Pens are an extremely popular giveaway promotional product for a number of reasons. First, they are an inexpensive option (most are under $1). Second, they are useful, everyone can use another pen. Third, they are small and lightweight, so they are easy to hand out and to transport to tradeshows. And fourth, they have a clear area to imprint company information.
Two types of pens are used as promotional products: the promotional pen and the gift pen. Generally the promotional pen is made of plastic and will range from $0.30 to $1.50. Gift pens, usually made of metal, range from $1.50 each to $90.00. Both the promotional pen and the gift pen can be effective in your marketing program if they are used correctly. In this article we are going to focus on promotional pens.
When you use a pen to create awareness, you not only want the pen to be printed with your information, but you want a product that the recipients will want to use. Here are seven features to look for when considering a promotional pen.
1. Writing Ability:
You want a pen that writes consistently and lasts for a reasonable amount of time. A lot of inexpensive pens either dry up right away or have cheap ball mechanisms that leave clots of ink on the paper, which then gets on the user's hands and clothes. Be sure to get a pen that will last.
2. Ink Cartridge
The most popular point size is medium, but fine point is available in certain models. Gel ink is a popular option and is a bit more expensive. Most pens come with black ink cartridges, but blue and red ink is available on some models.
3. Quality Construction
You want the pen to remain functional for a long time. If it is a click pen, you want the mechanism to work consistently without breaking. The clip should to be durable enough to grip the pocket of a wool suit without snapping. If there is a metal tip, that should unscrew on its own and twist pens should not untwist for left handed writers.
4. Grip
A comfort grip is a popular option and comes in numerous materials, styles, and colors. Grip materials include rubber and plastic and shapes include ergonomic and triangular.
5. Styling
Styling is important because a distinctive pen stands out from the others, improving the odds that the user will pick your pen. There are literally thousands of pen designs to choose from, including retracting mechanism (click is by far the most popular), barrel color (translucent, pearlized...), shape (ex: hourglass), chrome accents, design and material of the grip and size, shape and material of the clip.
6. Thickness
Thicker, heavier pens have seen their rise and fall in the recent years. We are finding that most choose thin and medium sized pens for the thickness. The thicker pens stood out when they were new but after time it was learned that some people did not like the feel of a large pen.
7. Multifunction
Handing out a product that can perform multiple functions makes the pen unique and can dramatically increase the chance of a pen becoming a favorite. Some of the multifunction options include three-way instruments (pen, pencil, stylus), carabineer pens, pen/highlighter combos and flag pens.
As you can see, there are multiple decisions to make when choosing a promotional pen. If you need help selecting a pen, let us know and we would be happy to discuss ideas and options. If you want to "test drive" a sample before investing, let us know and we will send it to you.
