Every year around the holiday period, new types of promotional products and corporate gifts find their way into the market and land onto our office desk. Critics might argue that promotional products and corporate gifts are outdated or unfashionable but they are just wrong: the time of fruitcakes and wine baskets is long gone, but the new corporate gifts are hot!

Considering how much it might cost for you to continuously advertise in quality magazines or newspapers, or set up a media campaign, promotional products are by far the most cost-effective way to boost your public relations and raise brand awareness.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect about promotional gifts is that they have the ability to express that certain emotion you just cant communicate through other marketing methods. People appreciate to receive gifts, especially valued are gifts specifically picked out for just them. A personalised gift shows that you value them as a client, a business partner or a member of your team. Branded beach balls, corporate sunscreen and customized bags, are the perfect products to reinforce relations between co-workers on that annual barbecue or team building weekend. While key rings, business card holders and compendiums, are ideal promotional icebreakers to start talking business with potential clients. Branded picture frames or coffee mugs are a good way of expressing your appreciation to an employee. Basically what it comes down to is; the more original you are, the more you and your merchandise will be talked about.

Timing says a lot about the goals youre trying to pursue. Promotional gifts given to potential customers on a tradeshow will help kick off communications and let the potential customers know you are easily accessible for further business. After sales, the gifts a client received will tell indicate that you appreciate doing business with them and it will keep them coming back. Loyal customers deserve your gratitude and by giving promotional tokens your company will carry out a positive image.

Of course we have all received the traditional fruit baskets, pens, coasters and calendars but the selection of promotional products becomes more and more important these days as the list of corporate gifts to choose from is literally endless. Hot promotional products nowadays are branded picnic sets, laptop cases, watches and imprinted first-aid kits. If you really want to stand out from the rest of the crowd, you can go for the new trendsetting eco-friendly and charitable promotional gifts that will add an extra dimension to this no longer ordinary marketing strategy.

If you really want to impress your clients and your employees, green is definitely the way to go. Green promotion is trendy and necessary. More and more companies understand the importance of a green approach and want to show their eco-friendliness through recycled, carbon offset or waste reducing promotional products. Popular green promotional items are bamboo clothing, stylish recycled shopping bags, seed sticks and shower timers.

The hottest developing trend in promotional and corporate gifts however, are those related to research, charity and other good causes. Your business contacts will definitely be impressed if you surprise them with unexpected gifts that make a difference in the struggle against poverty or if you invest in the RED products where part of the funds go to people in Africa dying of aids.

It should be clear by now that promotional products dont have to be restricted to only hand-outs and giveaways, but that they serve an entire range of marketing purposes providing they are well-chosen, well-balanced within your budget and well-timed. The true value of promotional products lies in their ability to create ongoing awareness of your brand and also represent what you stand for.