Most customers would strongly prefer a useful custom paper clip holder to any kind of postcard, brochure or flier that your company could send out. Plus, this practical office tool is destined to reside in a prominent place on someone's desk -- in full view of the powers that be.

Some professionals get a barrage of promotional swag -- including promo paper clip holders -- at almost every event they attend. Here are a few things you can do to help yours stand out and score the prime desk real estate:

1. Talk to several marketing companies before choosing your promo paper clip holders to get the best option at the best price.

2. Make sure your promotional paper clip holder has an eye-catching design.

3. Include specialty paper clips with your promo paper clip holders.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research using promotional paper clip holders

There are so many different types of promotional paper clip holders: magnetized or not; wooden, plastic or metal; round, square or custom shaped. It's smart to scope out your options before you make a choice. Although a paper clip holder may seem insignificant, it can actually be an important customer recruitment or retention tool.

I recommend: Check out Inkhead Promotional Product's selection of promotional paper clip holders to get an idea of the sizes and shapes available. Then read the article on ePromos Promotional Products Promotional Items' website regarding how to choose a promotional products company to fit your needs. Don't make any final decisions yet.

Work on catering your custom paper clip holders to your business

Once you have a preliminary idea of what you're looking for in a promotional paper clip holder, it's time to delve into the specifics. You have to decide what type of impression you wish to make with this promotional item.

I recommend: If you're going for more upscale clientèle, visit Kyle Design of California. They offer wooden holders that feature intricate artwork and you can have them engraved with your business' name. If you're going more for fun, RushKing Promotions' "pod" might be just what you need. Branders even has a paper clip director's chair. Don't overlook multifunction paper clip holders that include clocks or memo cubes. They offer additional utility and more reasons to keep them in view.

Provide paper clips with your custom paper clip holders

Your paper clip holders are pretty useless without something to hold and adding well-designed paper clips is just another way for your business to get noticed. There are all kinds of clips available in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes.

I recommend: Check out K-Pro International's cheeky die cut clips or visit Paper Clips Center to see all kinds of different shapes. Just choose the one that most closely relates to your business or tag line.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure your promotional paper clips are metal so they will work with the magnets on your paper clip holders. If you want to order the large plastic ones, consider using them for a separate promotion.

Giving away promotional items imprinted with your company logo can be a great way to stay on a customer’s mind. For example, if five courier service reps visit a business, but only one gives a useful gift, who do you think company personnel will think of the next time they need a courier? The name they see 10 times a day on their custom paper clip holder.

Promotional products make your business stand out from the competition. And promotional paper clip holders work well as a business-to-business (B2B) item. After all, virtually all companies use paper clips.

Handing out promo paper clip holders offers your business many benefits:

1. Your business name stays in front of the client.
2. Potential clients remember people bearing gifts with no strings attached.
3. An imprinted paper clip holder with logo increases name recognition potential.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Target your market

Know who your market is before choosing promotional items to attract your target market. Look at the demographics AND your competition.

I recommend: Advertising Specialties Associates has many hints on how to use promotion to attract your target audience.

Think creatively about your promo paper clip holder

The days of paper clips looking the same are over. Custom paper clip holders come in bright colors, different shapes and sizes. You can say the same for the clips themselves; some are large enough for your logo and are magnetic too.

I recommend: EPromos offers uniquely shaped paper clips plus a variety of holders, including functional caddies and magnetic balls. Motivators offer different shapes and sizes in clips and holders, including one that looks like a prescription medicine bottle.

Distribute custom paper clip holders

While face to face is a good way to meet your target market, don't neglect other opportunities to distribute your promo item. Mail large, flat clips imprinted with your logo to customers throughout the country. Trade shows and events present more opportunities to dispense your paper clip holder.

I recommend: Go to Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) for information about trade shows. This professional organization provides networking opportunities for its members as well. Advertising Specialties Institute allows you to search for distributors by location.

Shop around for the right vendor

Order products from suppliers of promotional paper clip holders or other companies that include promotion in their list of services. Look both online and at local stores to see what they offer.

I recommend: Check with office supply stores like Quill Products about promotional items. Most vendors have a minimum order amount, but offer price breaks with larger orders. Global Services can help you find reliable suppliers by checking them out for you.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Using promotional items is just one element of marketing. Make certain you develop a marketing plan.
• •  If you have a catchy motto or want to push your physical location, look at how you can use this on promo paper clip holders.

