That depends on how serious you are with your business venture. Is this a de facto hobby, or a true business that you plan to grow, market and make successful? If you fall under the second category, then you might seriously consider getting some promotional business products. They can make the difference in acquiring and keeping customers.

If you're reading this article, chances are that your business is primarily online, so there might be other questions for you to consider if you decide you do need promotional products. What kind of customers are you dealing with? Do you have interaction with them through the mail, via the Internet, or even face-to-face? Depending on how you interact with your customers, you may want to choose different kinds of promotional items.

Make sure that your promotional business products mesh with your marketing strategy and message, meet with your client needs, and won't bring down your business. Be careful not to fall into any of these traps when choosing.

DON'T PURCHASE THROW AWAYS

If you're going to spend money on something, it should be worthwhile. Make sure that your client will use the product. Don't sacrifice quality. If you're going to buy pens to give away, make sure that they are good pens that write well. If they aren't, the client will throw them away and won't see your name every time he needs to write down a phone number.

DON'T BLEND INTO THE CROWD

Be creative. Try to find a product that speaks to what your company is and that your clients will appreciate. If you think you can pull it off, try to make your promotional items funny without losing relevance. Nothing would be better for business than for Jim to show Bobby the hilarious promotional items that you gave him. Now Bobby has been exposed to your company and will be more likely to contact you.

DON'T BUY ARBITRAY PROMOTIONAL BUSINESS PRODUCTS

Make your promotional business products relevant to your company and part of your overall marketing strategy. If you run a nature photography website, mail key chains with one of your nature photographs attached. All of your promotional business products should remind customers of what you do and the quality of your work. Don't settle for a product with just your name on it. Make sure the product says something about you.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOUR BEST CUSOMTERS

If possible, tailor some promotional business products to your better clients. Try to get something a bit nicer for the people who buy $300 worth of ad space a week on your website. And make sure that it is something that this client will truly appreciate. If your best client is a kayak tour company, give them waterproof compasses, not magnets. Don't ever spend so much time and effort trying to acquire new customers that you forget to keep your established customers happy.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE AGE IN WHICH WE LIVE

Technologies are constantly changing and being created. Take advantage of that. A good promotional business item might be an e-mailed screensaver or a personalized widget for your customer's desktop. Promotional items can be downloaded, in CD form, or just on a website. Be creative. The better and more memorable your promotional business products, the more customers and revenue they will bring you.