The Five Most Common Promotional Items Mistakes

What are the most common mistakes people make when choosing or designing promotional items? They might surprise you.

Mistake #1: Forgetting to include contact info.
If your intent is to raise awareness, increase visibility or disseminate information, then you need to remember to include valid contact information on all your promotional items. Of course, there are some exceptions – if you have mounted a viral buzz campaign, for instance, you might leave the contact information for last to raise curiosity. As a general rule, though, unless your logo is immediately recognizable, be sure to include some type of contact information so that people who are interested can get more information.

Mistake #2: Blending in.
You want your promotional items to stand out in a crowd, whether that crowd is literal (as at a trade show) or metaphorical (among all the other companies who send out promotional items). That means choosing eye-catching packaging, stand-out colors and a very identifiable logo. Whether you are giving out t-shirts or handing out fliers, you want your promotional items to be visible and easily identifiable, even from a distance.

Mistake #3: Ordering too late.
Promotional items, especially those that are personalized with color logos, take lead time to prepare. Even rush jobs usually require at least a weeks lead time – and if you have left it that late, you will be limited to a very few generic types of promotional items as choices. Contact the promotional items supplier at least a month in advance of your event – more if they will be doing the design work as well as the printing and shipping. Anything less and you risk not getting your promotional items on time.

Mistake #4: Thinking that any old promotional items will do.
Too many people figure arrive at trade shows and conferences with promotional items because it is what you are supposed to do. Most of them figure that it does not matter what you give away as long as you give something away with your name on it. In most cases, they try to get away with the cheapest promo items that they can find – and brand themselves as inexperienced, unknowledgeable and unprofessional. Take the time to consider your promotional items carefully, and choose ones that fit your company image and show creativity and initiative in a very crowded field.

Mistake #5: Not using promotional items at all.
Promotional items are the single most effective form of advertising and marketing available to today’s entrepreneur. The value of a sales incentive, appreciation gift or promotional sample item cannot be understated. In marketing study after marketing study, research has shown that people who receive promotional gifts become customers and clients, are more likely to buy more often, spend more money and are more loyal to the brands that they choose.

To find out more about promotional items, products and gifts visit some of the leading online suppliers where you can search through their wealth of experience to ensure that your next marketing campaign is well organized and sets off on the right footing.

Why not scan their online catalogues to find what you are looking for for your next marketing campaign or trade show and request a 1hr quote from YesGifts to find out how easily and inexpensively you can advertise your business.