I'm going to be sending out some suggestions to my own clients over the next week, but I thought I'd share a few ideas here with the Active Rain community first.

As the holidays approach, you are probably getting a brain-strain trying to figure out how to plan your promotional items for the New Year, or how to touch your current clients as the deals get harder to close in the current economic environment... or maybe you just want to send out something that says "thank you" during the holiday season.

You should match your promotional items to your niche (and if you don't have a real estate niche -- GET ONE!).

If, for instance, you specialize in relocations, why not have a nice measuring tape imprinted with your information and include that in any outgoing relocation package? After all, those people planning a move ALWAYS need a measuring tape. A smallish one that will clip to a keyring may be the ONLY one they don't misplace or pack during the move. And there's always that one more thing that they need to measure before deciding if it's going to fit in the new house, or if they need to sell it, donate it, or distribute it to the family.

If you specialize in handling the "high tech" market -- or if those people are your ideal clients, why not have a few dozen USB drives printed up with your information? The price has really plummeted on these items and you could even buy a few generic ones and get a "wrap around" clear custom label created to encase it if you are watching your budget. On this drive, you could put:

• articles of interest about the area
• check lists for people planning a move (packing lists, time line checklists, countdown checklists, etc)
• important phone numbers
• your brochure and digital business card
• virtual tours of current homes for sale in their price range/geographic preference
  
• school information
• or... whatever works for your particular clients
  

If you have already closed the deal, you could upload the important phone numbers, moving in checklists, coupons for percentages off local (or online) retailers, and a complete list of all the legal papers related to their closing -- for their records (this would be particularly welcome at the end of the year before tax time).

For those recent clients, or even those you have closed in the past year, why not create a little box or basket of cool area items and deliver it personally? The welcome wagon folks used to do a great job of introducing people to a new town, but few places have that anymore. You could purchase one of the community coupon books (you know the ones with the buy one, get one free offers), an item or two from a local vendor (usually a consumable item is best -- candy, nuts, honey, jam, etc), and be sure to include a card with a short "thank you" sentiment and your business card. It doesn't have to be much to make a big impression.

Want other ideas?

How about keyring flashlights (don't we all need those?) with your essential contact info (name and phone number). Every time someone uses it, or uses their keys, they will think of you!

Consider making a deal with the local theater for a "package deal" and send your recently listed and/or sold families to the movies - a ticket for each member of the family. And, if you are really in the gift-giving mood, a snack pack with huge pop corn and drinks. (You can probably get a great deal with the theater if you approach it from the perspective that you would be introducing new residents to their theater for the first time, which will lead to additional ticket and snack sales in the future.) I'd approach them by saying, "This is what I want to do, I'll purchase 100 tickets to hand out this year, if you will provide me with 25 free snack packs!" Most owners will appreciate the opportunity to have you help them promote their theater. You can do the same thing with:

• local restaurants (I'll buy X lunches, if you will throw in the drinks and the desserts)
• local movie rental locations (I need a buy one, get one free offer from you and I'll pre-purchase X number of rentals to introduce your service to the new members of the community -- you may even be able to get them to give the tickets to you for free to add to a gift basket.)
• local grocery stores (I'll distribute your coupons for a free half gallon of ice cream and a cake from the bakery in my gift baskets) After all, no one ever goes to the grocery store and only picks up one or two things -- this would introduce the new residents to this particular grocery store. 

You get the idea... now look around your own geographic area, pick the best three to five things that you could offer and package them up -- pretty bow, nice paper, your information. Presentation matters! Or create a one-item give away that is essential and serves your clients beautifully.

Even a customized chocolate bar (that says "thank you" with your name on it) would be a lovely, albeit inexpensive gift. 

Now, have fun this holiday season! (Go forth and make yourself memorable!)