If you think designing a set of promotional products is as simple as putting your logo on any random item, you might want to reconsider your marketing strategy if that’s the case. Regardless of whether you’re distributing your promotional products more subtly or at large events, the items displaying your logo need to be practical. But, while giving away tote bags at a large fun run in your community might not be financially practical, you and your target audience can meet half way: The promotional product should be financially practical for your company, while, at the same time, it should be of use to your audience. In some cases, this isn’t difficult to figure out: Promotional water bottles at a fun run and personalized pens and notepads at a networking event all sound like sound – if not somewhat overused – marketing strategies. But, it’s better to be sound but overused than to give out a promotional product your audience simply doesn’t need.

If you’re going the practical route, aonepromos.com offers a wide range of promotional product vendors and a wide price range of items to match that can display your logo. If price is a serious issue and needs to be budgeted carefully, items on the low end of the scale that can display your logo include pens, notebooks, office accessories, keychains, and stress balls. Once you’ve found promotional products that fit in your price range, think of the audience they might target. All of these listed, for example, would be ideal at many networking and job fair events to give to those in attendance. If you want to kick it up a notch and appeal to a larger pool, water bottles, cups, and small bags will appear to most in attendance at a trade show, fun run, or other community event.

But, on the flip side, do you want to distribute items that the consumers immediately throw out? While you want your brand to reach your target, the item needs to be practical. Although small items often have practicality at events like job and networking fairs, larger items are more appropriate when you’re using a promotional product as a gift. Larger imprinted promotional products range from duffel and tote bags to stainless travel mugs and faux leather portfolios. Particularly as gifts to coworkers and business partners, consider the usefulness of the promotional products displaying your logo.