I recently got a question in my Ask Abby mailbox, so I thought it would be fun to share it in the blog this week in hopes that it can help others too!

Question:
Hi Abby, I recently joined a new church that is struggling with marketing, community outreach and spreading the word. We want to advertise with products that are easy to hand-out, affordable and practical. Do you have any product recommendations that meet these requirements?
Thank you, Melanie

Answer:
That’s a fantastic question, Melanie! I looked high and low to find products that I think will work perfectly to help your church grab some attention and welcome new attendies. All of these products are extremely easy to distribute, people love them, and they are budget friendly to boot!

One fantastic product choice would be Religious Calendars. Calendars are ideal because they will showcase your message or logo all year round and they’ll be used constantly. Absorbent, Ink. carries a large variety of calendars whether you happen to need a Jewish Calendar, Catholic Calendar, Christian Calendar or anything in between, we have just what you need. Better yet, it’s almost calendar season!

A great way to promote church events or to welcome newcomers and visitors into the church is with high quality Church Welcome Packets. They offer an elegant way to present church information, hold choir music, provide prayer materials, store inspirational notes and more. Welcome Folders for Churches can be personalized for any need so consider the possibilities!

Church Hand Fans are a popular and classic way to add a personal touch to any event, fundraiser, wedding or church benefit. Custom Religious Hand Fans are available in a great selection of shapes, sizes and designs so you can personalize them to your exact liking. They’re also a great way to keep people cool and to get your artwork or logo into hands inexpensively.

Last but not least, these three products are budget friendly, reusable and easy to hand out. I’m talking about; Custom Bookmarks, Printed Pens and Logo Notebooks. These are all really popular promotional items that people love to receive and you’ll love to give.

I hope these products help spread the word and get the attention you’re looking for!
For more fantastic products, visit Absorbent, Ink. or Ask Abby any of your promotional product questions. We love to help!

I went to a Birthday Party for a friend this weekend and had a lovely time. There were decorations everywhere, a beautiful table spread and all of the event supplies were customized. What a fantastic idea!

I love the idea of personalizing an event with custom table accessories and event supplies. Good thing Absorbent, Ink. carries a great selection of supplies to help celebrate any special occasion!

Here is a handy list of some of the most popular and effective event supplies:

Disposable cups are an excellent way to put your brand or artwork into your guest’s hands. Every party, corporate event or special occasion can be made better with customized cups. Choose from a variety of custom disposable cups, including; Styrofoam Cups, Clear Plastic Cups, Paper Cups and Stadium Cups. Personalized cups can easily change a drab event into a fabulous event, so why not order some today?

Custom Napkins offer another great way to add a personal touch to your important occasions, easily and effectively. Napkins are budget-friendly, practical and can even act as mementos long after the party is over. Whether you need Beverage Napkins, Luncheon Napkins or Dinner Napkins, Absorbent, Ink. has the perfect napkins for you.  We can add your logo, artwork or message to napkins in time for your next event and they’re perfect for adding an elegant touch.

Add some uniqueness to your tabletop with Printed Plates. They are sure to make any dining experience memorable. Choose from a great selection of plates including Plastic Plates, Paper Plates, Biodegradable Plates and even Plastic Trays. Paper Plates and plastic plates can be printed with logos, artwork or messages to leave a lasting impression.

Last but not least, Personalized Coasters are always a popular promotional item. Coasters are available in a wide variety of styles to fit any budget. Absorbent, Ink. has an impressive selection of coasters, including; Ceramic Coasters, Cork Coasters, budget friendly Pulpboard Coasters, Gift Coasters and more. They’re a great tool for promoting your message at parties, restaurants, bars, cafes, corporate events and special occasions.

If you plan on throwing a party or event, any of these popular products are bound to make it even more memorable. Luckily all of these event supplies are budget friendly and perfect for making an impact. What are you waiting for? Customize yours today!

Start planning today!

Abby Ink

It’s actually starting to cool down a little around Austin. This must mean that autumn is right around the corner. If autumn is near, then great things like fall leaves, Thanksgiving and Halloween are close at hand. Another exceptional event that takes place in autumn is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Founded in 1985, Breast Cancer Awareness Month was created as an annual campaign to raise funds for research, to increase awareness and to offer support to those affected by the disease.

I took a look through Absorbent, Ink. and found some products that will be perfect for any Breast Cancer Awareness events, fundraisers or promotions. Check these out:

Absorbent, Ink. has a large selection of stress balls to choose from, but two in particular are perfect for Breast Cancer Awareness. The Pink Ribbon Stress Ball is perfect for any fundraising event or giveaway and it will make your logo squeezable. If you’re looking for something more eye-catching, Breast Stress Balls are just what you need. They are sure to make a memorable first impression at any awareness event.

