updated: May 11, 2020
If you’re interested in choosing the perfect personalized notebooks, you’re in the right place. Our buying guide will tell you everything you need to know.
Useful for notes, reminders and recording upcoming events, notebooks are an ultra-portable tool that everyone can appreciate. Even in an age of endless calendar and note apps, nothing beats the reliability and permanence of handwritten notes in a compact, beautiful notebook. If that notebook is imprinted with your custom logo, all the better.
You can tell notebooks, notepads and journals apart by looking at their binding and cover.
Notebooks tend to:So, why should your organization invest in promotional notebooks, notepads or journals? It all comes down to versatility. All three have a broad range of uses and can be distributed at an array of occasions.
For example, notebooks are perfect for:Let’s take a look at the options you can select when shopping for your promotional notebooks, notepads and journals.
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As with promotional notebooks and journals are available in an abundance of materials. Here are some of the many materials you’ll be able to choose from.
If your recipients are environmentally conscious, they’ll love receiving a promotional notebook or journal crafted from eco-friendly materials that support the planet while looking great. In fact, 42 percent of consumers have a more favorable opinion of advertisers if the promo product they receive are environmentally friendly, according to ASI’s 2019 Global Ad Impressions Study.
Such materials include recycled cardboard, cork and cotton canvas, all of which are biodegradable and renewable. The Recycled Doodle Freely Notebook pictured here features a hard cover made from recycled materials, as well as 80 pages of both lined and unlined paper for notes and drawings.
If you’re after a look that’s cozy and relaxed, you may want to check out promotional notebooks and journals crafted from denim and linen. Denim is made from cotton, while linen is woven from flax.
The Denim Journal featured here has a denim cover in a classic shade of dark blue, as well as an elastic fabric closure, and elastic pen holder. Inside are 80 pages of lined paper.
As we mentioned earlier, simulated leather custom notebooks and journals can be made from a few different materials, including polyurethane and UltraHyde. All types of simulated leather can create a convincing leather-like look that will add a hefty dose of elegance to your custom logo.
pictured here is the Large Venezia Journal, which features soft faux leather covers, as well as a color-coordinated pen loop, elastic loop closure, bookmark and page edges. Inside are 96 lined pages, as well as a handy document pocket.
Whether you’re seeking an aesthetic that’s ultra-polished or more on the rustic side, genuine high-quality leather can help you achieve it. Plus, no one can resist feeling special after being given a real leather promotional notebook or journal. Take a look at the Alternative® Leather Refillable Journal showcased below.
Made from authentic brown leather, it looks both refined and familiar. It features a pen loop, snap closure, cotton page marker and business card slot. Plus, since its pages can be replaced, it’s designed to last a lifetime.
These Italian-crafted Moleskine promotional notebooks and journals are just as sought-after as their padfolio counterparts.
Take for example the Moleskine Hard Cover Grand Notebook pictured here. Streamlined and refined, it features a bound hard cover with rounded corners, elastic loop closure, expandable inner pocket, bookmark and 240 pages of lined acid-free paper.
Promotional notebooks and journals made from Neoskin have soft, suede-like covers you’ll want to touch again and again.
Available in a selection of bold colors, the Neoskin Cover and Journal Duo pictured here includes a 72-page recycled notebook along with a silky, reusable Neoskin cover. Inside, you’ll find a color-coordinated pen loop and page marker.
As discussed earlier, PVC promotional notebooks and journals are made from a durable synthetic plastic polymer that can easily withstand wear.
The Journal, Power Bank and Pen Gift Set shown here comes complete with a PVC journal, 2,200 mAh portable power bank and premium pen in either silver or translucent plastic, all wrapped up in a sleek gift box. The journal itself features an expandable back pocket, 80 pages and a matching bookmark and strap closure.
Waterproof and durable, plastic promotional notebooks and journals are perfect for students, people who work outdoors or simply those who live in cities with unpredictable weather (San Francisco, we’re looking at you).
Take a look at the Janus Notebook pictured here. It sports a translucent plastic cover in either blue or white, and 50 lined pages of spiral-bound paper.
Made from either pure polyester or a blend of both polyester and cotton, polycanvas promotional notebooks and journals are made from a rugged material with a soft look.
