Before you go through all the trouble and expense of creating promotional merchandise
make sure that the response from your public will be a positive one by taking note of some of these common mistakes made with promotional products.
Poor quality avoid your brand name being linked with a poor quality marketing item. It makes sense to be associated with a quality product if that's the way you want your customers to see your business. While many firms will want to source the cheapest pens or key rings if the products don't work or break easily then you are wasting your time.
Tacky unless you are in the business of selling gags for bad taste or promoting a rock band, leave the tacky slogans and drawings alone. If you want your business to be remembered well, create a design that says clearly you are professional. By creating an image for your business that is in good taste you will attract more customers.
Offensive leave these to the adults only businesses as this will most definitely be seen in the same light as tacky. Promotional products are about advertising your business. You really don't want the after affects of customers getting the wrong message from your logo or slogan. Offending future customers could have a disastrous result if they spread the word to others.
Useless items no-one will know who you are if the item is thrown away. Select your products carefully and think about the items that you appreciate and continue to use. While it might be a cheap option to have hundreds of cheap pens as part of your promotion if the pen stops working or breaks after a couple of uses then it is going to go in the bin along with your good name.
Too serious, too funny it is important to know your clientele. In the same way a funeral parlour would not promote their business with smiley faces, a sports shop wants to be recognised for their fitness aspect. Think carefully about your target audience before rushing into any form of promotional advertising so you know you have matched your message with your customers needs.
It is a good point to remember that promotional items are all about giving the customer something they want. Otherwise your name and brand is going nowhere. You want to be thought of well when someone sees your logo on an item they are using. Optimize your business by careful use of promotional products and you'll see results in the long term.