What if you could get a customer to think about your business every time they check the date, extend a deadline, or pencil in a vacation? What if you were nearly guaranteed they would keep your promotional item for an entire year? Calendars are used as reference points almost every day, both at home and at the office. From oversized desk calendars to portable pocket planners, there are many cost-effective options clients will love. Not to mention, a calendar’s low cost-per-impression makes it a budget-friendly option for any brand.
Forget boring calendars with nothing but your logo and bland rows of dated squares. Custom calendars offer the perfect opportunity to promote your products and services on a daily basis. For example, use icons and images to highlight sales, discounts, and events. If you sell seasonal products, include seasonal checklists on the calendar. Remember, the goal is to help your customers think about what they need and to tell them you can provide it. If you’re ready to boost brand recognition with creative calendar marketing, we have six ideas that will help you stand out.
#1 Product Photos
Make your product the focal point. As you design your promotional calendar, add at least one product photo. Keep in mind when choosing your photo, calendars are put up for everyone to see, so design one you would want to hang up in your home or office. It’s also a good idea to invest in hiring a professional photographer to make sure your products shine. Lifestyle images can be a great way to showcase your products and services in a calendar.
#2 Promote Your Events
Many calendars include pre-printed holidays such as Thanksgiving, Halloween, or Valentine’s Day. Creating your own calendar means you can highlight your own company events or days of interest. While this would require you to plan at least a year in advance, most businesses plan large-scale events far ahead anyway. If you already have an event on the books, you might as well include it in your calendar marketing.
#3 Customer Submissions
Thirdly, if you want to get your customers more engaged with your brand, customer calendar submissions are a great idea. Ask your customers to submit photos of themselves with your products or using your services. With their photo submission, have them include details on how your product has impacted their lives. You’ll be creating an opportunity to build relationships with your community, and customers will be excited by the chance to be featured on your calendars for everyone to see.
#4 Inspirational Calendars
Use your calendar to motivate your customers. Let your words create an impact with your customers and associate your brand with positivity. Include quotes that inspire your customers to better themselves, to get up every morning and face the challenges of a new day. Make sure to choose quotes close to your business and ideals to show everyone what your company stands for.
#5 Throwback Calendars
Throwback Thursday is a popular hashtag for a reason, people love nostalgia. Throwback calendars are your chance to feature old company photos. Give customers a peek into the past, and they might see your business in a new light. Use these photos to highlight your credibility and staying power. In addition, if your company has been in business for years, or even decades, customers will get the chance to see how much you have evolved in that timeframe, and they will be enticed to keep doing business with you in the future.
#6 Company Calendars
Your don’t have to hand out promotional calendars to customers; you can also print them for your employees. Fill your company calendar with photos commemorating company events, key accomplishments, or other special moments captured in the past year. Employees will be happy to look back on their accomplishments and excited to see where they might be featured.
When it comes to calendar marketing, think outside the box. Give your audience an aesthetically pleasing and useful calendar that has value, and you’ll boost brand recognition and your return on investment. Offer your promotional calendars as in-store giveaways, send them in the mail to people in your neighborhood, or pass them out at your next business function.
Calendar marketing is one of the best ways to boost brand recognition and gather leads or make sales. Let Safeguard help you take advantage of calendar marketing (U.S.) (Canada) to optimize your response. Contact your Safeguard Advisor to get started at 855.778.3124.