Ninja Selling Podcast Gift Giving With Clients - To Brand Or Not To Brand?
For the second time ever, Matt and Garrett meet face-to-face to record today's episode about gift giving, and how to use this as a way to build connection with your clients. Whether you're doling out mugs, water bottles, cutting boards, or knives themselves, our hosts talk about how to do this tastefully, have fun with the process, give the right gifts, and do it in such a way that clients do not feel bombarded with marketing material. It's a delicate balance, but Matt and Garrett are here to walk that fine line with us. They break down the difference between gifts versus paraphernalia, the right time to give out branded products versus more personalized items, and the intention behind your gifts.
Matt and Garrett discuss the idea of giving gifts that add value to people's lives, and the missed opportunity of providing branded moving boxes and supplies to clients. They caution against putting your information on day-to-day items as this can come on too strong, and encourage listeners to ask themselves whether their gift is related to marketing or simply a thank-you. You'll hear about branding items discreetly, and how to give gifts in a way that feels comfortable and personal to both you and your clients.
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Episode Highlights:
- Matt and Garrett record today's episode face-to-face!
- All about giving gifts (mugs, water bottles, cutting boards, coolers, etc.) with your name or logo on them
- If done properly, this can help build connection with clients
- You can have fun with this
- Gifts versus paraphernalia and marketing materials
- You can personalize gifts for your clients rather than giving them something with your name on it
- Giving branded marketing tools (t-shirts, hats, pens) as gifts can take away from the personal energy you're aiming for
- What you put on the products can also make a difference - if you put your name, phone number, and email versus a simple logo, it can feel like you are handing that person a billboard to advertise your business
- It comes down to intention
- Promotional materials at trade shows and community events should definitely include your name and information
- Garrett's example of an agent who gives moving boxes and supplies to clients - this is a great opportunity for branding
- Is your gift related to marketing or simply a thank-you?
- If it's a day-to-day item, think twice about putting your name on it
- They will remember who gave it to them, and including your information may be coming on too strong
- Brand things as much as you can, until you get to particular thank-you gifts or personal gestures
- If you are sending a personal note, avoid writing it on branded stationery
- If you feel uncomfortable about giving certain branded items, you probably shouldn't do it
- You can brand things in a discrete, classy way
Quotes:
"There's so many different approaches to how you're supposed to do this. What are you supposed to do? And some people are like, I feel so awkward about this. And then some people are like, But you've got to do something."
"There's a choice of you buying something with a logo on it - Someone buys a mug with Ninja Coaching on the side of it, that's their choice to have that mug. To say, Here's a mug with my logo on it, now turns into marketing."
"The minute that it's a marketing tool that was intended as a gift, now the energy is lost."
"When all of a sudden it has the name and the email address and the phone number that's now on the item - you gave me a billboard. You gave me a marketing piece to make your business better."
"Anything that's delivering value to somebody as it relates to real estate, you want to have your information on."
"Alright, so I'm going to give you boxes, as your realtor. And by the way, here's a thing of tape. And here's...labels and stuff for the boxes, and here's pens. If you want to brand all of that stuff, go for it. Have at it. That's the stuff that people are going to keep around."
"I love moving boxes, I think they are fantastic. This is a very old school idea that a lot of people don't do. And it is a big missed opportunity, I think. This is a product that adds value. It's not a gift. It is a gift in a way, but it's helping somebody do something."
"There's the right times and the wrong times. And I think for most people, you just need to take a look, and again, go, Is this marketing for me? Or is it a thank-you? If it's a thank-you, let it just be a thank-you."
"They're going to remember who gave it to them. So I don't think you have to worry about your information on things that people are going to use often, use frequently."
"If you feel uncomfortable about it, then probably don't do it. If you're totally comfortable with it, then go for it."
"I see great moments for the right type of marketing and the right type of thank-you. And when you cross the line or you miss the opportunity, again, you can't really get that opportunity back."
"The discrete placement of things, I think is a nice, classy way to do it."
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