Whether you’re heading to promote your brand at a conference, sponsoring a golf tournament, or wanting to make an impression on potential clients in a one-on-one meeting, put some thought into the right promotional item. Remember that your giveaway item will leave an impression of who you are, and what you do, long after you and your potential customers have parted ways.

When choosing promotional items, avoid these mistakes.

1. Plain, Cheap Pens

Promotional pens are a dime a dozen. They’re everywhere, and unless they’re somehow remarkable, most people won’t even take the time to look at what’s written on them. 

Plus, we’re living in a digital world, and while pens haven’t gone the way of the dinosaurs yet, they aren’t as necessary to our daily lives as they once were.

If you want to give away a pen, it needs to make an impression. 

A fancy pen that feels good in the hand and writes smoothly is still a coveted item. People will want to use it if it feels and looks good. They’ll also expose your brand to more and more people each time they take it out.

Another wise pen option is one that pulls double (or triple) duty. 

Give away a pen/stylus combo — especially if you’re giving out promotional items at a conference. Many people at the conference will be taking notes on their tablets. Give them a pen/stylus combo, and they’ll use it for the entire conference when they pull out their tablet to take notes. Not only that, other people will notice and ask where they got it. 

A pen with a highlighter will be kept (and protected — hands off this cool pen!) by the owner, guaranteeing your branding will get seen.

Or a trio pen with an LED light and stylus gives your potential customer multiple reasons to pull it out.

 

2. An Unsharpened Pencil

An unsharpened pencil will find its way to a trash can faster than stale gum. That’s because it requires work. The person has to find a pencil sharpener, and unless you’re in a school building, that’s an almost-impossible task. 

Plus, people just aren’t crazy about regular old pencils. They’re almost the equivalent of coal in your stocking; a huge letdown. Even kids don’t get excited about unsharpened pencils.

Instead, try mechanical pencils. They can be used right away, they never need a sharpener, and the clicking sound is fun. 

 

Or give away a jumbo pencil. It’s fun, it’s noticeable, and people will want to use it. Because it’s chunky and fun to hold, people will go to the effort of keeping it — and using it. (Just sharpen it before you hand it out, for goodness’ sake!)

Or how about a mechanical pencil with a stylus?

3. Visors

We’re not saying visors should never be given away as promotional items, but you definitely need to know your audience. If your audience golfs, go ahead and throw some much needed, and appreciated, visors their way. Your branding will be at eye level any time your customer wears the visor, so this is a bonus.

 

But think about the general public. How often do you see someone wearing a visor? Remember: you want people to actually wear your promotional items.

If your audience is part of the general public, opt for a different giveaway item that can still deliver the impact of eye-level exposure.

If your audience ISN’T made up of golfers, give away stylish sunglasses. They do the same job as visors — shielding the sun — but the difference is that everyone needs (and wants) them.

And just like a visor, they’ll be worn at eye level, so your customer will share your logo every time they look someone in the eye.

 

Hats are another great eye-level option that also shields the sun.

If it’s winter, beanies with your logo will get a lot of eye-level, front-and-center mileage.

 

4. Wall Chargers

Nobody wants 100 wall chargers for their corded items. They’re a hassle, and they clutter up a space. Plus, many of our devices are becoming wireless so the need for wall chargers isn’t as big as it once was. If you do opt to give away a charger for cords because you know your audience will use it, it needs to be multi-functional — like this 6-port USB wall charger.

Alternatively, you can give wireless chargers, and they’ll be used all day long. Every time your customer goes to charge their phone, they’ll be reminded of your company.

Pro tip: If you operate a service business with a storefront, keep wireless chargers out on your desk. While you meet with clients, offer for them to use your charger. When they love the convenience (which they will), give them their own wireless charger to take home.

 

5. Folders

Again, know your audience. If you’re at a conference where paper is being handed out left and right, a folder is going to come in handy. If you’re a mortgage company or a bank setting up a new client, you’re going to need to send them home with papers in a folder.

But unless paper is a major part of your event or company, ditch the folder and opt for a nice iPad cover instead. 

6. Something That Doesn’t Relate to Your Brand

The purpose of promotional items is to keep your brand front and center while people happily use the item again and again. Your giveaway item shouldn’t be something your customer has to spend much time thinking about. They shouldn’t have to make mental connections on their own; the item should make the connection back to your brand for them.

Because of this, it doesn’t really make sense to give away bookmarks at a tech conference, no matter how beautiful the bookmarks are. Similarly, if you’re a pet store, don’t give away teacups. It just doesn’t make sense, and the brand association will be harder for people to make — which means they’ll forget what you do, and who you are.

 

At Impact Marketing and Design, we offer countless promotional items to get into your customers’ hands. But we also offer something more — trained specialists who get your company. We won’t waste your time suggesting products that won’t make an impact on your potential customers. We’re here to help you reach as many customers as possible, and in the right way. Plus, we take on all the grunt work — so you can get back to doing what you do best. Get in touch today.