Diane Hall, owner of distributorship Promotions Plus, knows what impact promotional products have in politics better than most, as she also happens to be the mayor of Milo, IA. In this episode of Promo Insiders, senior writer John Corrigan talks with Hall about how she used promo in her own campaign and how promo can still be effective during this unprecedented election year.

Podcast Chapters
1:14: How Diane used promo products during her mayoral campaign
3:07: COVID-19’s impact on 2020 presidential election
4:45: Popular election promo products
5:54: Attracting politicians as clients
7:58: How business has been during the pandemic
8:50: Markets to target during the pandemic
9:42: Advice for fellow distributors

Diane Hall, owner of distributorship Promotions Plus, is also the mayor of Milo, IA.

Distributors will have to pivot once again this year if they want to help politicians get their message across to voters. With the lack of large gatherings due to social distancing, Hall says you have to reach voters where they are: home. “Direct mail is good, but you get so many letters from politicians that you need multi-dimensional mailings to stand out,” Hall says. “Chip clips, pens, pins, magnets and other household items get more attention than political postcards. We’re always creative, but we have to step it up a little bit more this year.”

That doesn’t mean all promo products traditionally used in political campaigns won’t be effective this year. Instead of handing out T-shirts and hats at rallies, Hall suggests sticking with products that people can see from a distance, such as banners and yard signs. “People are still out and about, but you have to be more careful,” Hall says.