Learn how to avoid the common printing mistakes businesses make in your business by giving attention to every details. From your website to your social media presence, customers are constantly judging the quality of your brand. But one area that many African SMEs and organizations overlook is print marketing.

Whether it’s business cards, packaging boxes, flyers, or branded T-shirts, your printed materials directly shape how customers see your company. Unfortunately, businesses often make avoidable mistakes that cost them money, weaken credibility, and even drive customers away.

In this guide, we highlight the 7 most common printing mistakes businesses make and, more importantly, how to avoid them. By learning these lessons, you’ll save money for your company, impress customers, strengthen your brand identity and  increase sales. Here are common printing mistakes every serous SMEs, NGOs, and enterprises must avoid.

Top 7 Common Printing Mistakes Businesses Make and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Using Low-Quality Materials

One of the biggest mistakes is choosing cheap paper, substrate, or ink to cut costs. While you may save small money from this, the long-term damage to your brand can be huge. For example: 

• Flimsy business cards tear easily and give the impression your business isn’t serious.
• Poor-quality packaging weakens customer trust in your product.
• Cheap signage fades quickly, wasting your investment.

How to Avoid It:

Always balance cost with quality. At JaraPrint, we use premium paper, durable materials, and fade-resistant inks to ensure every product represents your brand professionally. Learn the importance of high-quality printing in brand building. 

Mistake 2: Ignoring Design Consistency

Not every design understands the print design guideline and the need for brand consistency. Your brand should look the same across all channels. But many businesses create a mix of designs that don’t match in color, font, or logo placement. This confuses customers and weakens brand recognition.

How to Avoid It:

• Develop a brand style guide with specific color codes, fonts, and logo rules.
• Work with professional designers who understand branding and printing industry.
• Use custom design-services if you don’t have an in-house team.

Consistency builds trust. Customers who recognize your brand quickly are more likely to buy.

Mistake 3: Choosing the Wrong Printing Partner

Some businesses select printing companies based only on cheaper prices or convenience. Unfortunately, this often leads to delays, poor quality prints, and other hidden or additional costs.

At JaraPrint, we pride ourselves on reliability, affordability, professional printing and pan-African delivery — making us the trusted choice for SMEs, NGOs, and enterprises.

How to Avoid It:

When choosing a partner for your business, evaluate the following:

• Experience – Does the print printer have expertise in your industry?.
• Reliability – Can they meet deadlines?.
• Range of services – Do they offer a wide range of products you need like business cards, packaging, and branded apparel?.
• Customer reviews – What do other businesses or customers say about their services?.

Read our guide: How to Choose the Best Printing Partner for Your Business.

Mistake 4: Overlooking Proofs and Samples

Too many businesses skip checking proofs or reviewing their final design sample before mass printing. The results are typo errors, color mismatches, poor design layout, readability issues or misaligned designs that cost you extra money to reprint.

How to Avoid It:

• Always request a digital or physical proof (printed sample) for confirmation before approving large order production.
• Double-check spelling, colors, image placement and resolution.
• Get a colleague to review your copy or design as a second set of eyes before proceeding.

At JaraPrint, out experienced team ensures every project passes through our strict quality control checks and got the customers’ approval before full or mass production.

Mistake 5: Ordering the Wrong Quantities

Many a times, some SMEs usually under-order in order to save money in the short run, thereby running out of materials too soon. Others over-order, thus, wasting storage space and scarce financial resources that would have been used for other investments.

How to Avoid It:

• Always plan well to estimate your event size, campaign reach, or product demand.
• Order slightly more than what is needed to avoid unexpected shortages or short supplies.
• Take advantage of our special offers for bulk printing discounts that can save you cost.

Mistake 6: Neglecting Packaging and Labeling

Many African businesses still see packaging as “just a container or label.” In reality, packaging your product professionally is one of your most powerful marketing tools. The adage “a good product sells itself” is a reflection of the packaging. Poorly printed packaging and labels or mistakes in product packaging can reduce sales – as it fails to get the need attention of the target customers.

How to Avoid It:

• Invest in professional packaging and product labels.
• Use packaging to tell your brand story and highlight product benefits.
• Consider eco-friendly packaging materials to appeal to conscious consumers.

At JaraPrint, we help businesses design packaging that stands out and boosts retail sales.

Mistake 7: Forgetting the Power of Branded Merchandise

From custom printed T-shirts to mugs, branded merchandise builds loyalty and visibility. Yet, many businesses ignore this affordable marketing strategy. Without branded giveaways or team apparel, you miss out on free advertising for your business.

How to Avoid It:

• Use promotional gifts like T-shirts, polos, and caps to market your brand.
• Print tote bags for events or campaigns.
• Offer branded gifts to customers, staff and partners.

Branded items turn your employees and customers into walking ambassadors. With your contact details or addresses, they can bring in new customers.

Final Words: How to Avoid the Common Printing Mistakes Businesses Make

These common printing mistakes can cost your business more than money if not avoided before hand — they damage your brand reputation, weaken customer trust, and reduce sales for your products. But by learning from these common SME printing errors, you can ensure your materials reflect professionalism and credibility.

At JaraPrint, we make it simple for African businesses to access high-quality, affordable, and reliable printing solutions. From business cards to packaging, banners to branded apparel, we’re your trusted printing partner across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and beyond.

Don’t let printing mistakes hold back your business. Explore our full range of services today: our products. 

Business Printing FAQs:

Q1. What’s the biggest printing mistake SMEs make?
A: Cutting costs with cheap materials, which damages brand perception.

Q2. How can I avoid costly reprints?
A: Always review proofs carefully before approving production.

Q3. Does JaraPrint offer bulk discounts?
A: Yes. Explore our print deals.

Q4. Can JaraPrint help me design my materials?
A: Absolutely — check out graphic design-services.