The 5” by 7” Polycanvas Refillable Notebook pictured here is available in five beautiful jewel-tone colors. It sports front and back pockets to store business cards, paperwork or a smartphone for maximum convenience. It also features 50 sheets of lined paper, a ribbon page marker, a pen loop and an elastic strap closure.
Polypropylene is a versatile type of polymer that’s both rigid and chemical-resistant. Promotional notebooks and journals made from polypropylene stay protected in a variety of weather conditions and can withstand plenty of use.
The Pocket Plus Notebook pictured here features a polypropylene slip cover for document storage, twin-looped metal binding and 70 sheets of lined paper.
Although you may be used to hearing about polyester in terms of clothing, it can also be used to create stylish promotional notebooks and journals.
Check out the Two-Tone Gray Journal highlighted below. Its polyester cover features a modern two-town design that’s reminiscent of a high-end executive suit, making it perfect for boardroom meetings and industry events. It’s also equipped with a pen loop, elastic band closure and 80 sheets of lined paper.
Polyurethane is a heat-resistant polymer that’s exceptionally durable. Promotional notebooks and journals made from polyurethane are strong and long-lasting, and are also available in a range of attention-grabbing colors.
The Double Cover Travel Journal pictured here is perfect for taking notes on the go, thanks to its compact size and handy strap closure. It sports decorative stitched edging, two front covers, five card pockets, a pen loop, two ribbon bookmarks and 80 pages of lined paper.
Good old-fashioned paper promotional notebooks and journals have the advantage of being lightweight, super-portable and biodegradable.
shown here is the Mini Glitter Notebook, which features a stunning sparkling color in gold, silver or pink. Perfect for distribution at large events to students, employees or attendees, this notebook also allows you to choose between graph, lined or dotted paper.
Vinyl is a highly adaptable plastic material with countless applications, from housing siding to medical supplies to children’s toys. Promotional notebooks and journals made from vinyl are waterproof, durable and sleek.
The Woodgrain-Look Soft Cover Journal Set shown here features a trendy woodgrain pattern on its cover, making it perfect for nature lovers and city dwellers alike. It features an included bamboo pen, as well as an elastic closure, pen loop and 80 pages of lined and perforated paper.
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As with custom padfolios, promotional notebooks and journals are available in an abundance of materials. Here are some of the many materials you’ll be able to choose from.
As you might expect, the most common notepad material is paper. All paper notepads are recyclable and lightweight, making them ideal for any location or event.
shown here is the Bic® 4" x 3" Adhesive Colored Notepad, which is available in three bright colors and features 50 sheets of adhesive paper. Best of all, your full color logo can be imprinted on every single page.
Sometimes, notepads can include protective cardboard covers much like promotional notebooks and journals. Just like paper, cardboard is biodegradable, lightweight and recyclable, with the added benefit of being extra-sturdy.
The Pocket Notes notepad shown here is made from cardboard and eco-friendly recycled paper, and features a micro-writer pad with an elastic loop. Inside are 60 ruled pages, all held together by metal ring binding.
If you’re looking for notepads that won’t get lost or slide around, magnetic notepads are the perfect solution. These notepads can easily be attached to a desk, file cabinet, fridge or any other metal item.
The Business Card Magnet With Notepad showcased below features flexible magnets made from recycled materials, as well as a 50-sheet non-adhesive notepad. With a full color imprint area, this magnetic notepad can show off every hue of your logo.
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Promotional notebooks, journals and notepads offer the same imprint methods as custom padfolios. Here, we’ll give you a quick refresher on the imprint methods available when selecting your custom notebooks.
Available in both full color and single color options, screen printed promotional notebooks, journals and notepads can display your design in a beautiful rainbow of colors.
The Rocketbook Everlast Executive notebook shown here looks like a normal notebook, but is secretly a high-tech powerhouse that can connect to all your recipients’ cloud services. It comes with a Pilot Frixion pen, and features reusable Everlast pages and a sturdy hard cover.
Promotional notebooks, journals and notepads with debossed imprints present a fantastic way to showcase your custom design in an elegant way.
