1. Classic Cotton Meeting Tote: Perfect for tradeshow giveaways, you can encourage customers to opt for reusable tote bags rather than plastic bags for carrying their groceries. Great visibility!

2. Eco 51%Post Consumer Recycled Sling Bag: Give these bags out as corporate gifts for a hip, fresh image. Again, bags offer amazing visibility.

3. 100% Post Consumer Recycled Padfolio: In the business world, no one can do without a padfolio to keep organized and keep track of all their appointments. You can give these padfolios to top clients as a thank you for attending an important meeting.

Promotional products aren't enough; they have to be the right promotional products. This is when you pull out the big guns, so to speak, and order the most unique products out there. Below are three techniques for selecting cool promotional products and using them to market your big event.

Put out the bait, and lure 'em in
Choose a promotional product that compels passersby to stop and check it out. Think of it as bait. The freebie is so unusual that the customer is immediately drawn in. People love free pens, but those aren't enough to stop them dead in their tracks.

A great example of bait is the Light Bulb Shaped Stress Toy. This whimsical, bright yellow light bulb is extremely unique, which is exactly what you should aim for when you're purchasing promotional product to market an event.

Something a bit wacky also boosts the word of mouth factor. Everyone who sees that light bulb will want to give it a squeeze. Select a promotional item that will get people talking, and that's sure to get passed around.

Be flashy
Bright, bold colors catch your eye. We don't give black, brown, or navy blue a second look. Hot pink, on the other hand, really gets noticed. Flashy colors are a good way to set your event-specific promotional products apart from your regular giveaways. That way, when asked about the item, the recipient will remember to mention the specific event and not just your company in general.

Tote bags are always a fail-proof standby. Not only do they offer maximum visibility and exposure, they also come in a wide variety of fun colors. Take the Non-Woven Promotional Tote, for instance. It comes in colors that really pop, like lime, purple, orange, and yellow.

Let loose the flood
There's a lot to be said for sheer quantity. It's obvious why reaching as many people as possible will help promote your event. At the same time, you still need to offer a promotional gift that's useful. Something like the Caribiner Key Chain strikes a good balance between affordable and valuable. Select the product, order as many as you can afford, and hand them out generously.

Be prepared to take a different approach when you're selecting promotional products to market an event. You need to make an investment that will guarantee an immediate return. You'll be well on your way to success if you just remember these three tips: be unique, be eye-catching, and be generous.

Please take our poll on the right hand side and tell us! 

Any gift is a good gift, but wearable gifts offer increased visibility. Each of these logo apparel items are perfect for everyday, casual wear - which means your logo will be seen all over town.

• Digital frames are cutting-edge technology.

• Your customers will think you spent big bucks.

• Digital photo frames stand out from the crowd.

• Most people don't own a digital photo frame, which increases the impact your gift will make.

• Digital photo frames are suitable for wrapping.

• Frames are always displayed in prominent places - giving passersby an opportunity to note your generosity.

From traditional to keychain, you've got options in terms of technology and price.

Here are four of our most popular digital photo frames:

• Chairman 1.7" Screen Pocket Digital Picture Frame: The chairman is a keychain that holds up to 60 images.

• Desktop Gallery Digital Picture Frame: A picture frame/digital clock combo, this choice is sure to land you on that desktop prime real estate.
  

• Desktop Digital Photo Frame - 3.5" Screen: Cool features galore. This frame can also be used an MP3 player. Added bonus: you can record a message of thanks and appreciation!
  

• Deluxe 7" Multi-Media Digital Photo Frame: As sleek and handsome as today's high-end plasma screen televisions, this frame is suitable for your most important clients.

Don't forget to load up a picture of your company's logo before you give away the frame!

1. Out and about on the town: Everyone needs a way to tote around their things when they're running errands. They'll use them at the store, library, post office, and bank, just to name a few. The stylish and trendy Eco 100% Recycled Owl Deluxe Messenger/Brief Bag is perfect for everyday use. It can be a good conversation starter when waiting in line.

2. Office and business meetings: Having your logo seen in business settings could be the best form of advertising. You'll be reaching your precise target audience: potential customers, people in related businesses, and businesses you're hoping to team up with. The Eclipse Deluxe Business Brief is professional and functional, making it a great choice.

3. Airport: Fellow business travelers often strike up conversations when they're waiting to board the plane. A business bag featuring your name and logo can spark curiosity...and a conversation that could lead to a long-term business relationship! Your employees will love the Excel Sport Brief because it's durable, roomy, and features lots of pockets and compartments for organization.

Let's start with your customers. Giving out earth-friendly freebies will knock their socks off. Why? Here are some of the reasons eco-friendly giveaways will promote brand loyalty:

• Using eco-friendly products makes people feel good about themselves. If you make a customer feel good, they'll keep coming back.

• A customer who's concerned about the environment will give a lot of weight to environmental responsibility when choosing which business to patronize.

• Handing out eco-friendly promotional products sends the message that you're a progressive thinker. Customers like businesses that are tuned into what they care about.

• At trade shows and other big events, giving away a promotional product made from recycled materials will help you stand out. A product like the Recycled Cardboard Jotter is affordable enough to hand out generously at trade shows. Your unique giveaways will make a lasting impression.

In addition to customer retention, doing your part as a business just plain makes you feel good. Something as simple as an eco-friendly promotional product can show others that it's easy to be green. For instance, have your employees carry an Eco 51% Post Consumer Recycled Business Brief to show their colleagues that eco-friendly promotional products are attractive and appropriate for professional settings.

Purchasing promotional products from sellers that offer eco-friendly options is beneficial in and of itself. Profits drive business, and when it becomes profitable to sell green products, other businesses will do it as well. For example, before you know it, all promotional tote bags will be as earth-friendly as the 100% Post Consumer Recycled Deluxe Tote Bag.

