When it comes to choosing sales prospecting gifts, it’s important to know that any generic gift won’t work. You need to select intentional and thoughtful gifts. Strategically choosing gifts that target your potential customers will aid in your prospecting efforts, assist you in building genuine business connections, and help start conversations that eventually lead to sales.
At the end of the day, the primary goal is to create a genuine, lasting connection before the sales process even starts. This will help you develop a level of trust that your prospects will value and remember.
Why Send Sales Prospecting Gifts?
In general, giving gifts is a psychological concept of reciprocating that humans adhere to. Gifting thoughtful gifts to your sales prospects is no different. When you gift something of value to someone, psychologically, they will feel indebted and have a need to need to give back in some way. That’s the real power of giving corporate gifts.
Listed below are some corporate gifting stats.
- 70% of respondents are more like to do business with an organization if they receive a thoughtful gift.
- 8 in 10 respondents said that they will have a positive impact on the gifter if they receive unique gifts.
So what type of gifts are we talking about? Well, it completely depends on the prospects. But here are some ways to make your gifts feel more thoughtful and personal.
Steps to Personalizing Your Sales Prospecting Gifts:
1) Consider the Persona of Your Prospect
When selecting a gift for your prospects, remember that personalization is key. This requires you to truly know your potential customers by identifying their personas.
For instance, let’s say your ideal prospect is an IT professional. Typically, this person could be between the age of 28-45. This means they obviously depend heavily on technology and are interested in the newest and latest tech items. So, your sales prospecting gift could be a personalized laptop backpack, wireless earbuds, technology accessories, or a high-quality wireless charger.
2) Use Social Media for Inspiration
If you want to take a more granular approach with your personalization, try looking up your prospects on their social media pages. As you research, think about the following questions:
- Where does your prospect live?
- What do they like?
- How do they spend their free time?
- What kind of job do they have?
These questions will give you insights as to who your potential customers are. You can also be strategic about which platforms you find your prospects on. For instance, on Instagram, you can know if your prospect likes to travel and the hobbies they like to partake in. You can then select gifts accordingly.
Also, if they have pets, you can gift them a Collapsible Pet Bowl. You can use Twitter and Linkedin to gain further knowledge on their interests and know about their work schedules. Based on that, you can give them Cotton Cooler Lunch Tote, or a Salad To Go.
3) Play Up Company Branding
The next step is to know the organization they work in, their values, and their brand. You can then use these insights and incorporate them into the gift. For instance, if you are targeting a financial firm, you can giveaway some classy business gifts like the Duo Vacuum Stemless Wine Tumbler Gift Set, Titleist® Pro V1x Golf Balls, Bridger 9-in-1 Laser Engraved Money Clip Multitool.
4) Consider Geographic Location
Research on your prospect’s base location and send them gifts that are locally focused. This idea can take shape in many forms. For starters, you can research their town’s best restaurant and send them a gift card. You can also personalize your gifts depending on the geographic traits of their hometown. For instance, if your prospect is based in Boston, you can gift them a good quality cap that is branded with the city’s skyline or the Boston Red Sox logo.
5) Include a Personalized Message
Once your gifts have been chosen, and they have been packed in a box, you need to go through one more important step. Don’t forget to add a note with a personalized message. A handwritten note will go a long way to show that you care, and this is not another marketing ploy. It highlights the human aspect of your brand.
It also gives them the opportunity to know why they are receiving such a gift. For instance, you can include in your note, “Came across your profile on Instagram, and you are quite a hiker. Here’s a brand new backpack for your next vacation.”
This will provide some context to your gift, and if you get it right, they will enjoy the giveaway and always cherish the moment.
Final Thoughts:
In conclusion, choosing appropriate sales prospecting gifts does not need to be hard. With the above-mentioned tips, you will set yourself apart and go the extra mile compared to the average sales rep.
Lastly, there is no need to overthink your gifts either. Start treating your prospects like your friends. That’s how your gifts will come across as genuine and your brand as trustworthy. And this is the foundation of any successful business relationship.
Feel free to get in touch with us if you need help with choosing the right gifts for your prospects. Our team of experts will gladly assist you with the gift selection process. We look forward to hearing from you!