The Moleskine Large Solid Cover Notebook pictured here features a beautiful leather-like cover with rounded edges, elastic band closure and a convenient built-in bookmark. Inside, you’ll find 120 pages of acid-free paper.
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From scented paper to built-in charging cables, promotional notebooks, journals and notepads can come with a dizzying array of appealing features.
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Before you decide which custom notebooks and journals you’re going to purchase, you might want to take these additional options into consideration.
Need your custom promotional notebooks fast? Don’t sweat it, Crestline Promotional Products offers hundreds of popular products with optional rush service. Just place your order before the time specified on the product page, approve a proof of your order and your customized products will ship the next business day.
If you provide USA made promotional notebooks, your recipients will appreciate it.
According to ASI’s 2019 Global Ad Impressions Study, an impressive 53 percent of consumers have a more favorable opinion of an advertiser if the promo products they receive are made in the USA.
These are two of our favorite U.S.-made products.
The Mini Camouflage Notebook is sure to be appreciated by outdoor enthusiasts and style-minded recipients alike. It features a classic camouflage design in a variety of colors, and comes with your choice of graph, lined or dotted paper.
Custom padfolio and promotional notebook sets are the ultimate all-in-one gift.
Perfect for onboarding new staff, showing staff appreciation or giving away at a special school event, these sets can include:
Here are a few fantastic sets your recipients will love.
Available in a spectrum of vibrant colors, the MopTopper Pen and Notebook Set comes complete with a spiral-bound promotional notebook and MopTopper pen that doubles as a touch screen stylus. Whether your recipients need a pen, a stylus, a notebook or a screen cleaner, this compact set will have them covered.
Have an upcoming employee retreat, business trip or school picnic? The Perfect Three Gift Set will provide attendees with everything they need.
It features a 16-ounce insulated tumbler, foil-lined lunch bag and promotional notebook and pen set, all in bright, matching colors.
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Welcome back for the next installment of my travelers notebook video series where I strive to provide you with the information needed to make your first—or next—travelers notebook purchase less overwhelming. This week I share some of the features and options available—as well as some tips and hacks—to help you determine the best travelers notebook configuration for your needs.
Part 1 of my travelers notebook video series reviewed all the sizes available on the market. This is the first major decision you need to make when choosing a travelers notebook so I strongly recommend you start there—here’s the link to that blogpost which contains the size information including the video.
Next we’ll explore some of the common features and options available as well as a few tips and hacks to try if your travelers notebook doesn’t have what you need built-in. To make it easy, I’ve broken this process down into three easy steps.
Before investing in a travelers notebook, it’s very important to do a ‘trial run’ of the size you’re considering to make sure it fits your needs and works with your lifestyle. In the video below, I share a DIY (do it yourself), inexpensive options, and identify some items you can repurpose to help you do a ‘trial run’ before investing in a travelers notebook.
Travelers notebooks are made using many different materials. While leather is the most popular choice, they also come in fabric, vinyl, vegan-leather, and many others. Whatever your taste, whatever your budget, there is a travelers notebook out there that is perfect for you!
Travelers notebooks are a wonderful way to carry notebooks but what other built-in features or options do you need to be productive? In the video below I share my top 2 ‘must haves’ as well as other features and options that travelers notebook aficionados might consider their ‘must haves’. But what if you found the perfect travelers notebook and it doesn’t have your ‘must haves’ built-in? Not to worry! There are many inexpensive accessories you can buy—or make yourself!—to add more features and options to your travelers notebook cover.
So once you know what you want and what works for you, you may want to ‘level up’ and get a really nice travelers notebook that you’ll love and cherish for years to come. In the video below, I included bonus footage highlighting some of my ‘special’ travelers notebooks that are not only an example of fine craftsmanship but contain features and options galore!
Modern travelers notebooks come with many wonderful features and options but sometimes the choices can be overwhelming. I truly hope this travelers notebook video series—and there’s more to come!—helps make this process easier for you so you end up with a travelers notebook that you’ll truly love!
So what features and options do you like to have in your travelers notebooks? What is your favorite DIY or hack for expanding the utility of your favorite cover? Please share in the comments below and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!
Until next time, 🙂
♥ LilD ♥
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