This is why it is key to set your promotional product giveaways apart from the rest. It does not necessarily have to be by giving away an “out there” or completely random item. Instead, think about the way you present the free gift to your recipients. If you’ve got a selection of custom-imprinted pens, don’t just throw three of them in a bag; show your recipients all the pens you have available and allow them to choose which ones they would like. By doing something as simple as this, you are making the entire giveaway that much more personal in the most subtle, unsuspecting way possible. You are indirectly encouraging your clients to show a tiny piece of their personalities to you while also making it known that you put a little more thought into these promotional handouts.

The same idea goes for promotional items such as T-shirts. Most companies tend to give away promotional shirts in a couple of generically large sizes, keeping the idea in mind that it’s easier to receive something that’s too large than too small. However, offering a variety of shirts in sizes to accommodate all of your recipients is an easy way to impress them with your consideration. By being able to supply your clients with their favorite T-shirt size, it will not be just another promotional T-shirt that’s four sizes too big and sits in their sock drawer, buried at the bottom. They may actually wear it.

All of these “outside the box” ideas can be tweaked to suit your promotional product needs. It’s just about putting a spin on the everyday, same-old, same-old promotional products so your efforts as a company stand out and shine.

The “Employee of the Month” award is an old standby. While it recognizes individuals, it often makes some other employees feel overlooked, mainly because there are no specific standards to meet. At worst, it’s nothing more than a “manager’s pet” popularity contest. Yet studies show that it is critical to recognize employees for their good work. There’s a direct link between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction, and between customer satisfaction and improved financial performance, studies say. So what kind of recognition will satisfy employees?

More often than not, a simple “good job” or “congratulations” from a peer or supervisor can go a long way. A written thank you or compliment is even better, especially when it’s from upper level workers and it’s genuine and heartfelt. Often tangible rewards lead to a higher level of satisfaction. It’s best to set up a program for recognition that clearly constitutes what is rewardable behavior within the company. For instance, set standards for achievement, then have a rewards ceremony with certificates or employee gifts. Or start a sales competition and offer a bonus or a prize. Rewarding positive behavior is a great way to encourage positive attitudes in the workplace as well as decent or superior efforts in doing their jobs.

Positive reinforcement must start at the top, though it shouldn’t stop there. CEOs and supervisors alike should begin the chain of recognition. Over time, the company as a whole will develop a firm understanding that each employee should participate in recognizing accomplishments and hard work in the workplace.

In a recent Maritz Poll, only 10 percent of 1,000 full-time employees surveyed strongly agree that they are completely satisfied with their company’s employee recognition efforts. What would employees of your company say?

According to the survey of more than 820 large employers and 6,000 soon-to-be college graduates, 72 percent of employers plan to hire college graduates this year, compared to 64 percent last year. And college graduates are feeling confident about their prospects: 82 percent expect to receive at least one job offer by the time they graduate.

So, as an employer, what can you do to make sure that you are at the top of the job pool in terms of recruiting worthy employees?

Start with a plan. Know what you are looking for in a potential employee and what kind of benefits come with the opportunity to work at your company. Benefits do not necessarily mean medical and dental, although those aren’t bad; it can also mean nearby attractions such as lakes or ski resorts, or a discount to a local gym or spa. Capitalize on what you have to offer so that a potential employee will see it as well.

Next, you should bring something new to the table. After setting up an interview, you should be ready to show the interviewee why your company will be unlike any other place where they have interviewed or applied. A good way to do this is to bring a promotional product as an interview gift, such as a custom-printed desk caddy or flash drive. Interviewees will be impressed at your thoughtfulness. And the right products will go a long way in branding your company in their minds as a smart and fun place to work.

Try these two simple tips while showing your enthusiasm for what you do, and those recent college grads should have no problem seeing why your company should be their top choice.

Talking promotional products (products that can record sounds) have been around the industry for awhile, but business owners have not yet managed to fully utilize their potential. These products are often a better bet than regular products since they are able to engage the recipient effectively, and their novelty has not worn off yet. Also, since you can record the name of your company AND imprint your motto on them, the items can be used to reinforce your brand and ensure that your business is top-of-mind for recipients. If you do not want to record your own message, many come with pre-recorded messages.

There are quite a few kinds of talking promotional products available, so finding one that suits your business and your tastes shouldn’t be difficult. Talking buttons, talking business cards, and talking stress balls are quite affordable; if you’re willing to splurge, you might look into talking plush toys or talking photo albums. The recording time for most products is about 10-30 seconds, though photo albums are one of the exceptions. The recording time for albums can be 10-20 seconds per page, with a total of 2-3 minutes for the entire album. That’s a lot of potential branding!

These chatty products have made sound a new dimension of promotional products. Don’t be afraid to let your promotional products (literally) do the talking for you!

A good business card should be a little bit of all of these qualities. If you are a straightforward, all-business-all-the-time type of person, then you would probably be alright with the traditional one-sided business card that everyone in the world uses. But, if you want to be personable, memorable, responsible and show your good sense of humor, you should think about doing something different.

Let’s say that you are at a trade show and you’re trying to attract new clients. You know that everyone looks for free stuff. But what if your “free stuff” was also your business card? Check out these business cards that double as magnets for all of your contact information – and can even print a photograph. These freebies are different enough that they will be memorable to a lot of people and aren’t as easy to lose as traditional business cards since they can be stuck somewhere in plain sight.

Or maybe you’ve been in contact with a potential client whom you know will give you some really great business. You have a meeting with them and you want to leave a lasting impression. As the meeting comes to an end and you bust out this chocolate business card, it’s not likely that they will forget you. This chocolate card is a delicious treat that would also show off your sense of humor and personality.

Of course, there will be people who don’t like chocolate or don’t use magnets to clutter their refrigerators, but there are plenty of other options to spice up your business card. Just remember that your business card should be a slice of you. By using a different model than the traditional business card, it’s likely that you will gain an advantage. Your clients will be impressed by your creativity and want to know more about you. And isn’t that the main point of a business card anyway?