You'll also be setting a positive example for other businesses. Companies that pave the way into new territory are highly respected within the business community. Your competitors will have to follow suit with their own eco-friendly promotional products to keep up with your image. You'll be creating a long-lasting ripple effect.

Small changes make a big difference, not just for the environment but also for your image. When you go green, you see green. Help your business and the planet by opting for eco-friendly promotional products.

Promotional umbrellas are like mobile billboards. Of all the promotional products on the market, they offer the largest canvas for your name and logo. Logos on umbrellas are big, bold, and impossible to miss.

Clients, employees, and tradeshow attendees will all love the Briefcase Mini Manual Open Compact Umbrella. As the name implies, it's small enough to tuck conveniently into any brief case or purse. It practically fits in the palm of your hand!

Want something bigger? Golf umbrellas aren't just for golfing! Promotional golf umbrellas work as well on the streets as they do on the greens. And bigger umbrella doesn't have to mean bigger price. The Best Value 60 Golf Umbrella is even less than the compact model.

If the forecast predicts major winter storms, order a batch of the Hurricane Wind-Proof Vented 62 Golf Umbrellas. It is absolute top quality, and with a one-year warranty, you know it's built to stand the test of time. Give one to your valued customers with a note that says you care about their safety and comfort.

5:14 to end - Embroidered Folding Camp Chairs now available. In the past embroidery was not an option for camp chairs as the stitching would be seen on the back. Now, with a new backing process, Best Promotions is offering embroidered camp chairs. Camp chairs are unique because many people carry them in their cars, and a company can put its logo on the bag too, so when the trunk is popped to grab the canvas tote bag, they also see the company logo on the camp chair bag.

The third big reason is the post-convention life that a promotional mug will lead. Those receiving one of your mugs will keep using it after they return home. For this reason, you might opt for the Glass 13 oz. Presidential Mug. It's an attractive mug that's sure to beat out the standard ceramic as the drink ware of choice. This second lease on life rounds out the effectiveness of promotional mugs nicely - immediate impact coupled with long-term payoff.

We all love those silly quizzes, valuable only if you're interviewing for a job at the local deli. In which case, you could snag the job by assuring the manager that you're connected to sandwiches on a deeper level, seeing as how you have actual proof that you're a ham on rye. Perhaps, though, it's time that we did a bit of self-discovery that's actually useful.

Mobility is king in the 21st century business world, and the laptop reigns supreme. If you have a laptop, you need a way to safely transport it. Thus, along came the laptop bag.

Laptop bags come in just about every shape, size, and color you can imagine. Some people choose a bag for function, some for style, and some look for a combination of the two. Either way, with all the choices available to you, there's no reason not to have a laptop bag that suits you to a T.

Need a little help getting start in your quest for the perfect laptop bag? Without further ado, here's the short and sweet "What kind of laptop bag person are you?" guide.

Luxury leather:

You're the luxury leather type if you insist on having the best of the best of everything. From shoes to pens, all of your business wear and accessories are top-of-the-line luxury. You want a bag that's sophisticated, handsome, and enviable. A bag like the Top Grain Leather Computer and Business Brief is a good fit for your laptop bag personality.

Gadget guru:

Every time a new high-tech gadget hits the shelves, you're first in line to buy it. You don't leave home without your cell phone, scientific calculator, pedometer, PDA, and MP3 player - and that's just for starters. You need a bag that offers plenty of pockets to keep your gadgets organized and protected. The Gadget Guru should buy a laptop bag like the Neotec Compu-Brief. It's got pockets galore, and a hard shell inside the front pocket for protecting all your cool (and pricey!) gizmos.

Simple and classic:

You don't need (or want) a lot of bells and whistles. You want a laptop bag that gets the job done. Sure, you want a bag that looks nice, but your main focus is on utility and ease of use. You're the simple and classic laptop bag kind of person. You'll like the Durahyde Computer and Business Brief. It's a convenient laptop bag/brief case combo that features the three essentials: safe storage for your laptop, a front pocket for supplies and personal items, and dividers for keeping all your papers organized.

Always on the go:

You've got more frequent flyer miles than any one person could use in a lifetime. You're used to living out of a suitcase because your career keeps you on the go. The last thing you need is another piece of bulky luggage. You need a laptop bag that can zip through crowded airports - and save your neck, back, and shoulders from aching. Sound like you? Then you're the "always on the go" person, and you need a wheeled laptop bag. Save yourself the need for a separate briefcase with a bag such as the Wenger Swiss Army Deluxe Wheeled Compu-Case. It's a smooth ride, and can go straight from terminal to board room.

So, next time you're tempted to click the forward button on that "What brand of breakfast cereal are you?" quiz, pass along this article instead. Your coworkers - and their laptops - will thank you for it!

Businesses sometimes make the mistake of randomly ordering some pens and notepads without giving it much thought. Remember that promotional products are more than just tradeshow par-for-the-course. They are a major advertising tool.

To help get you started, we've selected three great promotional products for making a lasting impression on tradeshow attendees.

1. Classic Cotton Meeting Tote

Why it's great: Everyone will use your tote bag to carry around all the freebies they've scored. The upshot? Your logo remains visible while your competitors' logos are hidden away inside the tote!

2. 16 Oz. Navy Ceramic Mug

Why it's great: Tradeshow goers will head home with enough plastic cups to serve lemonade to an army. Stand out from the crowd by handing out a coffee mug with a hip, modern look.

3. Belt Clip Tool Kit

Why it's great: We love this product as a tradeshow giveaway for two reasons. First, it's a really fun little gadget. Second, no matter how large the convention, you're just about guaranteed to be the only booth handing out a mini-tool kit.