While there's a lot to be said for being innovative, when it comes to promotional items to advertise your company, some of the old standards are still the best and most popular. If you're looking for advertising gifts to put your name in front of your customers, sometimes it pays to follow tradition. These are historically the top selling promotional items in any type of business, and the reasons why they're perennial favorites.

Imprinted Calendars
Calendars imprinted with your business name and contact information are the single most traditional holiday gift sent out by companies in nearly any business. A wall calendar puts your company in front of your customers 365 days a year and reminds them of your holiday wishes and loyal service. A customer may not be able to find a telephone directory, but they'll always know where to find your telephone number when it's printed on the calendar hanging on the kitchen wall. It's one of the most popular promotional items ever created.

Printed Pens
Who doesn't need a pen? Pens printed with your company name and slogan are a great way to increase the name recognition of your company. Cheap plastic pens are almost a joke, but pens with a unique twist make memorable promotional items for trade shows, community events and business promotions. The more recognizable it is that it's YOUR pen, the more value you'll get out of the investment you make.

Sticky Note Pads
They may be a relatively recent invention, but sticky notes have jumped the queue to become one of the most popular promotional items given away. There are a lot of excellent reasons for that. They're easy to shape, come in dozens of colors, can be printed with nearly any message or logo imaginable and cost very little. In return, each sticky note pad offers dozens of opportunities to get your name and logo seen by prospective customers, since each note is imprinted with your logo. They're handy, they get used, and they get passed on. It's a great way to stretch your marketing budget.

Travel Mugs
Another latecomer that jumped the promotional items queue are insulated travel mugs. A travel mug printed with your company's logo and bearing your colors is another very popular way to get your name seen by lots and lots of people since travel mugs… well… travel.

Promotional Tote Bags and Rucksacks
Put your name on someone's back and see how far it takes you. Like the rest of the promotional gifts listed, these come in a wide range of qualities. If you choose one that's comfortable to wear that holds a lot of gear, you'll find that they turn up all over town on the best-dressed backs. And like travel mugs, they do tend to travel and turn up wherever people are found. They make great promotional items if your intent is to increase name recognition for your product.

Frisbees and Flying Rings
Go figure. Frisbees imprinted with a company logo or slogan are one of the top five most popular promotional items of all time. Why not? They're inexpensive, fun and colorful, and nearly everyone uses them. And surprisingly enough, they're an exception to the "pick promotional items that fit your business" rule. Frisbees, it seems, fit everyone's business.

For more ideas on promotional items that will benefit your business, visit Ideasbynet one of the UK's premier suppliers for promotional items of all types for any occasion.