Get Into the Mind of Your Customer Subliminally

Think of office supplies and you probably think of dull things like paper, computers, shredders and desks. Yes, they are dull but each of these items is actually a marketers dream and a way to promote your brand to people every single day of the week.

The effect is so subtle it's almost subliminal, but in a time when people are bombarded by advertising messages every single day from every medium imagine able, it is easy to think that they are immune to further influence - but you'd be wrong. In fact, people are more prone to taking in advertising than ever before, especially if you catch them off guard.

Many people spend the vast majority of their day in an office, without television and radio and in the company of people they probably get on with quite well. Therefore this is an ideal place to advertise if you can get your message across in the correct way. You also need to be quite sneaky, but why not? Others are doing it?

You have to remember how the human mind works. Most of what is taken in is not processed consciously, many people see things and move on without registering it - especially if they're in the middle of a job, however it's a mistake to think it doesn't sink in - it does. Very often these things are stored subconsciously and squirreled away without a thought. However, certain triggers will allow a person to remember things, especially if these things are 'snappy'.

There's a rule in marketing - your message needs to be seen seven times before someone will trust it. The number of times differs, but it's certainly true that if you see something often enough and then somebody else brings up the subject, you are more likely to act on it.

So how can this help you?

Well, office supplies, stationary and business gifts are an ideal way to get your message in front of people on a daily basis. Even simple things like a sticker on the side of a photocopier or a desk-jotter with a company name on it can be enough to trigger the right responses.

There are more and more ways you can now get your brand or product in front of people who want to buy it - make the most of them and get yourself known.

By Alan Trescott