Promotional paperclip holders are a great way to get your brand noticed. Paper clip holders are usually placed on desks and can be seen at all times, so they are a good way to keep your your products or services in the minds of potential clients.

Custom paper clip holders are also relatively inexpensive to purchase and customize, so many companies use these as giveaways at trade shows and other public events. Promo paper clip holders are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and customizable options. Promotional paper clip holders pricing and costs will depend on:

1. The size of the paper clip holder.

2. The size and color of your company logo.

3. The materials a paper clip holder is made from.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose a simple shape from suppliers of promotional paperclip holders

Promotional paper clip holders come in a variety of shapes and sizes. In order to save money on this promotional item, use paper clip holders that have a simple shape, yet still have surface area for your company logo and information. Simple rectangle, circle and arrow shapes cost $0.30 to $0.40, depending on the size.

I recommend: Motivators offers paper clip holders in a variety of simple shapes. These holders are also available in two different sizes. Absorbent, Ink provides advice on how to create a successful campaign with promotional products.

Buy from promotional paper clip holder suppliers that offer clip dispensers

The paper clip dispenser is another type of paper clip holder. These promotional tools offer a little more room for your logo and information. Clip dispensers are also available in a variety of shapes and sizes, including cubes and cylinders. Colors vary as well, but they are usually bright. Paper clip dispensers cost $0.60 to $.075, depending on the quantity of the order.

I recommend: LeaderPromos.com offers a small, round paper clip dispenser that is perfect for logo-only promotions. Extra Mile Promotional Products prints similar products, and throws in the paper clips. The Promo Shop Blog offers useful advice on choosing the right promotional products for your business.

Find specialty paper clip holders that stand out from the crowd

If you want to spend a little more money on your promotions, consider specialty paper clip holders that have a unique color or design. These paper clip holders are sure to attract attention, so they are a fun way to promote your business.

I recommend: USImprints.com provides a customized paper clip holder that wobbles and rocks on desktop surfaces. There is ample room for a company logo and plenty of space for paper clips. Fluid Branding offers the promotional Curly Paper Clip Dispenser. BuyerZone.com provides a guide to promotional products that discusses the most effective way to design your company's logo.

Even in these days of the paperless office, everyone has papers in need of organizing, and paper clips remain one of the preferred methods of keeping papers together. However, paper clips create a new organization problem. Such small objects are bound to scatter across the desk unless they're contained--and that's where promotional paper clip holders come in. With promotional paper clip holders, you'll keep your name in front of your customers daily. To get the right promotional paper clip holders for your business, you need to first understand key terms associated with these helpful promo items.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Custom imprinted paper clip holder

A custom imprinted paper clip holder is one that has your logo, or other image or text of your choice, printed directly on the holder itself. This type of imprint is long lasting and adds a professional touch to your promotional paper clip holder.

I recommend: View an example of a custom imprinted paper clip holder at Motivators.

Paper clip holder with imprinted label

A less expensive form of custom imprinting for paper clip holders is an imprinted label affixed to the holder. With this form of imprinting, the design options for your paper clip holder are more limited, yet you may have more options for the custom image.

I recommend: See one design for a promotional paper clip holder with an imprinted label at ePromos.

One or two color imprint

When you're looking at options for promotional paper clip holders, one option to examine is the number of ink colors the company can provide. These will be listed as 'one color imprint,' 'two color imprint,' and so on.

I recommend: Creative Promo Items offers a one color imprint as its standard for paper clip holders but has the option of additional colors.

Magnetic paper clip holder or dispenser

A magnetic paper clip holder or dispenser holds the paper clips through magnetism, either with a magnetized ring around the opening of the holder or with a magnetized surface on which you place the paper clips for easy access.

I recommend: Review one version of a magnetic paper clip holder at InkHead Promotional Products.

Translucent paper clip dispenser

A translucent paper clip dispenser offers a clear window through which the user can see the paper clips. The imprint on many translucent paper clip dispensers is on the opaque lid, making your logo easy to see.

I recommend: See an example of translucent paper clip dispensers offered by USimprints.

Designer or themed paper clip sets

Designer paper clip sets, sometimes known as themed paper clip sets, offer both a paper clip dispenser with a custom imprint and paper clips that match the theme of your business.

I recommend: View a financially themed designer paper clip set at IdentityLinks, and find out what other themes the provider offers.