Apparently, according to PNC Wealth Management's annual index of the price of this gift, the cost went up this year, though with the least rise since 2002. On one hand, as would be no surprise to any attorney, it doesn’t take as much to pay for services (drummers, pipers, lords, etc.); on the other side, a flight to gold (rings) seems to have made up for that. Total cost for all gifts, with repetitions: $87,403.

Our contributors this month aren’t quite as obsessive as the giver of the song’s largesse, but they offer here a goodly number of golden gifts so that you can improve your business development for next year. The best thing about them is that you can gain the value all year round.

We have (deep breath)…Ten online social actions a-socializing from Darryl Cross for making new work come from online sources. Eight ideas-a-idling in the lead article recommendations by Michael Cummings for valuable end of year business development. Seven zips-a-zipping in Larry Bodine’s proposals for getting new business out of old clients. Six goal-setting steps-a-stepping to make you more productive from Thom Singer. Three holiday card alternatives a-turning in a chilling tale of woe from Andy Havens. And a…

OK. No partridge in a pear tree. Instead, Kristin Stark’s somber assessment of the evolving buyer’s market for services may seem a bit Grinch-like amidst all this gift giving, but she shines a light on how lawyers and firms can build a brighter future during this time through advancing their marketing capabilities.