To be completely honest with you, getting people to notice your company is incredibly difficult in the present day; everyone is trying to compete for people's attention on social media, search engines, and basically everywhere in between. You run ads, you create and post all sorts of content, and your message is still getting lost in all the noise. It's frustrating, but the good news is, there is a simple, old-fashioned solution that most people would be surprised still works. I'm referring to custom wristbands. These bands will not sit in a drawer or be thrown away after five-minutes; people will actually wear them. And with each wear, your brand will be seen. That is not just advertising; your brand will be getting free, continuous exposure for a long time.
Recall the most recent promotional item or freebie you received at a trade show or event. Was it a pen? A keychain? What's happened to it? If you are among the majority, you've probably lost it or thrown it away not long after. Custom wristbands stand out. Research shows that 83% of people keep promotional products for a year or more, and each item generally garners 5,000 impressions over its lifespan. That means a single wristband can keep your brand in the spotlight for months, and in front of potentially thousands of people. Compare that to a social media ad that people scroll past in a fraction of a second. The difference is incomparable.
Novelty wristbands draw attention to your business. They advertise your logo as the custom bands are worn while shopping, exercising, or just grabbing coffee. It's easy to market your business as these bands draw inquiries. People notice and your brand recognition elevates via the leading source of advertising: word of mouth.
Novelty wristbands also come with an affordable price tag. This is especially true for large orders. They are substantially cheaper than traditional advertising. They cost advertising pennies and offer an extremely expansive reach that lasts months. This is perfect for budgets for small businesses, non profits and startups. This marketing effort doesn't leave the public outreach. Custom wristbands are an excellent option for continued brand recognition. People have and will continue to wear these wristbands. Vibbon is the manufacturer for custom wristbands that are promoted by large corporations like Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, McDonald's. This helps build trust as they are likely competing for the same audience.
Marketers always forget to mention this. People do not just custom design wristbands to support a business. They enjoy it for the feeling of belonging it offers. Custom design wristbands foster the sentiment of community and the feeling of being exclusive. It's a signal of 'I've supported this group. I have attended this event. I have supported this cause.'
With custom design wristbands, you have the power to not only provide a customer with merchandise for free, but you also have the opportunity to welcome them into the community. They will automatically become a brand ambassador. They will wear the merchandise that represents your brand with pride. They will have conversations about the brand with other people. They will become emotionally attached to your company's mission. That is the emotional attachment that you want and it is not something that you will be able to purchase through advertisements. It is something that has to be earned, and custom design wristbands will be one of the easiest and best options to establish that emotional attachment.
One of the best things about custom design wristbands is how flexible they are. You are not stuck with one boring design. You can choose from silicone, fabric, plastic, or Tyvek depending on your needs and your budget. Silicone wristbands are soft, stretchy, and durable. They would be great for a long term brand loyalty campaign and they will appeal to a large group of consumers. Fabric wristbands offer a more premium feel and can be woven or sublimated with photo quality logos. For single day events where you want to control access and track people, plastic and Tyvek bands are perfect.
You can customize the color to exactly match your brand specifications. You can even go as far as to add your logo or your slogan, a QR code, and an RFID chip for cashless payment options at festivals. You have the option to choose debossed, embossed, color filled, or printed designs. Vibbon puts forth the most options for wristband customization including Pantone color matching. Your wristbands can be as unique as your brand.
Most promotional products can be more than just a product.
With a personalized wristband, your client is going to be a walking advertisement. Depending on the market for your custom wristbands, they may even be able to take your brand global. They may be sporting your wristband at a gym, at work or even at a party. And the best part is all of this advertising comes at no extra cost to you. You only foot the purchase cost of the wristband and every impression the wristband makes for weeks or even months down the line.
This is especially beneficial for events and fundraisers. When you give custom wristbands for a charitable walk or at a music festival, they wear the wristbands to the events, which only helps advertising. They may wear the custom wristband to other events like social gatherings, helping advertise even more. Your brand even gets an extra peak every time the custom wristband is pulled out to be worn again at an event.
For your custom wristbands to be effective, don't just put your logo on a standard band. Give the design some consideration. Think about the brand colors you want to use. The message should be brief but impactful. There is limited space on a wristband, so use it wisely. A QR code leading to your website or a promotion is a great addition. This converts just about every wristband you distribute. Use the correct material for your purpose. Silicone bands are for long term use, sure. Tyvek is for single day use, and for a more premium feel, go with fabric. Use the right material and it will be best for festivals or conferences.
Custom wristbands are one of the best underused marketing tools. Not only are they affordable and effective but also desirable. When your customers wear your custom wristbands, they become your brand ambassadors. If you want to make your social media marketing less like shouting into a void, custom wristbands are a great place to start.
