Even if you associate gifting with holidays and birthdays, corporate gifts are indeed an extraordinary way to grow your business and strengthen relationships with colleagues within your own organization. The right corporate gift leaves a lasting impression and helps potential clients or long-standing customers maintain a good impression of you and your company in the future. However, if you give the wrong gift, you might achieve the opposite of what you intended. Even if you are trying to reward a hard-working employee in your own company, you need to make a wise choice. Gifts that are work-oriented or cheesy do not make your best employees feel valued.

To understand how to select the perfect corporate gift, you first need to understand and apply the differences between a genuine gift and an incentive. Regardless of whether you are gifting a client or an employee, gifts should be given without the expectation of something in return. If you want to give your employees something that encourages them to work harder or achieve specific goals, then that is an incentive, not a genuine gift. Gifts to clients and potential clients should likely be given without expecting them to do more business as a result. Gifts should be chosen and given thoughtfully to show appreciation and give the recipient a good feeling.

How do you choose a gift that leaves an impression? There are numerous ways, but some key things should be considered when selecting good gifts.

1. Make it unforgettable

How many branded mouse pads, pens, and magnets have floated around your office? Probably more than you can remember. Do you recall any of the companies that gave you those gifts or the person who made the gifts? Unlikely. If you’re trying to leave a lasting impression with something useful, thoughtful, and unique, then think outside the box for a unique corporate gift. You could gift your client a logo mug, but it might get lost among all the other logo mugs they already have.

2. Make it something they use daily

In this sense: If you can select a gift that your client or employee sees every day at the office or even at home, then it will have more impact than something that can only be used once or sparingly. That Christmas decoration may be nice, but once the holidays are over, it goes back in the box until next year. And while everyone loves a basket full of muffins, there’s no memory of the relationship after they are consumed.

3. Personalize it

This should go without saying, but make the gift personal whenever you can. This is especially true when giving corporate gifts to employees or colleagues. It shows that you care about the person receiving the gift and that you took the time to get to know them, which says a lot about your company culture. Besides showing a level of thoughtfulness that a generic gift simply cannot, there are times when it is even more important to know a person’s preferences. For example, it might be nice to gift a food basket, but do you know if the recipient has food allergies?

4. Use your own judgment

Give no one anything you would not want to receive yourself. This does not mean you have to give them something blue just because it’s your favorite color, but it is important to exercise a little common sense when selecting a gift. If you want to show appreciation, your gift should reflect that. Giving them something that is obviously generic, cheesy, or cheap will have the opposite effect and make them feel unappreciated for their hard work. This does not mean you have to spend a fortune. Many wonderful gifts are very affordable. But it does mean you should strive to give them something that does not fall apart after the first day or that is presented in tasteful colors. Which brings us to…

5. Budget

Corporate gifts are a wonderful tool for building relationships between businesses and people within an organization. Therefore, they deserve to be included in your budget. Talk to your CPA to find out what you can spend on corporate gifts, and consider incorporating a gifting program into your quarterly expenses so you are never tempted to skimp on the gifting department when selecting a good gift.

6. Don’t make it an advertisement

While you want your client, customer, or colleague to think of you when they use or see their gift, it should not have your company logo plastered all over it. Similarly, you should be cautious when ordering a gift from a third party. Some of them put their logos and other visual trademarks on their items for their own company. You want your customers to remember YOUR name, not the name of the company that provided the gift.

7. Don’t be afraid to be different

There are many beautiful gifts out there. Food, candles, gift vouchers, and coffee are great gifts. But don’t be afraid to think of something that has probably never been done before. You don’t have to limit yourself to giving products that are generally considered “corporate gifts.” If you give him or her something they haven’t received often before, it will further solidify the fact that you are thoughtful and genuinely want to connect with the person. The connection and thoughtfulness behind your gift is the most important aspect of ANY gift, whether business or otherwise!