As the world becomes more reliant on computers, companies that use promotional items as a way of advertising their services have become more reliant on items such as the mouse mat to make their advertising statements. If you use promotional items, it's definitely a good idea to consider adding the mouse mat to your range. Even the smallest home business almost always includes at least one computer, and the largest companies will use hundreds and even thousands of them. Choosing printed mouse mats gives you enormous potential to get your message across and remind people of your company each and every day.



The mouse mat, thanks to its large amount of advertising space and its prominent location on the desks of every computer user, is an excellent advertising vehicle. It's one of the few promotional items that displays its message even when the item is not in use?very few people put their mouse mat away in a desk drawer when not using the computer, so that mat continues to sit on the desk, viewable to every passer-by.

Another important advantage of printed mouse mats is the longevity of the item. Printed pens are good, cheap promotional items, but consider exactly why they're so inexpensive, and you'll begin to see the value of a promotional item that lasts'an item such as a mouse mat. A plastic pen is small, easy to lose, and is useless once the ink runs dry. Lost pens may sometimes end up in the possession of a new owner, and that's good, since it means your advertising is still being viewed by someone. However, lost pens are usually just that?lost. Accidentally dropped in the street, they end up in the trash and your advertising is immediately useless. People tend to hoard pens because they're a necessary item that's always needed, but how much advertising exposure does your item get when it's stored in a drawer?

A mouse mat, on the other hand, is much harder to lose, and even more importantly, the perceived and real value of the item is higher than that of a pen, so the gift is treated with more care. A good quality mouse mat can stand up to years of use, and if the mats you distribute are attractive enough, they'll be used for much longer than a printed pen. Even though the mouse mat costs you more than the pen, your advertising message is much bigger, and lasts much longer?the extra money you spend on the item more than pays for itself over its lifetime.

Perceived value is another important concept that bears some further explanation. This term doesn't refer to the monetary value of an item, but rather how valuable it is to the person who owns it. The perceived value of a gift such as a cheap plastic pen is fairly low?most companies distribute plastic pens, and they're easy to come by. Items such as mouse mats, even if they cost less than ?0.50, have much higher perceived value, partly because of their size, but also because they are not as freely given as pens. Give your clients and staff a mouse mat, and you're telling them they're worth more than an inexpensive printed pen?and your advertising will be worth more too. The recipients of your gifts enjoy getting an item of value, and you enjoy the benefits of long-lasting advertising!