Preparing your logo for personalized business giveaways

Make business giveaway artwork easier to read on pens, keychains and other small products.

Choose the action you want to support

A giveaway for existing clients can have a different design from one handed out at an exhibition. An existing client may recognize your logo immediately. Someone meeting you for the first time may need a short business name or web address to understand it.

Decide what the item needs to communicate before adding a slogan. A small pen or keychain has limited room, so each extra line makes the rest of the design harder to read.

Find a clean source file

Ask the person who manages your branding for the original logo file. A screenshot from a social profile often includes a background or loses detail around the letters. Keep the original file alongside any version you prepare for the order.

If your logo has fine lines or a detailed illustration, ask whether a simplified version will reproduce better on the chosen material. Avoid changing the proportions just to fill the preview area.

Review at the intended size

A logo that looks clear on a presentation slide can be difficult to read on a narrow object. Reduce your preview to approximate the finished item and check the smallest lettering.

If you include a web address, read it character by character. Check that it goes to the page you intend to promote. Someone outside your team can often catch an error that a familiar brand manager misses.

Keep purchasing details together

Record the event date, delivery destination, selected quantity and artwork contact in the same brief. That helps your purchasing team and the person approving the design work from the same information.

Before ordering a large quantity, ask what sample or artwork review options are currently available. Confirm the complete cost and schedule for your particular order.