If you’re looking for budget friendly items that people love, try custom Rubber Awareness Bracelets. They provide an excellent way to show your support and will get used time and time again. Magnetic Awareness Ribbons also offer staying power. These great magnets can stick to cars, refrigerators, filing cabinets and any other magnetic surface you’d like to decorate.

Why not organize a golf tournament for charity? These Ribbon Golf Balls would make the perfect accessory to any golf game. They feature the Susan G. Komen for the Cure pink ribbon that will look great with every swing. If golf is not your game, add your logo to these handy Awareness Ribbon Clips. They can be clipped practically anywhere to help spread the message.

Whatever your cause might be, Absorbent, Ink. would love to assist you with all of your promotional product needs. Browse the catalog of Custom Promotional Products today and get started.

Race for the Cure,

Abby Ink

I spent a lot of time in traffic this weekend. Most of that time was spent driving back and forth across town stuck in slow traffic. When I’m bored while caught in traffic, I tend to start reading all of the bumper stickers that I see on my commute. Many of the stickers you see are simple and uninspired but you’ll occasionally see creative and memorable bumper stickers that linger in your head. Now that’s a great way to make a lasting impression!

This made me wonder about all of the stickable promotional items that could be found on Absorbentprinting.com. Here are a few of the products I found, starting with my favorite, Temporary Tattoos! Custom Temporary Tattoos are a fun way to promote to people of all ages. They’re popular items for any event including; business advertisements, outdoor events, tradeshow giveaways and music promotions. They are available in a wide variety of sizes to turn your custom imprint into wearable art. Custom tattoos can be easily applied and removed and they look great!

Custom Magnets are great stickable products that are ideal for promoting, advertising or raising awareness. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles so there is a perfect magnet for everyone. Business Card Magnets and Car Magnets are two of the best choices for business promotions, while picture frame magnets and ribbon magnets make great gift ideas.

Don’t forget about the most stickable product of all, stickers! Absorbent, Ink. carries Custom Stickers in just about any size and shape from Square and Rectangular Stickers to special shaped stickers. Whether you’re looking for domed decals, patriotic stickers or Octagonal Stickers, you can find the perfect sticker to affix just about anywhere.

Static Window Clings are another great item that has holding power. They can be stuck to almost any smooth surface, including; glass, marble and metal without the use of adhesives. Don’t get stuck without a way to personalize your artwork, logo or message. Shop Absorbent, Ink., today!

Stick with it,

Abby Ink

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been seeing internet based advertisements everywhere. It makes sense – the internet is booming! Being online is becoming a big part of people’s everyday lives. Whether it’s for work, leisure, or networking – the internet is the place to go. Social networking sites and location based services like Facebook, Twitter, Gowalla and Foursquare are becoming networking hubs for people of all ages. So, why not use promotional products to reach out to customers and help steer them to your online resources easily and effectively?

One highly effective and inexpensive promotional idea to help you advertise your online presence is Custom Drink Coasters from Absorbent, Ink. Paper Coasters are a great choice because they are cost effective, easy to distribute, and offer a large printable area to showcase your imprint. You can imprint your URL, RSS feed, Twitter link or Facebook URL directly onto our Bar Coasters for a simple promotion. One of the best ideas I’ve seen recently were the coasters Google gave out to small businesses to promote Google Places. I also love the idea of Custom Drink Coasters printed with QR codes that can be scanned to reveal text, a URL or other data.

Wowee! It’s been a busy month and it doesn’t look like things will be slowing down any time soon. April has been full of excited chatter about the upcoming royal wedding, Earth Day festivities and Easter celebrations. It is also National Pet Month until the beginning of May. So, what do we have coming up in May? It looks like it’s time to start making arrangements for your Cinco de Mayo parties, Mother’s Day activities and Memorial Day celebrations.

It doesn’t matter what event you’re planning, Absorbent, Ink. has everything you need to throw an awe-inspiring event, party or celebration. Whether you need disposable plastic cups, custom napkins, or personalized balloons, we have the perfect customizable event supplies for your special occasion.

If you’re looking for gift ideas for Mom, Absorbent Printing has a multitude of options, including beauty gift sets, personalized house wares, garden tool sets and food gifts. We have a huge selection of gift ideas that will leave a lasting impression and they’re perfect for just about any circumstance.

Get your event planning started and start shopping Absorbent, Ink. for all of your event supplies and business promotional items.

Let’s get the party started!

Abby Ink

It’s that time of year again – tax time!  Last night I sat down determined to file my taxes. I gathered up all of my paperwork for the year and got my tax documents ready. I sat down, powered up my handy tax preparation software and filed electronically from the comfort of my home office. I was done in a matter of minutes and pleased to find that I’ll have a nice refund headed my way soon. Excellent! I realized that tax time is a great time to start saving. Seeing my tax return made me think – what better way to promote saving than with promotional piggy banks!

