Most of us remember having to first locate and then jump into a phone booth to make a call when we weren’t in the office or at home. The “landline” is becoming a quaint totem of yesteryear.
Smartphones are, without a doubt, allowing society to bloom in ways that foster innovation, friendship, intellectual stimulation, and identity. We buy items, communicate to clients, friends, and family; make travel appointments and reservations for rides and restaurants, listen to music, watch shows, research answers to questions (to win bets or satisfy curiosity) and actually use it to call people!
Pew Center Research says, “In contrast to the largely stationary internet of the early 2000s, Americans today are increasingly connected to the world of digital information while on the go via smartphones and other mobile devices.”
According to its research, just about all Americans -- 96% – now own a cellphone of some kind. An increasing number of Americans now use smartphones as their primary means of online access at home. Approximately 20% of American adults are “smartphone-only” internet users – meaning they own a smartphone, but do not have traditional home broadband service.
A May 2017 analysis also from Pew Research showed that approximately four in 10 adults aged 30 to 49 (39%) and 29% of adults aged 50 to 64 had three or more smartphones in their households.
Within this expanding universe of smartphone connectivity, lie millions of seeds for creative promotions. Several promotional products suppliers are touting smartphone accessories and enjoying seemingly unceasing sales.
According to ePromos.com, “You cannot go anywhere without seeing an abundance of cellphones…at work, on your commute, and even in your home. With all these gadgets, you know there is a need for matching accessories. As smartphones have quickly become one of man’s most beloved gadgets, you can’t go wrong in gifting promotional cell phone accessories for mobile devices. Such useful products make great traffic drivers for tradeshows and conferences.”
Obviously, too, any company that has a sales force that is out on the road – including Realtors. But think of other “roaming” businesses that can use a smartphone accessory – lawncare companies, utility readers and appliance repair, furniture delivery and movers. Anyone out on the road for work or business today keeps in contact with the main office via smartphones.
Accessories that you can easily suggest include cellphone stands, cell wallets, holders, ear buds, docking stations, skins, cable organizers and selfie sticks. Popular retail brands like Nuckees, LEEMAN NYC, PopWallet and more will be highly appreciated by the recipient. When you relate to any client that pretty much all end-users tote a smartphone with them everywhere they go, the concept of a promotional accessory is one that lends to creative marketing.
For example, mobility also translates to the necessity to re-charge the smartphone – and wireless chargers are critical to keeping people powered up. Michelle Banks, technology category manager for 4imprint writes in her June 26, 2018 blog titled, “Custom wireless chargers are here to power up your brand” that studies reveal that 93% of consumers like wireless charging and that means that “custom wireless chargers are an up-and-coming product that will be a big hit with your employees, customers and prospects.”
Creating inventive promotions using smartphone accessories – from chargers to earbuds to cell wallets and stands and more – will make your clients connect powerfully with their customers, patients, and clients. And that will charge up your sales for the long-term!
CASE STUDY
EMT: A major banking institution launched a mobile application revision and also wanted to provide a gift to their premium checking and savings account members. The item needed to be small enough to fit into the introductory folder/envelope that would be handed out or mailed after a new premium account was opened. Overall, even though the bank was regularly providing new functionality to the application—such as a simplified navigation menu and to request replacement debit or credit cards, it would seem that an alarmingly low number of bank customers were taking advantage of the new phone application. After the bank began passing out the cell phone wallet with screen cleaner (item #CB-C), the application saw a 15% increase in users just the first month.