If you’re in B2B sales or marketing and you’re using Alyce to get meetings with key accounts, you already know the basics: sending gifts can open doors. But if you want to stand out from the “here’s another branded mug” crowd, you’ll have to put in a little more thought. This guide walks you through how to get real about personalizing gift recommendations in Alyce — and skips the fluff.
Whether you’re new to Alyce or you’ve been dropping Starbucks cards like confetti, there’s a better way. Here’s how to do it.
1. Know Why Personalization Actually Matters
Let’s get one thing clear: people can spot fake personalization a mile away. If your “personalized” gift is just a generic item with their name in the email, you’re wasting everyone’s time (and your budget).
Why bother with real personalization? - Better response rates. People are more likely to engage if you show you did your homework. - Less wasted spend. Fewer ignored gifts means you’re not burning cash on stuff nobody wants. - It’s just… better. You’re not a robot. Neither are your prospects.
What doesn’t work: Guessing based on a LinkedIn headline. Don’t send a yoga mat because someone once liked a wellness post. That’s lazy. Dig deeper.
2. Start With Solid Research
Personalization starts before you even open Alyce. Here’s what to look for:
- Hobbies and interests: Check public social profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter, company bios). Look for repeat mentions — not just one-off likes or retweets.
- Geography: An LA-based exec probably doesn’t need a winter hat. Local food and experiences hit differently.
- Company culture: If the company is remote-first, skip the desk gadgets. If they’re all about in-office perks, coffee gift cards might actually land.
Pro tip: Google “[Name] interview” or “[Name] panel” to find podcasts and articles. People often mention hobbies or favorites in these.
What to ignore: Don’t overthink it. You’re not building a psychological profile, just finding a hook that feels real.
3. Set Up Account and Contact Profiles in Alyce
Once you’ve got some intel, it’s time to log into Alyce and organize your info. Alyce lets you build profiles for both accounts (the company) and contacts (the people).
- Tag contacts with interests, location, and any personal notes.
- Add account-level context — for example, company-wide initiatives or recent news.
- Use custom fields if your team has specific tracking needs.
Why bother? Because Alyce’s AI and gifting marketplace work better if you feed them more than just a job title and email.
4. Use Alyce’s Recommendation Engine — But Don’t Blindly Trust It
Alyce’s core feature is its recommendation engine. It suggests gifts based on the info you’ve provided. This is helpful, and sometimes it nails it. Other times, not so much.
Here’s how to use it: - Start with the “Recommended Gifts” tab after adding your contact. - Check why Alyce suggests what it does. Hover over options to see the logic. - Cross-check: Does this gift actually make sense based on your research? If not, skip it.
What works: Alyce is good at surfacing less generic options if you feed it specific interests (e.g., “loves hiking” or “wine enthusiast”).
What doesn’t: If you leave the profile blank, you’ll get bland, one-size-fits-all gifts. Alyce isn’t magic — it can’t read minds.
5. Curate Your Own Gift List
Don’t just pick the first thing Alyce suggests. You can search the marketplace yourself.
- Filter by category (food, experiences, charity, etc.).
- Search by keyword — e.g., “vegan,” “golf,” “Harry Potter.”
- Consider digital vs. physical: Some people hate more stuff on their desk. Others love tangible gifts.
Pro tip: Offer a shortlist of 2-3 options. Alyce lets recipients choose if you want — this avoids the “what if they hate it?” problem.
What to skip: Resist the urge to send company swag. Unless you’re 100% sure they want to wear your logo, it’s just more clutter.
6. Personalize the Outreach, Not Just the Gift
The gift is just the opener. The message you send with it matters more.
- Reference your research. “Saw you’re a big runner — hope this helps with your next marathon.”
- Keep it short and human. Don’t write a novel or copy-paste a sales pitch.
- Be upfront. If you’re asking for a meeting, say so. Don’t hide the intent behind the gift.
What works: Authenticity. If it feels like a form letter, it’ll get ignored.
What doesn’t: Overly clever or gimmicky messages. Nobody wants to decode your pun-laden email.
7. Respect Preferences and Compliance
Alyce has built-in guardrails, but you still need to use your brain.
- Check gifting policies. Some companies (especially in finance or healthcare) have strict rules about gifts.
- Offer alternatives. Charity donations or gift cards can be safer options if you’re unsure.
- Don’t push it. If someone declines a gift, move on gracefully.
Pro tip: Alyce lets you set gifting limits and compliance settings for your team. Use them.
8. Measure What’s Working — and Adjust
Don’t just “set and forget.” Use Alyce’s analytics to see what’s actually landing.
- Track acceptance rates. Are people accepting, swapping, or ignoring your gifts?
- Follow up, but don’t nag. A gentle nudge is fine; a barrage is not.
- Refine your approach. If certain types of gifts or messages work better, do more of that.
What to ignore: Vanity metrics. It doesn’t matter how many gifts you send — it matters how many start real conversations.
9. Common Pitfalls (And How to Dodge Them)
- Too generic: If everyone gets the same water bottle, you’re wasting your budget.
- Too weird: Don’t over-index on obscure hobbies unless you’re sure. A “World’s Best Beekeeper” mug is great… if they actually keep bees.
- Forgetting follow-up: A gift with no context or follow-up is just a package, not a conversation starter.
- Ignoring feedback: If a recipient swaps your gift every time, it’s a sign your personalization is off.
10. Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Overthink
Personalizing gift recommendations in Alyce isn’t rocket science, but it does require a little effort. Do your research, use the tools, and don’t trust AI to do all the work. Start small, see what lands, and adjust as you go.
You don’t need a 20-step personalization matrix. Start with genuine curiosity about the people you’re reaching out to, and let that guide your choices. The goal isn’t just to send a gift — it’s to start a real conversation. That’s what gets meetings (and deals) moving.