You won't be exposed to the elements, but your brand will be exposed to the masses! Umbrellas are one of the most underutilized promotional products on the market. If you haven't made umbrellas part of your overall marketing efforts, you're really missing out. The visibility factor of umbrellas is second to none. They're mobile billboards offering a large, unobstructed canvas for your logo.

Some businesses may shy away from umbrellas because they're not sure how to use them in their marketing. You wouldn't exactly hand them over the same way you do a pencil. With that in mind, here are 5 ways to use umbrellas to promote your business.

1. Courtesy umbrellas: People get caught umbrella-less in unexpected downpours. Show how much you care about your customers and walk them to their car with an umbrella featuring your logo. Choose something large, like the Best Value 60 Golf Umbrella, that's big enough to cover the customer and their shopping bags.
2. Make umbrellas part of a special campaign: Come up with a catchy slogan that ties in umbrellas. Having a big sale? Go with a "watch for falling prices" theme and hand out umbrellas to the first 50 customers through the door. With its remarkably small size and bold colors, the Pencil Umbrella is perfect for promotional gimmicks.
3. Give away umbrellas at company outings: Whether a picnic, a trip to the lake, or an afternoon ballgame, umbrellas can shield you from the sun - or shield your food from the bugs! Order up some promotional umbrellas for employees to keep as a souvenir. Happy employees are the key to a successful business
4. Employee appreciation gifts: Show that you're truly thoughtful and caring by giving your employees a useful, convenient gift. Take the Briefcase Mini Manual Open Compact Umbrella for instance. Unlike a clunky full-sized umbrella, your employees can keep this one in their briefcase at all times.
5. Use them every chance you get: There's nothing to say that you have to give all the umbrellas away in order to make effective use of them. Keep a stock of umbrellas featuring your logo on hand and use them whenever you can. For example, keep one for your own personal use and take it with you to concerts, the beach, and the golf course.
   

The idea behind promotional umbrellas applies to lots of other promotional products as well. Don't be afraid to step outside of the norm and go with a promo item that's out of the ordinary. You'll make a lasting impression with a marketing campaign that's truly unique and memorable.