Here are some points of etiquette to consider when giving corporate gifts:

1. Promotional Items and Logos - While gift-givers may be most proud of their organizational logo, boldly market promotional items can be obtrusive and make even the most expensive item appear pedestrian. Including a logo on the gift card as part of the package can reap greater benefits than spending hundreds of dollars to have your brand etched into crystal, for example. Many a logo-bearing gift can be found in yard sales nationwide. Let the quality of your gift be what they remember about you.

2. Employee Reward or Recognition - Gifts can be excellent non-monetary rewards. If the gift is to recognize the outstanding work of someone who reports to you, dollars spent on a thoughtful thank you will make almost anyone feel special and appreciated. Non-monetary rewards can build priceless loyalty and future motivation. However, if a boss appears to under-spend, such corporate gifts may have a reverse impact, and reflect poorly on the giver.

3. Key relationships - Relationships with certain clients or associates require more thought and should reflect your knowledge of their personal interests. For such circumstances, you may wish to listen carefully in your conversations, and make a note of a particular hobby, taste, or pass time that appeals to this recipient. How much to spend depends on the relationship. Consider the historical or future economic impact on your partnership with this person. Also consider the occasion. Recognizing a long-term client’s relationship, such as 20 years of doing business, may require you spend more than when recognizing a recent project milestone.

4. Your Motive - Know your reason for giving the corporate gift. Is it a genuine gesture of appreciation for an ongoing relationship, or are you intending to build a new relationship with a prospective client or decision-maker. Letting someone know you value his or her professional relationship is a good reason to give a corporate gift. However, evidence of a thinly veiled, personal agenda may

5. Gift Delivery - If you aren’t personally familiar with the recipient, arrange to have the gift delivered to the office or place of business. Receiving a corporate gift in-person may be awkward in some professional settings, even though the gift is profoundly appreciated. Delivery can also be a tactful way of avoiding an uncomfortable encounter during a holiday season when the recipient doesn’t have a gift to offer you.

6. Follow-up Questions - Once the corporate gift is given, don’t ask the recipient questions about it. If it was truly a gift, then they can do with it as they wish. If the recipient doesn’t acknowledge receiving your gift, resist the temptation to bring it up. Such inquiries can make the giver appear ingratiating. Having the gift delivered will provide a record of the gift’s receipt. It is highly unlikely your generosity and thoughtfulness will go unnoticed by the recipient, even if it is unspoken.