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Merch is short for Merchandise. It is a popular term in branding referred to as Branded Merchandise. Branded merchandise is any promotional item that has the name or logo design of your company on it. It is a form of advertising that promotes a brand’s message and attracts potential customers.
Why Is Branded Merchandise Important?
Branded merchandise is important because it cost-effectively builds brand awareness. The benefits include the following.
1. Increased customer loyalty
Humans appreciate gifts. Handing out high-quality merchandise makes customers feel valued and can win you more loyalty. They see it as a gift; you see it as a marketing strategy.
2. Builds trust
Customers want to know the capacity of your organization in service delivery. In regards to this, the mission and vision statement of your organization is not enough. Handing out branded materials to customers convinces them that you are organized and committed enough to deliver any service.
3. Increases online brand presence
When customers use or wear branded items, they act as ambassadors, spreading awareness and reinforcing the brand's identity across various online platforms.
4. Elevate onboarding experiences
Merch onboards new employees, customers, partners, and users in a way that builds a strong sense of belonging and lasting connection.
5. Drives marketing results
High-quality Merch outlives adverts and airtime. You can run successful campaigns using merch.
Importance of online brand presence
The average person checks their phone 96 times per day, which equates to once every 10 minutes they are awake. People connect more to the world with their phones than with their environment.
You can take advantage of this metric to increase visibility, build your brand credibility, and enable wider customer reach using branded merchandise.
What is Wiicreate?
If you’ve ever received a merch box from a tech company in Nigeria, chances are the business behind that box is WiiCreate. Wiicreate has helped over 100 startups across Africa including Mono, Brass, and Thepeer, shipping to five countries and making $200,000 in revenue.
Wiicreate can no doubt handle your merch project from start to finish. They curate, design, customize, and ship your merch anywhere in the world.
Wiicreate features
Once you log on to the website, you are given the opportunity to:
1. Select your preferred items from our wide range of products and submit your order.
2. Once that is done, design previews of your new merch will be sent for your review and approval.
3. Wiicreate’s production team will produce your merch to specifications, and have it shipped to you.
Setting Up Your WiiCreate Account
It's simple.
1. Copy and paste new.wiicreate.com in your web browser.
2. Click on the hamburger icon in the top right corner of your screen.
3. Click on the Create account button
4. The Create an account form will appear. Provide the correct details required.
5. Tap on the Create Account button to submit your details.
Remember to fill in your work email address and not your email address as it will be rejected.
Wiicreate's product offerings
Wiicreate offers over 100 kinds of products for merchandising, including apparel, accessories, home and office items. On the website, users can choose from a wide range of merch options, put in their required quantity, and place their orders. You can request a specific product if it is not available on the site.
Things to consider when choosing merch products
1. Your organization's mission and vision
Ensure that your choice of merch products aligns with the unique message and selling points of your organization.
2. Interest of target audience
Research and understand your target audience. This is important in knowing their demographics, behavior, and interests. Your choice of products should align with their interests.
3. Trends
Use trending items that align with your brand.
Leveraging User-generated content (UGC)
This is a top tip for enhancing online brand presence using merch for the following reasons.
1. 90% of consumers believe that User Generated Content (UGC) holds more influence than content such as promotional emails and search engine results.
2. Customers trust a recommendation from others over branded content.
3. Many customers believe that user-generated content (UGC) is a great way to discover new products.
How to get User-Generated Content
Encourage customers to share photos with your merch by doing the following.
1. Offer discounts or rewards to customers who share photos of themselves with your merch on social media.
2. Provide a clear call-to-action (CTA) on your website, social media, or email marketing campaigns, asking customers to share their photos.
3. Showcase customer photos on your website, social media, or marketing materials to encourage others to share their photos.
Tip: Review customer photos to ensure they meet your brand standards and are appropriate for your audience.
Conclusion
Branded merchandise (merch) is capable of communicating a brand’s personality and enhancing its online presence.
Wiicreate is a trusted brand that can help you achieve your branding needs easily at affordable rates.