If you’re looking to boost awareness for your business, then one of your best branding tools is having some custom printed items made as promotional gifts. After all, people love free things (and the rise of digital printing companies has made commercial printing of such items very affordable). But even beyond reaching the people to whom you give the gifts, you turn the people using your custom printed items into a new marketing channel. That way, you can draw in their friends, coworkers — even the people who see them on the subway — as well. In order to maximize your branding on custom printed items, however, you’ll want to follow a few simple tips:

1. Brainstorm Custom Printed Items That Relate to Your Field

   This won’t be possible for all types of services, but try to choose a promotional gift that’s actually related to your industry. It makes sense for a bookstore to give out branded bookmarks or book bags, for example. If you really can’t come up with anything, then almost all printing services will offer standbys such as pens and T-shirts.

2. Choose Custom Printed Items People Won’t Mind Your Logo On

   Try to think about your promotional gifts from another perspective. People tend to be fine using pens, travel coffee cups, bookmarks and other such custom printed items bearing a business’ logo. But would people be eager to use an address book with your logo emblazoned across the front? That’s far less likely.

3. Try to Balance Strong Branding With Some Subtlety

   If you do want to use an item that you think wouldn’t be popular if merely stamped with your logo, then you’ll need to get a bit more creative. Instead of just using your logo, for example, consider commissioning a local artist to create an eye-catching design that incorporates your logo only as a small part of it. Your logo is an important part of your brand, but it’s not all of it.

Do you have any other tips to share on branding custom printed items in ways that are both attractive and effective? Join the discussion in the comments.