I checked out Absorbent, Ink. and discovered a great selection of imprinted piggy banks. The assortment includes everything from recycled piggy banks and sports shaped banks to plastic piggy banks and breakable ceramic piggy banks. Plastic piggy banks are an outstanding way to advertise businesses, especially financial institutions, tax preparation companies, credit unions, and banks. Custom banks are also perfect for educational campaigns and for encouraging people of all ages to save.

As you can see, personalized piggy banks make a fun and practical promotional investment any time of the year. Give the gift of saving with custom coin banks from Absorbent, Ink.

Start saving,

Abby Ink

A new year is here and that means it is the perfect time for a fresh start! The new year means brand new resolutions and the feeling of endless possibilities. It is a great time to reflect on the past and make changes to better ourselves. This made me start thinking about great promotional ideas for the new year. Luckily, Absorbent, Ink. carries a huge selection of Business Promotional Items and gifts that will get used all year long.

Since I spend a great deal of my time in the office at work, my favorite gifts to give are corporate or business promotional items. Desk accessories are my top choice for co-workers. Absorbent, Ink. has many to choose from, including; business card holders, calculators, personalized notebooks, pen cups, and desk gift sets.

Personalized drinkware is also a very popular promotion. People love to receive drinkware and it will get continuous use. You can easily perk up your promotions with custom coffee cups, personalized glassware, sports bottles and travel tumblers.

Speaking of travel, wait until the travelers in your life get a hold of printed travel promotions. We have everything from luggage bag tags and travel clocks to travel bags and promotional key rings and more.

Start your year off right and make a fantastic impression with products from Absorbent, Ink!

Yours,

Abby Ink

I recently went on a relaxing vacation to the beach for a few days. I love summer! Taking a couple of days off work to enjoy the weather and just unwind is exactly what I needed to recharge. When I went to check into my seaside hotel, I was handed a custom printed key card holder that contained my hotel key. Not only did the holder safely store my key away, but it also included the numbers for room service, nearby restaurants and check-in times for the hotel. “What a neat promotional idea!” I thought to myself. I guess it is hard to leave work behind, even when on vacation.

When I got back from the beach I had to check Absorbent, Ink. to see if I could find any hotel key card holders. I was pleasantly surprised to find them, along with really nifty key card envelopes, gift card holders and key card wallets as well. What an easy way to advertise!

I started thinking about all of the possibilities for key card holders. They’re perfect for hotel and motel keys, business gift cards, travel programs, casinos, resorts and tourist attractions. They can be customized with logos, travel information, check-out times, important phone numbers and more. Key card wallets are so simple, yet they have so many possibilities and are perfect for a variety of promotions.

Keep your eyes peeled for fantastic promotional ideas, because you may be surprised by what you find… even when you’re on vacation. Imagination is the key to making your advertising stand out.

Here’s to fresh ideas,

Abby Ink

Are you looking for an effective way to grab attention and promote your brand or event? Custom promotional products are just what you’re looking for! By giving away or promoting with printed items you are increasing your brand exposure and increasing your chance for future success. Try these tips to help you better realize what you’re looking for and ensure you choose the right promotional products.

Know your Budget
An important first step when selecting the right custom promotional products is to determine your budget. When you have established your advertising budget you can determine how much per piece you have to spend. This will help you know what price point to look for. Regardless of your budget, advertising with printed promotions does not have to be expensive. There are promotional products available for every budget. If you’re looking to hand out a few upscale gifts for special occasions, there are plenty of custom promotional products to choose from. If you’d rather give away a large volume of inexpensive items, there is a huge selection of low-cost items available. Strive to promote with the highest-quality products you can afford to ensure your products make a great impression and are reliable.

Know your Identity
Promotional products are meant to advertise an event, display a logo or carry a message. These customized items should represent your organization, your event, or your business. It’s a great idea to figure out how you want to convey your message or what impression you want to leave. Do you want to make a professional impression? Do you want a unique product that recipients can have fun with? Do you want to give a functional gift and show your practicality? The possibilities are endless with promotional products.

Know your Target Audience
It’s essential that your promotional items resonate with recipients. Try to know and understand your audience. What age groups are you trying to appeal to? Is there a specific business market you are aiming for? At what venue will you be distributing your product? You want to interest people in your brand, and knowing what your target audience wants is an important part of your success. For instance, if you’re focusing on advertising to eco-friendly groups, green keychains, corn plastic mugs or seed infused items would be a smart choice. However, if you’re marketing to tech minded individuals; customized flash drives may be a great choice. Get to know the individuals you’re trying to reach and your promotional advertising will be more successful.

Advertising with custom promotional products is an important part of marketing your company or brand and it can make a huge impact on your sales and customer base. A little research into your target audience can go a long way. Every business is unique, so it’s best to determine what products are best for you and your company and focus on that market. So, start thinking about whom you’re trying to reach, how much you can spend and what you are trying to achieve and your endeavors are sure to be a success!