Sales activation is the final step in convincing prospective customers to make purchases. This process is at the bottom of the “promotional funnel,” so it’s highly important to brands.

How can smaller businesses convince customers to make the right decisions while they’re in the decision-making stage?

Here’s how sales activation works –

Sales activation efforts should be geared toward in-market shoppers. Use sales activation tools that help draw the attention of customers who are most likely to shop from your business.

Use marketing tools that help establish your brand in the local community. Attract shoppers who are actively looking to purchase the product/services you’re offering via your marketing tools and efforts.

The benefits of using sales activation tools are typically short-lived. The main goal of these tools is to help attract customers to your company. Once this time-specific goal is achieved, you’ll need to stop using sales activation tactics and focus on brand-building tactics.

The Importance of Sales Activation and Brand Building

According to marketing pros, both brand building and sales activation are equally important to businesses. But, small-scale businesses typically can’t invest in both tactics simultaneously.

Companies focus more on their sales activation tactics during economic downturns (e.g., during the 2020 lockdowns). These tactics help them push their brands to as many customers as possible.

There’s no need to relentlessly promote special offers, run discount campaigns, or cut prices anymore when the economy improves. Consumers with disposable income should be targeted with marketing messages during this period. They don’t need the extra “activation” to make purchases anymore. But, exposing them to brand messages will help build brand loyalty.

How to Use Custom Flags to Employ Both Strategies

If you’re a small business owner, you’re probably wondering which strategy is more relevant – brand building or sales activation? 

Why not combine the two? 

Use marketing materials that serve as both sales activation and brand-building tools to get the best of both strategies. Outdoor flags are the perfect example of marketing tools that help businesses simultaneously build both of these strategies. 

A well-designed outdoor flag is a statement maker. You can use them outside your store to “activate” potential customers. You can also use them at tradeshows, fund-raisers, and other crowded events to promote your brand.

Here are four other reasons why custom-printed flags are the best sales activation tools –

Eye-Catching: The vivid colors of custom fabric flags always make lasting impressions. If they’re placed in windy conditions, their ability to stand out amplifies. Fluttering custom flags always grab the audiences’ attention – be it outside stores or at busy events.

Space-Efficient: Feather flags or teardrop flags are highly space-efficient. Brick-and-mortar shop owners can install multiple custom flags inside and outside their stores to grab the attention of passers-by.

Affordable: Well-printed, custom flags made of synthetic materials are surprisingly affordable. Custom print these flags once and use them to attract shoppers for decades.

Easy Order: The latest sellers of custom outdoor flags use advanced printing tools. They can deliver marketing flags of all shapes, sizes, and colors within a few days.

These qualities make custom-printed marketing flags extremely popular promotional tools in the sales industry!