Google sent out another interesting client gift to advertisers this year, a laser engraved iPod shuffle. It was a noticeable break from their tendency to give colorful promotional gifts, and it also featured what seemed like a typo: “ooGleg thanks you!” In fact, as one astute commenter posted on SimpleSEM where the photo was posted, it’s not a typo, but Google with the letters shuffled. A clever way of using the imprint to make the gift more memorable – even though it goes against the conventional wisdom of never messing with your logo or branding – it fits Google’s personality (and for that matter, Apple’s). On the other hand, there are lots of companies for whom a marketing trick like this wouldn’t be appropriate, but they may not think of it, or go through with it. The bottom line is that you can have some fun with your branding, but only if a) it’s appropriate for your brand image and b) it makes your promotion more effective than it would be otherwise. (via search engine land)