An old cliché holds that the pen is mightier than the sword, and it’s certainly true that a pen makes a far better item for promoting your business. Despite the digital revolution, everyone still needs to pick up a pen now and then; making sure that the pen they do pick up has your message on it is a great way to promote your message with a wide variety of people.

Promotional pens are among the most common items used for promotional purposes, and for good reason: they’re generally inexpensive, can be mass-produced for minimal cost, and are easily personalized. From the basic ballpoint pen that’s been a staple of the industry for many years, through the wide range of gel, felt and marker tips, to pens that combine a couple of functions in one convenient package, to high tech and high-end executive pens, it’s a wide open category, and one that’s made for promotional marketing.

The basic capped stick pen is the entry level of this category. Easily personalized through screen-printing with a company name, logo, or slogan, stick pens can be used for external marketing (sales representatives hand out pens on every sales call, or the pens that are handed out at conferences and conventions) and internal use (at training seminars, meetings, offsite retreats, etc.) Slogans can be imprinted for programs and incentive campaigns on thousands of pens for very little individual cost, thus getting the message out to a large number of people in a very cost effective manner.

Once you’re past the stick pen, you begin to see the vast array of options available. Promotional pens of brightly colored metal and neon hued plastic, with higher quality materials and more elaborate mechanical workings (think of “click" pens, gel pens, or instruments that might include multicolor pens, pencils, highlighters, and/or PDA styluses) can be used as incentives by salespeople with favored clients, or to identify members of project teams and special efforts. These pens can come in many styles and vibrant colors, can be made of space-age plastics and metals, and really make a statement as highly visible and coveted souvenirs.

Of course, we’ve all seen writing instruments made of exotic woods and precious metals; gold, silver and even platinum are common materials for pens in this high-end category. Such items, while not commonly handed out indiscriminately, can be used for special presentations and awards, or to recognize a particularly valued client. Such pens frequently are engraved and include the name of the recipient. Understated elegance and precision engraving are the watchwords here, with the pens in question being treated almost as carefully as fine jewelry. A recent trend is for pens made with exotic woods like mahogany and oak to have laser engraving that offers an exciting look to the items, giving you the opportunity to have logos and slogans replicated with incredible precision.

Pens at any price point can be personalized with names and dates of events. Even in limited print runs, this is still an excellent value.