A pen with a logo for your business? It’s not rocket science, but don’t let how easy it is deceive you. When someone gives you a pen with their company’s name on it, what do you do first? Twirl it, tap it, or put it in your bag? Maybe. But at some time, your eyes will go to that logo pens. Boom. Brand on your mind.
Let’s get real. Cheap, friendly, and oddly useful, bulk logo pens are great. It’s easy to give them out: throw them at trade exhibits, leave a few at the dentist’s office, or put a few in the mail. Pens go places. They hide in backpacks. They end up at your competitor’s office or the junk drawer of your neighbor. All of a sudden, your branding is making more stops than a delivery van. Your message gets shared around like a delicious piece of office gossip with just one click.
Have you ever looked through your drawer to find a pen? There it is: a pen with the logo of a firm you met once at a convention years ago. It still works. That’s advertising that works. That continuity is really smart. Pens endure a lot longer than most other promotional things. Food gets eaten, paper gets thrown away, but pens stay around.
But design is the secret ingredient. Put some ink on a plastic stick? Not worth remembering. But with the appropriate typeface, color scheme, or catchy phrase, even a regular pen might garner a second look. Consider barrels with unusual colors or finishes that feel velvety. Maybe some metal trim. Things that people want to hold, flip over, and utilize. A well-written pen is like a quiet handshake: polite, memorable, and a little personal.
Think about your audience. Are you giving these out at a tech event? You could add a QR code. Fair at the university? Choose bright colors and a lot of ink for long notes. At a lawyer’s office? Please provide me something that won’t smudge on legal papers.
Believe it or not, people collect pens. Some people have whole jars just for the branded ones. They tell each other stories about how far a lost pen has gone. That pen might end up in a different state, which could help your brand grow. One scribbling at a time, branding magic.
In this digital age, it’s easy to think of swag as old hat. Who needs a real pen when there are displays, applications, and email all over the place? But bring out a pen with your company’s name on it during a meeting. All of a sudden, you’re the one who planned ahead and is ready for anything, even a dead battery. Analog gets credit for being reliable.
Choose ink that glides when you order. Cheap pens won’t last long, in a literal sense. Ink blotches and scratchy points are like a sign for how little companies care. But if you do it well, you’ve given someone a new favorite. Their go-to. Their friend who helps them write notes.
Don’t ever think these small writing tools aren’t useful. Small in size, but they can carry messages, memories, and maybe even the next big thing. Keep them close by; they are the quiet champions of branding.