Gyms can give away pedometers to track how active clients are by counting their steps. During the winter, it's easy for consumers to become sedentary and excuse themselves from working out. Former gym-goers can use their devices and notice that they're hurting their health by staying at home.

You can't allow your clients to leave your gym because it's cold outside. Customers who leave may never come back, so you'll have lost business due to a lack of motivation. Branded pedometers can help you demonstrate how inactive your patrons are when inclement weather prevents outdoor activities.

Gyms can give unique promotional products to improve their seasonal customer retention rates. Some clients don't realize how little they exercise during the winter, and pedometers may be the ideal tools to help fitness centers keep their patrons working out.

Local mechanics can help clients stay safe on the road with unique promotional products. Garages can distribute tire gauges so their customers know when they need to refill their tires or buy new sets.

The longer a driver delays checking his or her air pressure, the chances of damage occurring rise. Promotional giveaways that help drivers keep their car in working order show that mechanics care. Gauges can also help garages do more business. When customers see that their tire pressure is low, they'll turn to their mechanic for repairs.

The best giveaways are the ones that forge bonds between you and your clients. Distributing branded tire gauges shows that you care about driver safety, while also marketing your auto repair services. The advertisements may be small, but they can still help you earn large returns as more customers come in to have their tires filled and changed.

Fun and functional

Practical gifts ranked highest in a survey of intended Father's Day gifts conducted by PriceGrabber, meaning most shoppers want Dad to have something he can use on a regular basis that will remind him of how important he is to family and friends. In addition, almost one-fourth said they would be buying a hobby-related present, increasing the likelihood that Dad would find regular value in the present.

Dads are hard-working and need the best tools to get the job done. A hardware, utility or motor vehicle supply store might want to consider giving away flashlight pens that can easily be clipped to a shirt or pants pocket for use in tight places like under the sink or under the hood where a traditional light would be too bulky. A personalized pocket knife can also be handy when he needs to cut wires, open packaging or accomplish other small jobs and doesn't have scissors handy or a bigger sharp edge would be inconvenient.

A business mindset

When he's not working around the house, though, Dad has a lot of work to get done at the office. A promotional wall calendar can help him keep track of appointments, while a personalized notepad will remind him of a special message even when he's got other important things to take down and remember. Promotional pens will encourage future business with a supplying company while still providing a sleek and stylish writing implement that would go handsomely with pen boxes.

A carry-over gift

The PriceGrabber survey found that roughly 20 percent wanted something for Dad to wear and be seen with. For those shoppers, a logo tote bag might be an appealing option as a promotional item as well as a practical gift that would be fun and functional. Seeing as the study found most consumers like a freebie added to a deal to make them more likely to buy, what better gift inclusion than a decorative personalized tote bag to go along with an item. Not only will Dad see the business name and associate it with the thoughtful purchase, but others will see and inquire about the brand too.

Web designers
Because web-based design encompasses aspects of digital art and computer programming, promotional USB drives make excellent corporate gifts. Companies engaged in software development or web protocols can pre-load drives with tutorials or trial versions of software applications.

Writers and editors
Writers and editors engaged in high volume content development know the horror of re-working a draft five times only to have the document disappear into thin air. A USB drive is a great gift for people in the writing industry, and is sure to get plenty of use. If a company employs a content development firm, custom flash drives are a sure way to deepen that relationship.

Legal offices
Legal offices are high stress environments filled with paperwork and tight deadlines. Teamwork dominates these settings, and one lost document can throw a wrench in the inner workings of the entire office. Work documents need to be portable and readily accessible in court settings. A company serving litigators can gain attention by affixing its logos on USB flash drives, perhaps custom loading digital business cards and a direct link to the company website.

Consultants
Many businesses today bring in consultants for training, management maximization and quality control. The best consultants are likely to be traveling nationally or internationally. Think about the visibility a business may receive if a consultant's data is saved on a flash drive adorned with its logo. When seen by clients, this promotional gift may represent the consultant's approval of the company's services.

