| Every time you turn around there's someone on your | | | | money, so pens aren't really a cheap promotional |
| phone or doorstep, trying to sell you pens for you to | | | | item after all, are they? |
| use for promotional items. Every time they show up, | | | | Now, for lie number three. Yes, it's the big one! |
| you buy a few hundred or thousand, though more | | | | Because everyone gives pens away as promotional |
| than likely you have a storage closet somewhere | | | | items, you should too in order to compete. |
| that's full of them. | | | | Remember being in high school where everyone |
| That's because you've bought into lie number one: | | | | dressed the same way? Look back at your yearbook |
| Pens are a great way to easily promote your | | | | and you'll see that everyone pretty much looks the |
| business. The truth is a pen is good for branding your | | | | same. Only a few brave souls who dared to be |
| business, but it does little to promote your business. | | | | different stand out. |
| Why? | | | | Same thing with promotional pens. There are a |
| Because it doesn't do any real promoting! A pen with | | | | gazillion of them out there. And they all pretty much |
| your logo, name, address and phone number just tells | | | | look the same and say the same thing: logo, contact |
| people who you are. It does nothing to make them | | | | information and website URL. If you want your |
| want to use your company's product or service. | | | | promotional item to "wow" your customers and |
| Worse, it just lies around, waiting to be picked up | | | | potential customers, you won't do it with a pen, |
| and used-and mostly it will be used to make a | | | | most likely, unless it is one killer, expensive pen that |
| grocery list, not to find your company's name and | | | | does everything a cell phone can do. |
| address! | | | | The promotional arena is just saturated with |
| Lie number two is that pens are a great way to | | | | promotional pens. So break away from the herd! If |
| inexpensively market and promote your business. | | | | you feel you have to use a writing instrument as a |
| This isn't true, and that closet full of pens should be | | | | promotional item, look into buying some cool |
| proof enough. Yes, you can get fairly cheap | | | | mechanical pencils! |
| promotional pens, but you know what they really tell | | | | They're easily available and are far more effective |
| people about you? That you're cheap! | | | | for promoting your business than promotional pens |
| People aren't stupid. They know a cheap item from a | | | | for two reasons: 1) Not everyone else is giving them |
| more expensive one. And even though they will take | | | | away, so they're automatically different, and 2) (and |
| and even use your pen, they will not connect you to | | | | this is a secret!) people want them. Why? They're |
| quality. If you want a pen to do that, and you do or | | | | great for kids to use in school or to do homework. |
| why bother, you're going to have to buy more | | | | And help one of today's busy, overly zealous parents |
| expensive pens that show you're a class act all the | | | | out by giving them something little Jake or Jane can |
| way. This kind of promotional pen costs a great deal | | | | use, and I guarantee you'll be remembered-and |
| of money, so you won't get away, um, cheaply. | | | | better, called on for your product or service! |
| Quantity and/or quality will, either way, cost you | | | | |