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11 May, 2023

The Five Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Promotional Products

Promotional products like mugs, caps, t-shirts, lanyards and more are incredibly effective marketing tools, but only if they’re used correctly. One of the biggest mistakes new companies make when ordering promotional products is buying items that are too expensive and too flashy, which means they’ll draw attention to themselves rather than your brand or logo. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the biggest mistakes to avoid when buying promotional products so you can ensure your advertising budget goes as far as possible in promoting your company and its message to potential customers.

1. Not Studying Your Audience
If you don't know who you're trying to reach with your promotional product, you're likely not going to find the right item. And even if you do, it will not be as effective as it could be. Before anything else, take the time to learn about your audience. What are their needs? What are their wants? What will resonate with them? And then come up with the right customised product to solve their needs.

2. Not Knowing Your Goals
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when buying promotional products is not knowing your goals. What are you trying to achieve with your marketing campaign? Are you trying to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or drive sales? Without a clear goal, choosing the right promotional products and measuring your success will be difficult.

It's important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Your choice of promotional product depends on what you're trying to accomplish. For example, if you want more visibility at trade shows, giveaways may be the best option for you. If your goal is customer acquisition, consider keychains or T-shirts.

3. Not Planning Enough (Particularly if it’s a large purchase)
You’ve finally decided that it’s time to start investing in promotional products for your business. But before you start throwing your money around, there are a few things you should know. You need to make early plans because shipping may take time. You will not achieve your marketing needs when your promotional products arrive after the event.

4. Not factoring in the Unexpected Costs
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make when buying promotional products is not factoring in the unexpected costs. While the initial cost of the product may be low, there are often hidden costs that can add up quickly. These include shipping, taxes, and set-up fees. By not considering these, you could spend more than you budgeted for.

5. Losing Focus on What Matters
When you're first starting out, it's easy to get caught up in the details and lose sight of what matters. When starting out, it's easy to get caught up in the details and lose sight of what matters.

Not getting enough samples could also be a problem. There is no substitute for hands-on experience with your product so make sure you ask for samples before ordering your items.

Not considering colour restrictions is another factor that people fail to focus on. It may seem like a small detail, but selecting only one colour can limit your target audience. Your customers will be more likely to notice and remember your company if they have a variety of colours to choose from. 

The Promotional Products Team