At recruitment events or expo fairs
A promotional USB drive can be given directly to potential employees at recruitment events or to potential clients at promotional expositions. For small businesses, these events are likely to be staffed by human resources representatives and the management team. Companies should look to these events not only as an opportunity to meet and attract new clients, but also as the perfect opportunity to establish and present a clear brand identity. Companies can pre-load informational and promotional documents onto flash drives. Potential employees can gain insight into a company's mission and procedures, whereas new clients can better understand company's services and initiatives. A paperless option is effective for companies wanting to associate themselves with green business. 

Samples for potential clients
Promotional items should have some relationships to what the company does. USB flash drives are effective for putting marketing content in the hands of desired clients and can even be used to offer product samples to companies. For instance, a company providing web-based images for clients could provide a sample set of stock images watermarked to protect copyrights. Companies can also load flash drives with company data to target potential investors or company partners.

Flash drives containing corporate logos and pre-loaded with company information can lead to significant improvements in client relations. These drives show that a company is tech savvy and concerned about the environment and these aspects can be taken advantage of for company marketing.

In the modern world, most people have a cell phone, and accessories designed around such mobile devices will be seen every time a potential customer picks up a call. Leather smartphone holders or solar-powered portable chargers are innovative and durable and will stand out from other promotional products.

Another item typically found in the office is a laptop or desktop computer. For a laptop, a travel wireless mouse can provide a quick and easy solution to frustrating finger pads or cursor buttons. Desktops can be targeted with promotional items like customizable USB drives – people always need ways to securely transfer corporate and personal information, and such products are often expensive to obtain. USB keys are a cost-effective way to engage the computer market.

It is even possible to combine already existing promotional products with technology – a USB pen, for example, offers the practicality of a writing device combined with secure data storage.

The first step to the process is for a business owner to decide what kind of information he wants to go viral. Information about the field he works in and why his company is well poised to be a leader may be harder to integrate into a viral hit than a commercial. Both have viral possibilities, but he'll have to be more careful with the former type of information.

Videos are much easier to make into viral hits, as the most important part of the equation is entertainment value. Video is easy to share on the internet and takes little effort on the part of the viewer. It is important for creators to remember that not every video manages to go viral. Consequently, they should put effort into more than one. It's also worth noting that viral videos can originate as something people really like or something they really dislike. Many viral hits are celebrations of the failure of the video rather than its success.

When making the video, it's important to present a fun and interesting side of your business. Companies like Old Spice have seemingly mastered this approach. Many of the company's recent commercials have gone on to be viral hits, transforming perception of the brand from the deodorant for grandparents to one for in touch with youth. The success is largely thanks to a combination of appealing to internet sensibilities and keeping them short and easy to share.

Creating a written post is much more difficult for viral sharing but may be more feasible for small business marketing. One thing for business owners to avoid in this situation is too much promotion. Internet users are members a savvy demographic, and they'll likely be unwilling to share information if it comes off as a promotion. The trick is to make the information it contains both useful and entertaining. A company trying to make a viral news story may want to consider first looking at what information is already out there about the industry or product. The next step is to present new information and make it as newsworthy as possible.

Once the creator has the information, it is time to consider the structure. Keeping the post digestible is the most important part of the equation. There is an infinite number of areas of entertainment that those reading a post have as options, and by simply covering page after page with text, the post will be off-putting and ignored. Lists are good for conveying the same amount of information while making it seem easier to read.

Making sure to have an attention grabbing title is important as well. One of the big steps in something gaining the widespread attention it wants is that people are willing to click on the post. While there are likely going to be a few people willing to read and share anything they come across, the next wave of readers who see the link on friends' social media pages have to be interested enough to click.

There are many ways to make a post go viral, but for the business owner looking to promote his company, it can be difficult to find the right angle. It's a complicated process, and continuing to try is an important part of that process. All it takes is one viral hit, and a small business's visibility will grow incredibly.

