Request a consultation. Your promotional items company should be more than an online store. You should expect them to offer a strategy session and advice on which items with which messages are right for your particular audience. Schedule a call to discuss your special event, your target audience and campaign or theme, then brainstorm about the right item to complete it.

Select items that encourage leads. Does your imagery inspire the customer to call you after your event? Instead of just printing a logo, consider adding a call to action directly on the giveaway. For example, if you choose to mail items before the event, add a note to visit the booth and mention the item to receive a nice gift at the actual event. Hotels and restaurants can include a 10% off your next stay or a free appetizer if you present the item upon arrival. 

Remember the impact of shipping costs when you plan the budget.  The cost of shipping 500 coffee mugs is astronomical in comparison to shipping 500 ink pens. Consider the weight of the item you are selecting and how it will affect your overall budget. Evaluate how many items you need to cover your target audience and ensure that shipping costs won’t leave you with a short order on what’s really important – the quantity of your promotional items.

Try before you buy: Order samples. Before you order dozens or hundreds or thousands of any item, from a pen to a computer bag - you should know exactly what you are getting. Colors, imprint areas, functionalities and quality differ widely between pens, koozies, coffee mugs and other promotional items. Order a sample of your preferred item(s) before you place a larger order to avoid a potential headache later.

Ask for peer recommendations. Who has used your promotional provider in the past? Was the experience a solid one? Would they use the vendor again? It is equally as important to shop for the right vendor—who can become a trusted strategist and a key extension of your branding team— as it is to shop for the right promotional item. Ask your vendor for current testimonials, customer references and case studies.

You can expect more tips like these in future blog posts at www.ProformanceLogo.com/blog. And remember to follow us as www.Twitter.com/proformancelogo.