Reciprocal as found in Webster: serving to reciprocate: consisting of or functioning as a return in kind.  We can even go back a few thousand years to the biblical book of Galatians chapter 6 verse 7, ” Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”    I also heard this same principle defined as “Karmic Debt” from a network group member regarding the giving of referrals.  So the phrase, it’s better to give rather than receive, really is true.

A promotional product when given as a gift and targeted at the right audience, can be the gift that keeps on giving.  A 2008 study produced by the Advertising Specialty Institute, LosAngelesMobileBillboards.com and the Nielsen Company found that 84% of recipients of advertising specialties can identify the advertiser.  They also reported that 42% of recipients had a more favorable impression of the advertiser and most importantly 62% did business with the advertiser after receiving an item.

We recently put together a program using a unique gift combined with a specific call back program.  After sending the gifts to our targeted audience we were surprised by the positive response.  From the program, we turned 60% of the prospects into warm leads and of those prospects, 20% have become new clients with repeat orders.  To date the ROI of this program is over 400%.  Because of the principle of reciprocity the recipient of a gift feels an obligation to respond to the giver.

So, what really is the gift that keeps on giving?  Answer: Giving.  Try the gift of giving first and Effectively Remain to be Seen.