In the high-powered, big business world of marketing, everyone is looking to stay ahead of the curve. Sometimes you'll be out at a concert or festival and you happen to catch that one show-stopping promotion. Perhaps you've received a promotional product that really rocked your world and became your new favorite item.

Whether or not you were familiar with the brand, you likely used that custom imprinted item for years. If you're willing to spend a few extra dollars to find that special promotional item, then you will likely get a word-of-mouth campaign that will surpass your wildest dreams!

One of the exciting and new promotional products is the "Keyboard Organizer," first unveiled at the Las Vegas ASI tradeshow in 2007, where it won "Most Innovative/Best Creative Concept."

Since the unveiling, the Keyboard Organizer has won nine other awards and was projected to be the newest "tested, tried and true" marketing method.

This promotional marketing tool is a fully functioning computer keyboard that also offers additional internal storage beneath the keys to organize one's computer desk top area. The new "Keyboard Organizer" is the first and only fully functional computer keyboard that opens to have internal storage to organize the computer desk top area.

This custom promotional product is compatible with all MS Windows and Apple computers and can be fitted with a full colored wrap over the entire keyboard, showcasing your logo.

The winner of the 2008, Advertising Specialty Institute's "Innovative New Promotional Product of the Year" award is Sourcery's customizable MP3 player. The device comes with 512 MB of storage and links up with any computer through USB. You can imprint your logo onto the case and MP3 player itself, as well as choose from a base color of black, white or red. You can find this exciting promo product at PromoPeddler.com, ImageBuildersMarketing.com and CustomUSB.com. You can browse many different varieties of customizable promotional products with sleek, futuristic, iPod-like designs and full functionality, including video play options.

The promotional product is being used more and more as a supplementary advertising medium, in addition to print, TV or event marketing.

Compared to other mediums, the use of a custom imprinted item or promo product is less invasive, more targeted and more personalized, which consumers really appreciate. They may skip over your expensive television commercial or throw out your direct mail, but they can't say "no" to that free 28-cent custom logo pen!

Due to the nature of the beast, promotional products tend to be used for long periods of time, leading to voluntary repeat exposure and repeat business for you.

You can reduce environmental waste by introducing an item that's reusable and cherished as you advertise.

What could be better than that?

The US Advertising Specialty Institute® (ASI) reported that, in 2006, their advertising specialty industry sales topped $18.6 billion, which is up 4.5 percent from the previous year.

Spending on advertising specialties in 2006 was double the spending of online ads, five times the size of outdoor ads and more than cable TV advertising. "They have very reasonable costs-per-impression and provide a positive return on investment for marketeers," explained ASI president Tim Andrews. While spending on specialty advertising is high, the returns from imprinted items are even higher, experts say.

Imprinted items often come in and out of style in phases, but with a little bit of redesign, they can return with renewed popularity. For instance, promotional marketing lanyards quickly became a buzz idea when they first came out a few years ago -- mostly due to the fact that people were more and more concerned about losing their pieces of identification, their passports, their keys and their cell phones. They even started using custom promotional lanyards to hold business cards or employee badges. "Lanyards have really saturated the market," admitted Charley Johnson, Marketing VP for SnugZ, "and we've been looking for ways to make lanyards exciting again, and to show people they're good for more than just tradeshows." He explained that his distributor company is "spicing things up" by offering a one-time setup charge for new clients and allowing an unlimited number of color choices.

Thanks to a new merger with Crestline, SnugZ offers a wide variety of dye sublimated lanyards with 13 background designs to add to the corporate logo (or the ability to submit original artwork). This functional gift is great for a variety of people of all age groups.

The good news regarding the influx of direct marketing promotions is that there are always exciting new imprinted promo items coming out! Many marketeers like to play it safe and stick with the imprinted pens, the t-shirts and the tote bags.

However, for the internet savvy individual who's willing to go the extra mile to impress the public, there is a whole world of unusual items that are sure to make an impact! HorizonSources.com offers "logo toasters," which is every bit as intriguing as it sounds. A custom imprinted message can be cooked right onto a slice of toast in a custom logo toaster!

Another innovative idea is to take the successful corporate apparel formula but go beyond the traditional hats and t-shirts to offer imprinted promotional items like socks, tote bags or bottle cap opener/hats. At 4Imprint.com, custom socks go as low as $3.50/pair and there is a wide selection of trendy tote bags, coolers and duffel bags.

Glow-in-the-dark tattoos go over well for a club promotion, whereas a poncho or umbrella might go over especially well during the rainy season in the Northwest.

In the age of technology, imprinted promo items like USB devices and mousepads have become industry favorites. In New York City, Lifebrands condoms offered branding opportunity for 4 cents/package, which definitely caught a lot of attention among that 20-something demographic!

"Health and fitness" is another theme many marketing divisions are running with now. Imprinted stress balls have become hot sellers because there are so many colors, shapes, sizes and graphics from which to choose. Additional health product imprinted items include:

* big inflatable exercise balls
* pedometers, spa sets
* pill timers
* portable first aid kits
* digital jump ropes
* sports water bottles
* back massagers
* frisbees and
* sunscreen.

Health and fitness products promote wellness, while promoting a business at the same time, making it a win-win situation for everyone.