| I've seen a lot of dental giveaways as my teeth | | | | enough for a vending machine. The answer? Don't let |
| have been fixed and maintained over the years, but | | | | a client leave with only a vending machine item. |
| there's a huge difference between giving away some | | | | These are all typical dental giveaways that can be |
| thing, and giving away a dental promotional product. | | | | improved with an imprint: |
| My current dentist uses giveaways to help children | | | | Stickers: If dentists give away stickers, they should |
| have a good experience in her office. She gives | | | | imprint their name on the edges to make it worth |
| generic tokens to children after their dental work is | | | | the budget. Stickers only last a day, but they |
| done to use in a vending machine. My children love to | | | | advertise wherever the child goes, and that's good |
| put in the token and get a toy or sugar free gum. | | | | logo visibility even if it's not a product with long term |
| I think the vending machine idea is great for | | | | marketing life. |
| encouraging young dental clients to enjoy their visit | | | | Balloons: When balloons are a giveaway, make sure |
| and look forward to their next visit. I also think it is | | | | they're filled with helium and have a clear imprint on |
| wise that this dentist has only toys or sugar free | | | | the front. Helium balloons stand out and say "look at |
| gum in the machines-it supports what the dentist is | | | | me" and will advertise dental services wherever the |
| trying to do (while sugared candy would counter the | | | | child goes, especially if it's tied onto the child's wrist |
| dentist's advice on eating healthfully). | | | | before leaving the dental office. Hopefully the client's |
| The sugar free gum my dentist uses in her vending | | | | next stop is the mall. |
| machines comes in individual packages of one piece. | | | | Baggies: If a dentist is going to give away a |
| The dentist sells big packages of the special gum | | | | toothbrush and floss (imprinted of course, otherwise |
| from the customer desk, so it could seem that giving | | | | it's a huge missed opportunity) then my advice is to |
| clients a sample of the gum from the vending | | | | forget imprinting the baggie. Clients keep the |
| machine would increase sales of the packages of | | | | contents inside, not the baggie. Don't waste budget |
| gum and thus make a good promotion. It probably | | | | dollars on such an obvious throwaway. |
| does increase gum sales. The problem is, the dentist | | | | These are the typical dental office giveaways, with |
| is not in the gum re-selling business. He or she is in | | | | advice to help make them more meaningful to a |
| the business of maintaining and fixing teeth-that is | | | | dentist's business. Remember, if dentists want to be |
| where the real money is-and so all promotions should | | | | remembered, then their names and business info |
| reflect the dentist's services, not side jobs. | | | | should be imprinted on all their dental promotional |
| Everything a client takes out of the dental office | | | | products and any such giveaway or gift should |
| should be calculated to remind the client of that | | | | provide good logo visibility and not be immediately |
| particular dentist. | | | | thrown away. |
| That being said, few imprinted items are inexpensive | | | | |