We've reached that time of year when businesses across the country are faced with the annual dilemma of whether or not to give a business gift, and if so, to whom? 

Business gifts are presented as a token of appreciation to clients, channel partners or employees. Theoretically, they are given with no expectations of anything in return. But the reality is any business that spends on corporate gifts wants some sort of return on their investment, even if that return is softer and fuzzier than other business investments.

"There are two very real reasons to buy business gifts that are not necessarily warm and fuzzy, Leah Ingram, an etiquette specialist who is the author of Gifts Anytime: How to Find the Perfect Present for Any Occasion, told the New York Times. "One is obviously to thank someone for their business for the year. The other is to make sure you remain top of mind, and to get your name in front."

Because it's not always easy to buy something for everyone you do business with, you can get better results if you settle on your budget and recipient list simultaneously and work from there, says Ingram. Recipients can include clients, vendors, lenders, employees and media contacts.

How do you know what is a proper gift? If your gift list isn't too long, small business consultant Gregg Hall suggests doing some digging to find out what each recipient will appreciate. "They will be impressed that you took the time to discover what they like and will feel comfortable in knowing that this wasn't just some anonymous purchase," he says.

Other gift-giving tips from Hall:

• Gag gifts are almost always inappropriate, as are personal products.

• Be careful giving food and alcohol, which are very popular during the holidays. Make sure your recipient eats or drinks anything you have in mind before sending it.

• The amount of the gift depends in part upon the hierarchy in the company. The higher position a person holds, the more expensive the gift should be.

• A hand-written note adds immeasurable value to any gift. It shows that you truly mean it when you say "thank you."

3 New Social Networking Options for Sales Management Pros

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