Dos and Don’ts When Ordering Promotional Products

In a world flooded with fleeting digital ads, promotional products, whether it's a mug, chenille patch, tote bag, or tech accessory, remain with customers long after distribution, cementing your logo and messaging in their everyday life. That lasting presence can spark recognition not only among users but also among those in their circles.  

However, this highly effective strategy can backfire if not executed mindfully. A promotional campaign can fall flat if you rush the process, settle for low-quality materials, or select items that fail to resonate with your target audience. Such missteps may lead to wasted spend, wasted impressions, and even harm your brand's image. With so much at stake, a strategic and thoughtful approach is essential. 

In this post, we'll break down the top DOs and DON'Ts when ordering promotional products so you can make informed choices and avoid costly mistakes to turn your next batch into walking brand ambassadors.

DOs

Want your promotional products to hit the mark? Start strong by following these best practices.

1. Do Define Clear Goals and Objectives

Setting clear goals and objectives should be your campaign's scope as it ensures every decision, from product choice to messaging, aligns with measurable outcomes and your broader business strategy. This will help you offer products that highlight your brand’s vision. For example, you can offer a well-designed, custom reusable bag to reflect your brand’s purpose while also supporting eco-friendly initiatives. 

Here's a look at why clear goals and objectives matter:

• Clearly defined objectives channel your efforts and eliminate guesswork, ensuring that each task you undertake drives toward a unified purpose.
• Precise goals help prioritize what matters most, whether that's design quality, quantity, or promotional timing, so your time and budget are not wasted.
• Clear goals enable you to monitor performance and pivot when necessary. This approach continually refines your strategy to achieve better results. 

Additionally, here are five common promotional product goals that brands often use, and you can set too for your next campaign:

• Increase Brand Awareness
• Generate Leads or Inquiries
• Boost Customer Loyalty
• Drive Social Engagement
• Support Product Launches or Events

2. Do Choose High-Quality, Useful Products

When planning promotional products, opting for high-quality and genuinely useful items is a strategic move that builds lasting brand loyalty and increased visibility. A study by promotional products work shows that promotional products are among the most memorable forms of advertising, with 76% of people recalling the brand on an item they have received.  

Moreover, promotional products excel by being integrated seamlessly into daily routines. Items such as high-quality bags, notebooks, pens, or travel mugs become mini-billboards, ensuring your brand stays front of mind long after the initial gifting moment. For instance, consider chenille patches, whether adorned on a varsity jacket or bag; they offer both aesthetic appeal and practical use.  

Additionally, beyond brand visibility, well-chosen items evoke positive emotional connections. According to powercommerce.com, between 40% to 50% of recipients keep promotional products for over ten years. This shows that these products help create enduring associations with the brand that gifted them. This longevity not only fosters customer loyalty but also encourages word-of-mouth marketing, transforming receivers into brand advocates.

3. Do Invest in Attractive Packaging or Presentation

When it comes to promotional products, presentation is not just about the finishing touch but a powerful tool that shapes perception long before the product is used. For this reason, high-quality, thoughtful packaging not only elevates the unboxing experience but also enhances the lasting impression your brand makes. 

Creative and impressive packaging creates a first impression that communicates quality, reliability, and brand values without a single word. Moreover, visual elements such as color, typography, and texture serve as emotional triggers, while color alone can influence 62 - 90% of initial judgments about a product. 

Moreover, good packaging enhances storytelling and user experience. A striking, well-designed packaging can become a branded accessory in its own right, keeping your brand and message in circulation far beyond the moment of delivery.

DON’Ts

Ready to sidestep rookie errors? These DON’Ts will keep the designs of your promotional products clean, clear, and memorable for maximized brand awareness.

1. Don't Forget to Consider the Audience’s Preference

If you pick promotional products based on your personal taste, you risk missing the mark entirely. What you find cool, quirky, or smart, whether it's a trending item or a flashy design, might not resonate with your audience. This misalignment can lead to unappreciated items that end up discarded, silently undermining your brand's impact.

Since relevant products drive brand recall and engagement, the alignment must reinforce your brand. Offering items that clash with your brand identity can create cognitive dissonance and erode trust. Conversely, providing thoughtfully chosen items that align with your values strengthens brand perception.

2. Don't Use Designs That Are Not Legible or Scalable

One of the most critical but easily overlooked mistakes in promotional design is using visuals that do not scale or remain clear across mediums. What looks sharp on your screen can become an unreadable blur once stitched or printed onto merchandise. Embroidery, for example, has many physical limitations, including the thread's inability to replicate tiny serif fonts or fine lines. 

Similarly, logos rich in detail and multi-color gradients may shine in digital formats, but they often fall short on promotional items. Not only can they become illegible, but manufacturers may also charge extra for complex setups or omit critical elements to make the design work. 

Here are some key takeaways to avoid this pitfall:

• Always simplify designs by opting for bold shapes, minimal lines, and solid colors over gradients.
• Ensure text is readable at small sizes and stick with plain, block fonts that will not lose clarity when reduced.
• Before finalizing, test scaled-down versions of your design by viewing it at the size it will appear on products to ensure legibility.
• Work closely with your production partner, whether for embroidery or printing, to understand their limitations and make any necessary adjustments.

Wrapping It Up 

In the evolving landscape of promotional marketing, standing out is no longer just about randomly choosing a product; instead, it’s about making intentional, well-informed decisions that align with your vision. 

By approaching the ordering process with clarity and creativity, you’re not only investing in a promotional item but also in a small, tangible piece of your brand story that your audience can see, touch, and proudly display for years to come.