Befriending the Bank

It's no secret that consumer banks are avid self-promoters. From direct mail and branded stationary to banking incentives and employee uniforms, banks and other consumer financial organizations (such as H&R Block) use almost every promotional product there is. Unfortunately, their fondness for promotional marketing doesn't exactly translate to easy sales these days. Times aren't just tough for banks, they're horrible. The financial crisis dried up revenue, obliterated public perceptions and raised the stakes and urgency of the banking business from one thousand to about a million. Any bank worth selling to is going to be counting every penny, examining every product and second-guessing every suggestion you make before you even finish your first sales pitch. It's going to take work and guile selling even the easy, tried-and-true promos that banks use every day. Luckily, Promo Marketing is here for you, as always, with the right whats and hows of selling some of the most common banking items to the financial industry.

Pens

A cornerstone of the promotional industry in general, pens are just as crucial to the banking world.

What To Pitch

Ubiquity. Pens are everywhere in banking already, so why not put a logo on them? "Pens in specific are especially relevant within the financial industry as traditional writing is still a frequent and mandatory part of daily business activities," said Kristie Schnier, national director of sales and marketing for Sanford Business-to-Business, Oak Brook, Ill. "From signing checks to completing deposit slips and signing loan applications, a pen is an imperative tool in millions of financial transactions every day." She also noted that pens are very cost-effective compared to other advertising banks could conceivably be involved in, such as print or radio, suggesting another helpful angle to work with hesitant buyers.

What To Know