With the holidays just around the corner, many small businesses are looking for the perfect gift to send to clients and customers. The gift you send will say a lot about your brand and business, so it’s important to choose the right one. Branding a promotional item with your logo to tie into the gift is imperative: the right choice will leave a lasting impression. If you’re looking for a creative promotional item, perfect for the holidays and your small business, look no further.

What’s the best logo-branded gift to give to customers and clients? Consider something electronic that can be used over and over again, such as a thumb drive. Practically everyone uses them. If you’re incorporating a promo gift into your holiday gift baskets, thumb drives may be just the thing you’ve been searching for. Thumb drives are small, allowing you to save on shipping. Because they’re so useful, people will keep them — along with your logo — for a long time to come.

Travel mugs or tumblers won’t break the bank for your small business, though they are more of an investment than basic pens. Ceramic mugs or travel mugs with your logo are a great way to place your business in front of others. Help your customers and clients wake up on the right side of the bed – your side – with mugs that are perfect for their morning coffee. Along with your logo, consider personalizing the mugs with your client or customer’s name. Most people like using products that are personalized. Get your next logo promotional items personalized and track the results to see if they perform better than standard ones.

If you work tradeshows, eco-friendly tote bags displaying your logo are a must. You can stand out from other businesses who give information and branded pens in a plastic bag. By providing potential and current customers with a reusable bag, the shelf life of this promo product extends beyond the event. Environmentally-friendly totes can be used as beach or grocery bags, placing your logo and brand in front of more eyes.

It’s not like the old days, but we still have stacks of paper on our desk. Every time a fan switches on or the AC blows strongly (if you’re near a vent), your notes and scraps and bills start skittering. A paperweight with your logo is something easy for recipients to use and not something they’ll just toss without taking a look first. If you run a bakery, a cute cupcake paperweight is something many will probably hang on to. If you run a small law office, a silver gavel paperweight with your contact information is an interesting item that is likely to have a longer shelf life than a pen or stress ball. Bean-bag paperweights double as something people can toss at office mates.

Plastic water bottles aren’t environmentally friendly and aren’t something many people want to hold on to anymore. If you want to give your clients a logo water bottle because it closely ties into your brand, such as it would for a company who makes hiking gear, opt for an aluminum water bottle. These bottles are more likely to be used again and again, and they keep your carbon footprint lower than if you chose to use a plastic product.

Regardless of your business, it makes total sense to send logo-branded items as holiday gifts. Picking the right product means considering what your customers will be using in their everyday lives, from coffee mugs to small USB drives. The best promotional products are those that have a long shelf life and can be used over and over again. Make sure each item displays your logo and, in most cases, contact info such as a website or phone number. Remember, cheap quality items may reflect poorly on your brand and are more likely to get tossed. If you can afford the few extra bucks, go for quality.

Author Bio: Erica Bell is a small business writer who focuses on topics such as direct mail campaigns and starting a business. She is a web content writer for Business.com Media, Inc.