| Ethan Sutcliffe
As technology advances and we shift traditional practices over to digital ones, it’s no surprise that online courses have become a popular choice for people looking to develop their skills or earn certification through further education. In fact, the e-learning industry has grown 900% by 2000, making it the fastest-growing market in education.
If you are trying to reach e-learners in an impactful way that will set you apart from the increasing number of competitors in the market, promotional gifts are a great place to start.
As with any competitive landscape, businesses need to find original and creative ways of standing out while being authentic and speaking to their audience. Promotional gifts are a cost-effective yet powerful tool that the education and e-learning sector can use when marketing to e-learners.
The difficulty in this market with building brand awareness and letting people know about the courses that you offer is that there is rarely much that you can shout about that will be different from the next company. However, promotional items can be a benefit that sets you apart and makes you memorable.
When attending events, such as college open days, using branded products to promote online-learning is a brilliant way of driving students’ attention to your stand and opening up the opportunity for a conversation that could lead to a new customer.
Promotional gifts can be used to build a community, which is an important value for many businesses within the education sector. You could offer e-learning course accessories, for example, to create a sense of belonging and make e-learners feel more connected even though they are learning online and remotely.
Being that you are delivering a service in a digital landscape, it is important to find opportunities to connect with your audience in more tangible ways and promotional gifts are physical products that do just this.
This small yet thoughtful gesture of merchandise gifts shows them your appreciation for their support with something of value that can be part of their everyday life.
If you’d prefer to use promotional products as an incentive and give them an air of exclusivity, then you can gift them as rewards for e-learners who reach certain achievements throughout the course. For example, branded badges for e-learners who hit their first milestone and custom clothing for those further along in their journey.
You should also consider how to get the most out of your promotional products for education and e-learning. If you want to get your audience to engage with your brand by directly interacting with your branded merchandise, then add QR codes that take them to your website or social media pages.
The key to unlocking the success of promotional products for e-learners is to invest in promo items that are practical, i.e. products that almost all students will need and that they can use in day-to-day life.
An obvious choice would be printed stationery since they are e-learning students, so there will always be a need for things such as printed planners, logo calendars or custom notebooks. Promotional gifts like these will be valued highly by recipients because they make their studying lives easier, and they will be used daily, so it’s a constant reminder of your brand, which builds brand recognition.
Further study aids in the form of promotional giveaways, including branded bookmarks, promotional pens and printed desk organisers. They vary between those that are more common but cost-effective and easy to distribute in high volumes, for example, printed desk pads, to those that are slightly more unique and will leave a lasting impression on the student but may not be useful to everyone, like custom reading lights or lamps.
You may even choose to create custom promotional calendars with study help and hacks alongside motivational quotes for each month. Our design team can help you with this unique layout. This could become a staple in an e-learner's life for a year, which develops a strong relationship between them and your brand, and will likely be seen by others, which broadens your audience.
If you want to explore eco-friendly merchandise alternatives, which will certainly be an important factor for many e-learning students, there are plenty of branded products made from sustainable materials, such as bamboo or recycled plastic pens.
Stress is a massive concern for many e-learning students as they are under a lot of pressure to pass their courses which involves hours of studying and hard work. You can provide e-learners with the tools they need to succeed and alleviate some of that stress through thoughtful promotional gifts.
Various types of promotional stress items can be printed with your branding and distributed to students when they sign up for a course, or tech accessories can help them create a functioning studying workspace at home.
Even custom water bottles play a role in supporting the well-being of e-learners by promoting hydration and healthy habits that will keep them focused and motivated throughout their studies.
With all that being said, the right promotional products can be the ultimate building block to creating a community of happy and loyal e-learners who may sign up for more courses or refer you to others. It’s the first step in developing a strong relationship that will make you their preferred choice for e-learning.
This can be made even easier by printing digital QR codes on your products so that students can access further courses when they are ready.
You can read more in our blog QR codes for Promotional Products here
Explore our full range of effective promotional giveaways and start reaching e-learners in a meaningful and authentic way.
Written By Ethan - Account Manager At The Branded Company
Tel: 0116 298 2555
The Branded Company - Unit E3, Leicester Business Centre, 111 Ross Walk, Leicester, LE4 5HH