Custom pens, mugs, magnets, t-shirts, or post-its — we were all offered a few during conferences, at local stores or at the bank. While giving away promotional items to your prospects is still proven to be effective, we’ll focus on reasons why giving imprinted items to your team members is awesome for your brand.

Adam Nash, who orders shirts for LinkedIn, writes that “You’d be shocked at what a $200 per person per year budget for t-shirts will do for employee morale comparatively.”

Let’s break it down further.

1. Your team consists of your best brand ambassadors
   You wouldn’t think for a second NOT to give a t-shirt or other swag to one of your best customers. You might forget that your team members are your BEST ambassadors, who can explain your offerings more accurately, more passionately, and in more detail than any other. Additionally, by using branded promotional products employees are showing that they’re proud to be working for the company!
2. Your team will feel united
   By carrying/using the same items with your logo, employees will feel united. (Remember those college frat shirts? That sense of unity is very powerful.) Whatever your company’s mission statement, all employees strive to achieve it and by using the same promo items, they’ll feel that they’re in it together and work harder!
3. Spreading the word
   By carrying a water bottle with your logo or walking in a company t-shirt, they’ll encounter questions from their friends and others about the company – what does it do, etc. This can lead to more business or even business development deals! Often times, coffee tumblers or pens end up with family members, stretching the reach of promotional gifts.
4. Your team will feel appreciated
   Sure, spending $15 on a nice water bottle is not a big deal, but isn’t it awesome to receive one from your employer?! And when pricing in bulk, custom bottles can be offered even cheaper. As a result, the team will be more motivated to work harder!
5. Mark important company events with promotional items
   CEO of Zappos.com, Tony Shieh, mentioned in his book, “Delivering Happiness,” that whenever they reach $1 million in sales for a new vendor, they send them a bunch of shirts which say “We sold $1 million worth of shoes/clothes at Zappos.com.”
   Tech start-ups and established companies, such as LinkedIn and Google, celebrate new feature or product launches with newly designed t-shirts. It becomes an exclusive — you had to be there to get one! Other swag is also common, such as Android Stickers, Google “+1” pins, or Google Maps coasters. What tradition will work well for your business?

All in all, feelings of unity and appreciation will lead to happier employees, and you know it pays-off ten-fold in productivity!