Properly branded leave behinds are a great way to end every service call. Really, they’re the only way to go – literally. Leaving something thoughtful in the client’s home is your chance to get a giant return on a tiny investment.

The best leave behinds have 2 things in common: they fulfill a need in the home and they say something about your company. When you accomplish both of those things, you not only grow your relationship with that customer, but you also become part of their everyday life.

Here are the 3 most effective types of branded leave behinds.

1.) Simple, Logoed Leave Behinds

“My wife legit looks forward to the pad of paper and pen Jackson & Sons leaves each time,” offers Mark Sherwin, President and Co-Founder of LeadsNearby, “It becomes our grocery list every week. It’s so simple, but it fills a need for us.”

Another great thing that fits in this category is a branded maintenance checklist or flyer detailing the next recommended service. These help people feel invested in the work you provide and even empowered to be part of the process. This helps develop a feeling of partnership with you.

In general, the items in this category are not flashy, but they are staples in most houses:

Pens
Magnetic Calendar
Sticky Notes
Koozie
Plastic Cups

2.) Leave Behinds For the Family

You might want to be a little more creative with your messaging, and items in this category will help you do that.

For example, sunglasses or lip balm are extremely popular because they are something that people frequently lose. Eventually, they will turn to your leave behind in a time of need, which is great reinforcement for brands centered on dependability.

Who knows, your shades might even make it into the family photos!

A stress ball is a really fun way to highlight your part of the problem and solution cycle. A stress ball that says Step 1: Call for service. Step 2: Squeeze until we get here would be great for a company whose brand is centered on dependability or emergency availability.

Other things in this category include:

Toy/Items for Kids
Stickers
Flag Pin
Dog Toys/Treats
Keychain
Lanyard
Hand Sanitizer
Chip/Drape Clips
Bottle Opener
Reusable Shopping Bag
Nail File

3.) Attention-Grabbing Leave Behinds

Now you’re getting into the stuff of legend. Around LeadsNearby, people still talk about the Hobiaca Plungers.

“It’s helpful, generous, and completely stands out,” says Stephanie Potter, CSM at LeadsNearby. “That completely sums up the Hobiaca brand.”

At this level, you can venture into incentives, as well. For example, a branded power bank might be a great thing to give after installing an EV charging station. A years worth of filters is a great thing to leave behind for a new HVAC system.

The trick is to make sure that it matches your messaging and fills a need for the customer. If you can do it cleverly, all the better!

What’s The Difference Between Promotional Items And Leave Behinds?

The line does begin to get a little blurred between promotional items and leave behinds, which are the unsung cousins of Customer Appreciation Gifts. Like many things, it comes down to timing.

Promotional items are generally branded products distributed freely to increase brand visibility and recall, attract new customers, and generate goodwill.

Leave-behinds are distributed to existing clients after a meeting or service visit. These are usually intended to keep your business top of mind when a relevant need comes up. They can be more informational or specific to the services you offer.

In a world where both customers and companies want to get the most out of every interaction, the biggest difference is just when the items are being distributed.

Let us help you leave your mark!

How To Edit Checkins In NearbyNow » « Your Core Values ARE Your Brand