Promotional Magnetic Calendars Basics

Custom magnetic calendars are practical and inexpensive marketing tools for your business.
By Kate Esposito Unlike the proverbial junk mail that recipients throw right in their recycle bins, a customized magnetic calendar has inherent value. An individual is likely to keep it -- and your logo -- in full view all year long.
 

However, not all promotional calendars are made equal. Some things you need to think about when choosing a personalized calendar magnet are the following:

1. Is this promotional magnetic calendar going to be useful to my customers?

2. Does it capture my company's brand identity well -- for example, with the logo and colors?

3. Is it of good enough quality to last all year?

Find magnet calendars that have utility

There are dozens of different types of magnetic calendars you can choose from. Some are tiny and very difficult to read and some are so large that they would take up half of the refrigerator door. The key is to find a happy medium.
Try: Go to the websites of several marketing companies that produce promotional magnet calendars so you have a good idea of the options. Three to start with are MagnetStreet, Magnets USA and Gimmees.

Work with a graphic designer to brand your promotional magnetic calendars

Many companies that produce business calendars do not provide more than stock designs. That being said, you may want to work with a separate designer to ensure you get the look you want. Then you can simply submit your design to the marketing company.
Try: If you already have a well-developed brand identity, you may want to go with the graphic designer that was most involved in creating it. If this is not an option, you can speak with multiple designers and have each develop a prototype for your calendar's look. If you would like to hire a freelance designer, the Designfirms directory is a good place to locate one. Then read the article on IdeaMarketers that gives advice on deciding between candidates.

Find quality promotional calendars

Nobody is going to want to keep a calendar that falls off the fridge or, even worse, falls apart. Remember, if you give out poor quality promotional merchandise it can reflect badly on your company.
Try: Ask companies to provide you with samples before you choose a calendar to go with. If any organization is not willing to provide them, simply go with someone else, since most will gladly comply. Two companies with sample request forms on their websites are Rainbow Magnets and Branders.

• When thinking about promotional magnetic calendars, basics such as these should be at the top of your mind. However, you should also think about how you can customize your calendar to make it different and, therefore, able to stand out.