Promotional Banners And Flags – Are They More Effective than Digital Banners?
If you spend a lot of time on the Internet, you are already familiar with digital banners; those annoying square or rectangular ads that show up on the right side of your screen. While many of these banners are targeted directly to you, based on your Internet search habits, very few people actually click on them. Conversely, the promotional banners and flags we see while we’re out driving around are usually noticed. Because they are unique and three dimensional, they rarely become part of the scenery.
Today’s marketers find it difficult to stand out on the Internet unless they’re promoting a product that is in very high demand, completely unique, or hard to find elsewhere. If your business is seeking out new customers, you might want to take a break from the two-dimensional screen and give promotional flags and banners a second look. While it may seem a bit old fashioned to buy real fabric or vinyl flags pennants and banners these days, many small businesses swear by this type of advertising to drive foot traffic into their stores.
It does seem like every article you read about marketing these days is focused on digital. Even the largest advertising and marketing conferences have made their trade shows available to a “virtual” audience. But what about good old-fashioned outdoor advertising, such as outdoor banners and flags? Is it time for marketers to take a step back from their computers and look at the bigger picture? There is something so immediate and action-oriented about a tangible sign that directs you into a business. Outdoor banners and flags are an inexpensive yet effective way to set your business apart from the crowd and gain an edge over the competition.
As a retailer with a strong following on the Internet, FlagPro.com has become quite savvy with their use of technology. In addition to featuring their product lines on the website, www.FlagPro.com, they are now utilizing one of today’s most effective online technologies to speak directly to their customers. Using video, ecommerce businesses can give potential customers more information without forcing them to read the “About” page, and that is just what the owner of the Advertising Flag Company has done in their recent promotional video.
One of the most significant challenges to running a retail business is attracting new customers to the store. With marketing budgets being cut, it is even more difficult to drive traffic in the door. However, there are some things that successful retailers consistently do to reach their sales goals and stay in business. Rather than spending a fortune on radio and newspaper advertising, they use custom banners and flags to draw customers in the door.
The New Advertising Flag Company – Flagpro video on YouTube
The holidays will be here and gone before you know it; do you have that special gift picked out yet? Everyone has someone on their list that is hard to buy for; maybe it’s their intellectual history-professor-type dad, or their college-football-fanatic nephew. Perhaps it’s that friend who recently moved into the neighborhood. Did you know that all of these people and more would love to receive banners and flags?
Colorful banners and flags may seem more like an advertising gimmick than a gift, but in reality there is a flag out there for everyone on your list. The best part about buying flags for your loved ones is you don’t even need to leave home. They can all be purchased from the comfort of your computer chair.
Want to Learn More About the Flags of the USA? Visit Our Flag Store
As you probably could guess, the flag of the USA is the most recognizable flag on the planet, and it is certainly the most popular one sold at this online flag store. There is something about the stars and stripes that conjure up so many images of American victories in battle, courageous soldiers, and an independent spirit that succeeds against all odds. Even non-Americans have no trouble picking out the American flag in a lineup of international flags. That’s because unlike many other national banners, it doesn’t rely on a few blocks of color; the bold symbols of the USA are incorporated into its design.
Buying a new American flag used to be much simpler. Back in the days before the Internet, a new homeowner might go out and buy and American flag and a flag pole just before the Fourth of July. That may still be possible today, but there are many additional considerations that might complicate the decision, especially if you research your purchase online. Ultimately, flag manufacturers aim to offer more variety and better products than ever before. This is great news for smart shoppers who want a durable flag that will last for many years.
If you’ve ever priced out an outdoor advertising campaign, you know how expensive it can be, and because it lacks “measurability,” you never know if it really worked. That’s why so many retailers are moving away from static billboards in favor of “mobile billboards,” or promotional flags for outdoor use. Promotional flags are certainly nothing new; in fact, they are one of the oldest forms of consumer advertising. But when ad budgets are tight, they remain one of the more effective methods of bringing customers in the door.
It’s hard to imagine this, but it’s true. The best flag stores are really online. Think about it; when was the last time you went into a store nearby and found an incredible selection of flags? I’m not just talking about American flags or flags from around the world, either. What about promotional flags for special events, football and baseball flags, or a flags from your favorite college team? Whether we realize it or not, on the average day we pass by dozens of flags in our travels. They are flown high above car dealerships, schools and banks. They promote special offers or sidewalk sales at our favorite stores, and they are flown to let you know about an open house or special event. Football fans fly flags from their car windows, and homeowners fly flags in their gardens, but did you ever wonder where everyone gets these flags? Good question. For the most part, they are purchased at online flags stores.
Is it time to start thinking of ways to generate business for the holidays? Perhaps your store has a lot of new products or you just started carrying the Apple iPhone 4S. Whatever your reason for needing promotional flags, they are always an economical way to get a message out quickly. If your store is located in a busy retail area, there may be restrictions about the size or number of promotional flags that can be positioned outside of your store. If this is the case, then make sure you find out ahead of time and work within these parameters. A flag manufacturer like the Advertising Flag Company can make customized promotional flags that meet your specifications.
You may have already prepared your favorite football fan for the excitement of football season, but you’re not completely ready for game day unless you have some football flags and banners. Finding the right banners for your favorite football fan depends on how they plan to use them. Some of the most popular football flags and banners are designed to be flown outdoors on a flag pole, while others are more appropriate for the inside of a dorm room or sports bar. Still others are brought to the stadium or college football field and hung up over the railings or across the top of the stands.
You’ve heard about the various methods of “driving traffic” in retail advertising, but these days most of these methods only drive traffic to your website. What if you want foot traffic into your stores? Sometimes it takes a lot more than an online banner ad to motivate customers to act. Using advertising flags for promoting a sale is often the easiest way to get immediate results from your advertising, and they are usually far less expensive than an online campaign.
As marketers are faced with a wider selection of advertising vehicles than ever, everyone is scrambling to find the right “media mix.” While this may be a good idea for those with an unlimited advertising budget, most retailers are working with a smaller budget this year. When a colleague of mine first told me he found some advertising flags for sale from a well known flag manufacturer, my first impression was that this was rather old-fashioned. After spending more than a decade with an interactive marketing agency, my experience with banners was limited to online display ads. Did anyone still use the real cloth banners as a primary method for communicating a message?
Has your company charged you with the procurement of promotional banners and flags for an upcoming trade show? This may not sound like a particularly difficult task, but it can be a lot more time consuming than you think; especially with all the choices available today. It used to be that one would need to search through bulky catalogs and wait several weeks for their order to be filled. While online flag sites have made it much easier to order, it’s hard to get that personalized attention that you need.
Whether you’re a homeowner or a store owner, there is no better way to decorate the outside of your home or business than with outdoor banners and flags. Even as the kids head back to school, signs of fall are not far behind. Business owners may use this time to invite customers in for Back to School Sales or fall clearance offers, but it’s not uncommon for homeowners to rethink the outside of their homes.