Fortunately, there are some things that companies can expect to be able to share with clients. Anyone who doesn't celebrate the holidays in one way or another is surely in the minority, meaning that festive promotions will garner quite a bit of attention no matter what form they take. However, the best form may be to engage in the age-old practice of giving presents to consumers by branding promotional products and handing them out for free. In addition to providing value to clients, the products will live on to spread the word about a particular organization, product or service.

Pens, notepads and calendars
These useful tools will rarely be tossed aside by customers for the simple reason that they serve important purposes. Few people ever own too many pens, making these branded items essential devices for every kitchen or office. Notepads are an attractive alternative to scrap paper and help customers to organize their thoughts. The holidays, much like other times of year, require consumers to be aware of important engagements, making pocket calendars essential.

Best of all, these items can be tastefully wrapped or bound in gift boxes or sleeves and will share the festive spirit of the holidays with consumers.

Solar chargers
Besides being incredibly useful, promotional solar chargers are intriguing. There was a time not so long ago when solar cells seemed like exotic and futuristic technology. However, recent advances have made this device affordable and important. After all – who has never been in a situation that finds a smartphone is dying with no way to charge it?

By giving dedicated customers such a product, companies can solidify a reputation of having strong connections with consumers. Promotional solar chargers will dazzle people if the simple act of giving the gift is publicized in subsequent advertisements, on social media platforms or even in a store or office itself.

Computer dust brush
New technology tends to present minor problems that people probably never even though about before. The prevalence of computers, for example, has highlighted for many consumers the fact that electronics can become terribly dusty and dirty. By giving away promotional computer brushes, organizations can both help to solve a pressing issue for customers and to make their lives just a little bit easier. Hence, whenever such Christmas gifts are used (and shared with friends and family), the name of the business that provided it will always be apparent.

Golf towels
While they may not be for everyone, golf towels are always appreciated by enthusiasts of that sport. In addition to being all-around useful tools, they serve to remind golfers that there really isn't all that much time left to winter and that they'll soon be able to hit the links once more.

Cool wine totes
Parties and dinners, of which there are many during the holidays, are often made all the more enjoyable with a few cocktails. Unfortunately, some drinks are best served at a certain temperature and won't be nearly as tasty when a short car trip requires that they be refrigerated again. Not so when one uses a cool wine tote, which makes a fantastic promotional gift to customers around Christmastime.  

Promotional products that are high-tech or very unique and useful stick out in the minds of clients, customers or general consumers more than the average personalized business gift. When deciding on a promotional product to offer new clients, repeat customers or even promotional contest winners, go with something memorable.

In this vein, water-resistant solar flashlights are a great choice. In addition to being handy while on vacation, they are the perfect emergency tool for many different situations. Keeping one in a car, on a bike or even around the house will set people's minds at ease. The fact that this reliable tool is branded with the name, logo or mascot of a company won't go unnoticed.  

However, there are plenty of non-profit groups that need to make people aware of their causes that can benefit from the use of promotional products. Schools are increasingly strapped for cash, and the burden of supporting extra-cirriuclar activites and PTA events has been placed upon parents and community members through the use of donations and fundraisers.

By treating their campaigns the same way that private companies would treat an advertising effort, schools and their advisory boards can give away personalized mugs, promotional pens and other items that will make people in the area more interested in the fate of local schools. They will also become badges of pride for parents, teachers and students, all of whom understand the importance of the products and causes that they support.  

Promotional digital photo egg
A promotional picture frame is a useful item, but for an exceptional statement, a digital photo egg will do the job nicely. These little items contain an LCD screen that can store a number of photographs. Positioned on a desk at work or at school, a digital photo egg will see lots of use and catch the inquisitive eye of anyone who happens upon it.

Pocket multilingual translator
For high-end promotional product campaigns, personalized pens can be useful. However, an affordable but effective promotional pocket multilingual translator can broadcast that a company or organization is dealing with worldly travelers and businesses.

Promotional recycled paper mousepad
These days, it is becoming more and more important for companies to acknowledge the problems facing the environment. There's no better way to make that statement than with a recycled paper mousepad. In addition to positioning a company firmly on the side of ecology, it allows customers to use something every day that lets them show off their own support for the environment.