Building Brand Awareness? Look no further than Custom Tote Bags

There is no question that businesses want to improve brand awareness and get their names out there. Adding promotional branding to commonly-used items is a great way to do just that. Custom tote bags provide individuals with a functional and useful item while also serving as a walking advertisement anytime they are being used.

You have probably considered offering promotional tote bags as a gift or product, because you understand both their utility and their ability to make a lasting impression. But, that impression isn’t limited to the person who owns the tote bag.

In fact, tote bags (and the customized designs on them) will be seen by an untold amount of friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers on any given day. So, naturally, these tote bags can produce far-reaching impressions long-after you give them away.

But, not all custom tote bags are the same, and you may not know which type of tote bag works best for your business. You also may not know what types of custom designs to place on tote bags to get the most brand recognition. Let’s take a look at some of the customized tote bags that can use your company’s branding.

Types of Promotional Tote Bags

You may have a basic idea of a tote bag in your head when you think of the term. “A material with a basin for holding things and a couple of straps” is a very basic way to define the tote bag. Even so, there are more options than you may think.

Indeed, you can choose custom tote bags by color, design, material, size, price, and even features. Yes, tote bags can come with a unique array of bells and whistles these days. Some features include:

• Zippers and Velcro – These are great ways to keep the contents of the bag safely inside.
• Extra pockets – No bag can have enough extra places to store valuable items. Some totes even have snug little pockets specifically designed for tablets. Or you can opt for a tote that has pockets for notebooks, pens, and even water bottles.
• Insulation – Have you ever wished you could keep your cold groceries cold or your hot food hot? Insulated tote bags are definitely the answer and can be customized to advertise your business. Insulated tote bags can also be used as a hip update of the traditional lunchbox.
• Adjustable straps – The ability to adjust a tote bag strap gives it that much more usability, meaning that bag owners will be more likely to “tote” it around and advertise your business.

In addition to all these special features, you can choose from a variety of colors, designs, and materials that best suit your needs. There is virtually no end to the amount of colors you can choose. Obviously, it makes sense to choose a color that complements your logo or other custom design.

Tote bags can also come with unique design features like stripes or patterns that can really make your logo pop. Additionally, there are numerous fabric and material options like cotton, cork, chambray, hemp, polypropylene (and other non-woven materials), and cross-hatched material. Fabrics like cork or chambray can give the bag a more modern look to reflect a more modern brand.

Clearly, you have dozens if not hundreds of customization options at your disposal when it comes to tote bags. Of course, none is more important than custom design you put on the bag.

What Custom Design to Use

For the most part, businesses and organizations will place their logo on any promotional item. A custom tote bag provides ample space for that logo ensuring that it will be visible to anyone who even looks in its direction. You can also place the logo on both sides of most tote bags to maximize their effectiveness.

In some cases, however, a logo may not be enough. For instance, maybe you run a relatively new company or your logo is just an image with no corresponding text to give new consumers an idea of what you sell or even what your company’s name is.

In those cases, you will obviously want to include more identifying information (such as text) or even contact information (like a website). A website may be the most efficient method for increasing brand awareness, because, when your tote bag users are out and about, anyone who can see the bag can just look you up on their phones.

This is increasingly important when you consider that mobile transactions account for over half of all online sales.

In addition to ensuring the clarity of your custom design, you may want to add other details like slogans or even graphic design elements. A good slogan can help you distinguish your brand from competitors and make your company more memorable. Without excellent branding, phrases like “Just do it” or “I’m lovin’ it” would have no special meaning to anyone.

You may also opt for a design that doesn’t necessarily use your logo. If you have a graphic design department or have the resources to hire a designer, let them use their creativity to design an image that really makes your business stand out.

---

---

What Type of Custom Tote Bags to Use

When you choose a custom tote bag, you want to make sure that it’s the best fit for your business. You also want to make sure that your intended audience will be compelled to use it.

Obviously, there is no demographic of people that can’t use a tote bag. But, as we have mentioned above, there are many different types of tote bags, some of which may be more useful to certain groups than others.

For instance, if your intended audience is a conference of business professionals, it may behoove you to opt for a business tote that offers them extra pockets and slots for notebooks, mobile devices, laptops, water bottles, pens, and any other accoutrements that a businessperson may need.

If you live an area where plastic bags have been banned or your intended audience is simply more eco-friendly, consider offering tailor-made grocery tote bags along with insulated bags for cold food. Not only does this highlight your company as environmentally conscious, it also serves a useful purpose for the consumer.

Of course, there are also plenty of standard options for branded tote bags. Nearly everyone has used a tote bag at some point in their lives to carry books, groceries, and anything else that can reasonably fit in a bag of that size. So, there’s really no wrong choice here.

You may also have to factor in your budget. Not every company has a wealth of resources to devote to the most high-end tote bags on the market. But, again, even the most inexpensive tote bag can end up reaping rewards in the long run.

The Impressive Benefits of Custom Tote Bags

Offering a branded tote bag might not seem like the most aggressive form of marketing. But, there’s a chance that thousands of people will see your logo or other custom design throughout the lifespan of the bag.

Your primary target, of course, will be the individuals who actually receive the bags. Studies have shown that giving away promotional items can produce a 17% increase in response rates. A 2017 study conducted by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) showed that consumers who receive promotional items view the company 82% more favorably on average.

Tote bags, however, aren’t like other promotional items (e.g. pens or mousepads) that are useful but typically only seen by the initial recipient. Tote bags are highly visible and make a bold pronouncement of your company and your brand to numerous people.

In addition to that, another PPAI study showed that around 90% of consumers remember branding and designs they have seen on promotional products. In this regard, promotional products are nearly 70% more effective than television advertising and almost 80% more effective than print and online (including mobile) advertising.

Nine in 10 consumers recall the branding on promotional products they have received – which is 67 percent higher than broadcast advertising and 78 percent higher than online, print and mobile advertising. – PPAI

An individual custom tote bag can cost you anywhere from $1 to $20 on average. But, that one bag can increase your brand recognition, make your business more favorable, and cause a surge in response rates.

One bag alone can produce over 6,000 impressions in its lifetime. You are literally paying pennies per impression, which is not something that most online advertisers can promise.

In Summary

Custom tote bags are ideal promotional items because they are:

• Highly visible
• Useful to almost everyone
• Reusable
• Cost-effective

These bags also have a large surface area on which you can adequately place your custom design. Additionally, tote bags aren’t just useful for companies. Events, non-profit organizations, schools, churches, and many other entities could feasibly benefit from a branded tote bag. Really, any organization that needs publicity could benefit.

Of course, there are also many different styles of tote bags to choose from. Both budget-conscious organizations and the most high-powered corporations can use varying styles of tote bags and get a return on their investment.

With the right design, even the most basic tote bag can prove to be beneficial for any company or organization. Theoretically, recipients could even use the tote bag to hold other promotional items.

If you are considering purchasing promotional tote bags, do not hesitate to contact us today. We will be able to work with you to find the right type, style, and design for your tote bag to ensure that it has a long life and gets the most impressions possible.