If your prospect attended college—or their children do—find out where. (You can find out directly from your prospect, from an associate or from their profile on social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn.) Then when you need a gift to send in advance of a cold call, as a follow-up or as a thank-you, you can give them something with their college logo on it.

Most colleges and universities have online stores with a wide variety of merchandise. Here are 26 ideas:
 
    1. Hat
    2. Coasters
    3. Mug
    4. Shot glass
    5. Can cooler
    6. Pennant
    7. T-shirt
    8. Sweat shirt
    9. Jersey
    10. Stadium cushion
    11. Calendar
    12. Framed print
    13. Earrings
    14. Cuff links
    15. Lapel pin
    16. License plate frame
    17. Specialty food items
    18. Golf balls
    19. Golf club head covers
    20. Window decal
    21. Bumper sticker
    22. Scarf
    23. Tie
    24. Pen
    25. Christmas tree ornament
    26. Stuffed mascot
 
The best gift reflects their personal taste and interests, but even if you don’t know the person and you’re just sending the gift in advance of a cold call, anything from their alma mater will make a personal (and powerful) impact.