to the world of advertisement, a good ad has the power to make or break a company. However, that doesn’t mean a 10-second ad is the best way to raise brand awareness. In fact, in today’s oversaturated market, a classic pop-up may be the least effective way to get customers interested in a business. 

Recent surveys suggest that over 74% of people dislike social media ads. They think there are too many of them, that they’re too intrusive, and that they ruin the user experience. And in a world where the customer’s feelings are the key to success, advertisements that directly put them off a brand aren’t a good way to market a company.  

This is why promotional products are the superior way to raise brand awareness. For one, by their very nature, they aren’t intrusive. Customers are more likely to approach a brand and engage with it in order to get a free product. Therefore, they get to choose which kind of advertising they will interact with, which is incredibly important when it comes to fostering positive feelings for a brand. 

Secondly, promotional products are useful. They are items that customers can touch and use in their day-to-day life. And of course, they’re completely free, which is something all customers appreciate, especially when deciding which brand is worth their money.  

Lastly, they have immense staying power. Once a customer gets a promotional product, they’re likely to keep them for years to come. This, in turn, gives the company continuous exposure at no additional cost. It’s a win-win on all sides!

10 Types of Emotions Promotional Products Can Evoke

As we have mentioned, promotional products aren’t just useful. They’re a very unique advertising medium because of the myriad of positive emotions they can inspire in a customer. 

1. Amusement 

Good promotional products are first and foremost entertaining. An engaging puzzle, a stylish T-shirt with a funny slogan on it, or a goofy hat all have the power to reel in customers and put a smile on their faces. And the happier a brand makes a customer, the higher the chance that they’ll do business with it again in the future. 

2. Delight

Apart from entertainment, a good promo product can also bring pleasure to customers. Now, this is a tricky emotion to evoke since tastes vary from person to person. However, if a brand chooses something that is universally appealing to all ages and demographics, then they’re likely to see their success skyrocket. Some of the best examples of universally beloved products include T-shirts, mugs, backpacks, or even earphones.

3. Excitement

One of the biggest signs a brand has succeeded is if it generates enthusiasm amongst its customers. The best way to do this is to pay attention to the latest trends that draw customers in. For example, handing out more high-end promotional products like wireless earbuds or Bluetooth speakers will always generate buzz since they’re of a higher value. Plus, it will boost a company’s reputation, since customers are always excited to do repeat business with a brand that offers higher value products.

4. Joy  

Joy is one of the most complex human emotions people can experience. Similarly to delight, joy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. However, while delight is temporary, joy can linger for years, and significantly influence people’s lives. Therefore, promotional products that inspire joy are some of the most valuable items a brand can give—and they’re surprisingly not hard to come up with! 

For example, a joyful promotional product is something that’s tied to an event that’s near and dear to a customer’s heart. Such occasions range from holidays like Easter or Christmas to important life events like birthdays or anniversaries. 

And most importantly, joyful promotional products make customers feel like a brand sees them as people, not just sources of income.

5. Surprise 

The best way to get customers to remember a brand is to surprise them. Unexpected or random giveaways are one of the easiest ways a brand can foster a positive image and inspire customer loyalty. But gift-giving isn’t the only thing that can amaze customers. 

The kind of gift a company hands out can be just as surprising as the act of giving itself. A personalized M&M bag or mini desk humidifier is far more surprising than a standard T-shirt or promotional mug. Plus, it also establishes a brand as an innovative trailblazer that customers can count on to come up with something new and exciting in the future. 

6. Amazement 

Amazement and surprise go hand in hand. However, amazement is a bit more complex and can have a much more lasting impact on customers. So, if a brand wants to stand out amongst the competition, its best bet is to try to amaze its customers. 

A simple way to achieve this is to give out truly unique promotional products. Some good options include things like reusable metal straws or mini phone fans. But it can also involve putting more effort into the campaign, like personalizing the products to the customer’s unique tastes. In an era where advertising is so impersonal, the best way for a brand to amazes its customers is to show they care. 

7. Relief

Relief isn’t a feeling most people associate with promotional products. However, it’s definitely something a good product can bring. In the UK alone, over 74% of adults reported feeling excessive stress and anxiety in the last year alone. Given how important mental health is for overall well-being, a company that can bring its customers relief is definitely going to stand out. 

The first step a brand can take is to learn about the causes of anxiety. Consequently, they can give away promotional products that provide relief, like medicinal balls, puzzles, or meditation guides. Alternatively, they can promote self-care amongst customers with products like promotional lip balms, hand creams, or hot-and-cold packs. These products may not seem exciting but they go a long way in showing a brand is invested in its customers’ mental and physical health. 

8. Satisfaction 

Satisfaction is characterized as the fulfillment of one’s wishes, expectations, or needs. And that is something a good promotional product can achieve in spades. A satisfying product is one that customers find useful, something that makes their life easier. However, it can also satisfy them on a more personal level. 

For example, a custom box of promotional chocolates will satisfy a customer’s craving, while also playing on their love of food. Alternatively, a good gym bag or custom metal water bottle will appeal to regular gym-goers or outdoorsy types. Overall, when crafting a good promotional campaign, brands should keep customer satisfaction in mind.

9. Passion 

Just like excitement, promotional products can inspire passion. Brands can use the love customers have for their favorite movie, sports team, or hobby to create themed promotional products. 

In addition, they can play up the passion their customers have for a particular cause. For example, the recent environmental crisis has prompted people to become more eco-conscious. A brand can easily capitalize on this movement, by handing out eco-friendly products like reusable tote bags or recycled plastic mugs. 

However, businesses should be careful not to jump on a cause bandwagon just for the sake of appearances. Instead, they should see it as an opportunity to prove to their customers that they are more than an emotionless, soulless brand. 

10. Attraction 

Just like amazement and surprise go hand-in-hand, so do passion and attraction. If a brand takes time to know its audience, then they’re guaranteed to draw them in for repeat business. 

For example, handing out tech gifts is a great way to attract a younger demographic. Meanwhile, older generations may find something simple more appealing. Researching the market, and segmenting gifts according to age, gender, profession, and so on, increases the chance that customers will be attracted to the brand. 

Final Thoughts

Advertisements get a bad rap for being annoying and pushy. However, companies that turn to promotional products for brand awareness can transform advertising into a positive experience. There are 10 types of emotions promotional products can evoke, and each one has the power to boost a brand’s public image, as well as influence people to become loyal customers for life.