I suspect that many of you received iPads as holiday gifts last month. Now you’re trying to justify to family and friends exactly why you need this absolutely awesome toy.

Here’s the good news: You can use your iPad not only as a business tool but specifically as a way to market your business as well. Here are some apps you should consider adding.

iSurvey: Want to get some live feedback from customers in your store or survey trade show attendees? The iSurvey application uses Apple’s iPod Touch, iPad or iPhone to record survey results and export them to your computer for analysis.

Sketchbook Pro: Autodesk SketchBook Pro for iPad is a professional-grade painting and drawing application. SketchBook Pro delivers a complete set of sketching and painting tools through a streamlined and very intuitive user interface designed specifically for the iPad experience.

Whether you are an occasional doodler or a professional illustrator, SketchBook Pro transforms your iPad into the ultimate digital SketchBook.

IdeaWell (formerly Sparks) is a simple but powerful idea management app designed for the iPhone and iPad. Enter, track, rate and visually analyze your ideas regarding innovation, simplicity, uniqueness and potential.

Think of this app as a brainstorming buddy that can help you sort the good from the not so good.

Considering that the iPad has been on the market for only about eight months, we can expect even more apps to be developed with marketers in mind.

Drew McLellan is Top Dog at McLellan Marketing Group and blogs at drewsmarketingminute.com. He can be reached by e-mail at Drew@MclellanMarketing.com. © 2011 Drew McLellan