You should consider business promotional products to be essential components of your larger marketing strategy. Although promotional items are fundamental if you want to expand your reach, there is a second component needed to unlock their true potential. There are two parts to the concept of marketing reach: the size of the audience and the memorability of your message. It doesn't matter how many people you are able to contact if your message doesn't register with them. Similarly, promotions that are memorable wouldn't be enough to grow your customer base unless they spread to new audiences. That's why social media and promotional items make the ideal pair. While social media expands your audience in a widening ripple of shares, promotional items give them something tangible to remember you by.

Try these 12 creative ideas on combining the two and reach for the stars.

1. Hashtag It

Brainstorm a page full of clever hashtags to create a buzz around your business. Puns and wordplay work well on social media. When you decide on one, use it consistently across social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Then you can use custom screen printing to promote the hashtag in store or at live events.

2. Sell Yourself

With modern printing capabilities, it's easy to make custom promotional products on short notice. Create a social media campaign promoting a flash sale on T-shirts, mugs, flash drives, etc. with your company's name. Put a 24-hour limit on the sale to increase the excitement on social media.