Consumers have so much choice these days. As such, it’s becoming more and more imperative that brands find ways to mark themselves out from their competitors.
Some business trends that have been on the up in recent months have included a renewed focus on SEO, interactive content, and social media marketing. However, if you want to make an impact that lasts, you should consider giving your customers something that is of genuine value to them.
Enter: personalisation, the biggest up-and-coming trend that has the power to simultaneously improve customer experience and business revenue exponentially. You see, people want to shop with brands that can give them something that is tailored to them. Plenty of businesses are starting to offer exactly that. So, why would they want to spend their money elsewhere?
Personalised products have the potential to be particularly powerful for businesses that put them to good use. Offering individualised items that customers genuinely want, need, and are specific to them is something that can really turbocharge customer satisfaction. But, if that’s not enough to convince you, here are five more benefits that are sure to change your mind.
5 Big Benefits of Offering Personalised Products
1. Give Customers Their Perfect Products
Offering product personalisation isn’t just a perk. It also helps to solve a problem that a lot of consumers face: not being able to find the exact right items for their needs. Whether it’s a custom gift hamper for someone special or a homeware accessory that is designed to fit the spatial and colour scheme requirements of a person’s bedroom, personalised products can save your target audience hours of endless searching for a product that, in the end, isn’t quite right.
Find a way to use your promotional products to fill a gap in the market, and you’ll give your brand a USP that’s sure to attract more ideal consumers more quickly. That might sound a bit too good to be true. But, the stats can confirm that 80% of consumers are far more likely to make a purchase when a personalised experience is available to them.
So, take what you sell and introduce customisation options. In doing so, you help your valued customers to find the products that they really want, all the while boosting your brand’s image and sales. Businesses like Moonpig.com and Etsy have managed to hit the big time by putting personalised products front and centre, so what’s stopping you?
2. Catch the Eye of Passers-By
Another notable benefit of offering product personalisation is the fact that unique items are far more likely to catch the attention of an owner’s friends, family, or even people they pass by in the street. In other words, those sorts of products are instant conversation pieces and, therefore, can help to encourage word to spread about the business that made them happen.
Word of mouth marketing is extremely valuable and should not be underestimated. For one thing, people who first hear about your brand from, say, their friend’s glowing reviews are more likely to trust you from the outset. In fact, according to research carried out by Nielsen, a majority (92%) of consumers across the world trust recommendations from friends and family above all other forms of advertising.
Beyond helping you make a great first impression, word of mouth marketing is also one of the most cost-effective ways of expanding your brand’s reach. So, offer personalised products that are bold and attractive enough to draw people’s attention, and you could see a serious increase in your customer base and sales, all without having to channel any additional funds into your marketing strategy.
3. Eco-Friendly Is the Way Forward
As 90% of Australians grow increasingly concerned about environmental stability, it becomes particularly apparent that offering sustainable items and services will be a must for businesses hoping to survive far into the future. But, eco-friendly doesn’t have to mean boring and unattractive, and it certainly doesn’t have to mean that customers should compromise on what they want.
As such, personalised products for the eco-conscious are on the rise. Take, for example, our large, non-woven shopping bag. This recyclable tote is one of our top sellers, made as it is from recycled plastic and providing people with an easy way of reducing waste when they’re on the go. If that wasn’t enough, it can also be customised with branded logos and comes in a range of different colours, making it perfect for companies wanting to promote themselves.
Our customisable glass Karma Kups and range of double-walled, reusable drinks bottles are also popular with brands of all types. So, we know just how successful unique and eco-friendly products can be. Put them to good use in your way, by providing your ideal audiences with great personalisation options that suit their needs.
4. The Digital Age
It’s no secret that we live in a progressively digital age. And, if there’s anything the past 18 months has taught us, it’s that the online world is crucial in keeping day-to-day life running when times get tough. So, take advantage of the need people have for computers and smartphones by selling personalised accessories that make owning and operating those devices that much easier.
It could be something as simple as a pop grip for a phone or as convenient as an attention-grabbing USB flash drive. Either way, make sure there are several fun ways for people to make these everyday items their own. With more than 20.5 million smartphone users and many more computer owners in Australia in 2021, giving people an option to express themselves through their devices and related accessories could go a long way.
5. Raising Revenue
All of these points have their merit. But, ultimately, what it all comes down to is the fact that offering consumers the chance to purchase personalised products can raise your business’s revenue. Because, when you offer something more, you can charge more. It’s as simple as that.
According to research from Deloitte, 20% of customers are willing to pay more money for a personalised product. So, even though it’s a more expensive and lengthy process for your company, offering personalised products is all worth it when you can charge a premium that people are more than happy to spend on.
However, don’t go overboard and give your customers completely free reign. While choice is important, 42% of those who are interested in customised products would rather be led by the brand. So, give consumers some options to choose from rather than a blank canvas. You might end up turning away more people than you attract if you don’t give them a good enough jumping-off point.
Personalising Promotional Products for Your Valued Customers
While certainly not as simple as ordering products in bulk and flogging them for a profit, giving your customers the chance to order items that are unique and perfectly suited to their needs has enormous value. For them, it means that they can express their individuality in all that they do. For you, it means increased brand reach, stimulated sales, and an impressive boost to your revenue.
So, take some time to think about the products that you offer and consider how they could be customised. Ideally, you should provide options that retain the identifying features of a given product, while also allowing for a complete transformation that is all about the customer. It could be to do with size, colour, style, or the option to additional artworks and personal details. Either way, make sure there’s enough opportunity to make it totally unique.
In addition, you should aim to offer personalisation options with products that are sure to be popular. Eco-friendly items and accessories for digital devices are a good place to start, but you might offer a completely unrelated range of products that you know for a fact your customers love.