Enduring Value of Promotional Items
Regardless of your budget for promotional products, you should really try to give something of enduring value. Sometimes, the temptation is to purchase mass quantities of cheap promotional items and give them out to the masses - like when you are exhibiting at a trade show. But if you look in the trash cans on the way out of trade shows, you'll seem them filled with the cheap promotional products that some exhibitors chose to hand out. Was that a good use of marketing promotional products funds?
Perhaps a better option would be to give out a higher-quality promotional products item - and only to those attendees who give you their business card, agree to see a demo, or make an appointment. After all, it's quite possible that most people that attend a particular trade show won't be a potential client anyway. So, think about your ROI when purchasing these promo items… and about providing something with enduring value.
Ideally, you'll be giving something that will have near-everyday use, such as a desktop item - if your clients are business people. If your prospects / clients buy products from you for their family / children, you could consider something that you know will be taken home and given to the kids (which is where so many customized promotional products end up if not Regardless, your promotional products need to brand 'you' in a very positive way, and maintain top of mind presence with your clients and prospects.