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5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Ordering Promotional Items



Promotional products are among the most effective tools for enhancing brand recognition, fostering customer engagement, and achieving a lasting marketing impact. Whether it’s a custom pen, a branded hoodie, or personalized drinkware, the right promotional item can keep your business in mind for months or even years. However, to maximize your return on investment, it’s essential to avoid some common mistakes businesses make when ordering promotional items. Below, we’ve outlined five common missteps (and how to avoid them) to ensure your next order is successful.

1. Choosing the Wrong Product for Your Audience


One of the biggest mistakes is selecting a product that doesn’t align with your target audience’s needs, lifestyle, or interests. A product may be high-quality and beautifully branded, but if your recipients don’t use it, it won’t have the desired impact.  

   Avoid this by:

  • Considering your audience’s habits. Are they office workers, outdoor enthusiasts, parents, or students?
  • Choosing useful items in daily life, such as notebooks, mugs, tech accessories, or tote bags.
  • Matching the product to the event, such as branded sunglasses for a summer festival or USB drives for a tech conference.  

If you’re unsure, start with best-selling promotional items with broad appeal.


2. Overlooking Quality in Favor of Price  


While budget is important, choosing the cheapest option can lead to low-quality items that break easily, feel disposable, or reflect poorly on your brand. Promotional items are an extension of your business; if they’re flimsy or poorly made, people may associate those qualities with your company.  

   Avoid this by:

  • Reviewing samples whenever possible.
  • Ask your promotional product partner for recommendations that are within your budget.
  • Considering the long-term impact of slightly higher investment in quality, which can pay off with years of brand visibility.  

It’s better to order fewer high-quality items than a large batch of low-quality ones that will likely be discarded.


3. Skipping Proofing and Design Check


This mistake occurs more often than it should: logos might be off-center, text might be blurry, or colors might be incorrect, resulting in unusable merchandise. Rushing through the design proofing stage is a costly error.  

Avoid this by:

  • Take the time to review all proofs carefully before approving.
  • Double-checking spelling, logo placement, and alignment.
  • Ensure your logo file is high-resolution and in the correct format (typically vector files, such as .AI or EPS).  

Work with a promotional company that offers in-house design support to guarantee your branding is perfect.


4. Not Planning for Production and Delivery Times


Promotional products are rarely a rush job, especially when ordering custom pieces, embroidery, or specialty items. Businesses often underestimate the time it takes from design approval to delivery.  

   Avoid this by:

  • Order at least 3-4 weeks before your event date (or earlier for custom or large-volume items).
  • Asking about production timelines upfront.
  • Considering shipping times and potential delays (especially around holidays or peak seasons).  

Some suppliers offer rush service for an additional fee, but planning is always the most cost-effective option.


5. Forgetting to Measure the Results


Once you’ve handed out your promotional items, it’s easy to move on without assessing their performance. However, tracking results helps you understand what works and what can be improved next time.  

   Avoid this by:

  • Setting a clear goal ahead of time, such as increasing booth traffic, driving website visits, or improving customer loyalty.
  • Using tools like custom QR codes or promo codes printed on items.
  • Ask for feedback from your team or event attendees about which products were most appreciated.  

Keeping a short survey or follow-up email can provide valuable insights into the success of your Promotional items.


Final Thoughts  


Promotional products can serve as powerful marketing tools when chosen and executed effectively. By avoiding these five common mistakes, selecting the wrong product, sacrificing quality, skipping the proofing process, waiting too long to order, and failing to measure performance, you’ll maximize the value of your investment.

At ABC Promo Products, we specialize in helping businesses make the smartest choices for their brand and budget. Whether you're planning a big trade show, looking for employee gifts, or need everyday branded merchandise, we’re here to help you get it right every time.

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