at one point or another, almost every day, everyone needs a pen. And whether someone reaches for a simple, inexpensive stick pen or a more expensive writing instrument, if that pen bears a promotional message, chances are the person will at least notice it and probably read it. Promoters know this, and if you're a promoter, you can use promotional pens as a cheap and effective way of putting the information you need to disseminate directly into your hands.

Pens can be mass produced and customized for a minimal cost, and are easily personalized. From the basic ballpoint pen through the wide range of gel, felt and marker tips, all the way up the scale 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 a treasure trove of opportunities for the savvy promoter.

While we're looking at the variety of pens that are available, let's start with the stick pen. Commonly a ballpoint pen and not usually refillable, such pens can be easily personalized with a company or organizational name, logo, slogan, or inspirational or motivational message. They 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.) Logos and messages can be imprinted on thousands of pens for very low prices, thus getting the message out to a large number of people in a very cost effective manner.

Of course, the stick pen is only the most basic type of instrument. Pens of brightly colored metal and neon hued plastic, with higher quality materials and more elaborate mechanical workings ? such as ?click? pens, twist pens, gel pens, or multipurpose instruments that might include points of red, back, and blue, mechanical pencils, highlighters, laser pointers, and/or PDA styluses -- can be used as incentives by salespeople with favored clients, handed out at sales presentations, or given to employees who have been involved in special projects. These pens really make a statement as highly visible and coveted souvenirs.

Promotional 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.

Of course, we've all seen writing instruments made of exotic woods and precious metals. 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. Pens in this category are treated almost as carefully as fine jewelry. A recent trend is for pens made with quality 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 great precision.

Pens have always offered one of the best opportunities for promotion and marketing for anyone looking to put their message out there. With the explosion of different types of writing instruments, there are more options than ever out there for the savvy promoter.