You’ve read about the benefits of having a gift plan, and maybe you’ve even started creating your own… but how do you choose the perfect gifts for each of your clients, and what makes a good corporate gift?   The best gifts show appreciation and care; these gifts are the ones that will help your relationship with your clients grow. Some of the most popular corporate gift items include cards, flowers, wine or liquor, and food. So how do you choose the right one for your client? Here are a few tips that will help you pinpoint the perfect gift!   Gifting is not the time for self-promotion.   An easy go-to gift might be a company branded item, like pens or office supplies, but these can seem impersonal. Worse, these gifts can come across as you trying to sell your company rather than showing respect and gratitude to your client. Instead of focusing on your company, focus on the client when you look for a gift.   Find out what you client likes.   One way to ditch the self-promotion and focus on the client is to see what he or she likes. Finding out food and dessert preferences, for instance, will help you to choose an edible gift that your client will love. You don’t want to make the mistake of giving coffee to a tea drinker or a nice bottle of wine to someone who doesn’t drink!   Avoid useless trinkets.   It’s easy to see gift giving as an obligation, but if you give gifts out of duty instead of appreciation, your client will be able to tell. Avoid giving useless or generic items that will simply sit on a shelf until your client throws them away. If you can’t think of any material items or gadgets your client might enjoy, then it’s always a safe bet to give food or wine.   Personalizing gifts is key, so be sure to focus on your client, and you’ll surely be able to find the perfect gift!