Sometimes it's the little things that
make all the difference. The special surprises that coordinators throw
in. The prizes companies hand out. The cool branding concepts marketing directors come up with. You know, the
free swag! Really cool event swag can make an event truly go that extra mile --
but truly lame swag can make your attendees grumble and look for the nearest
trash can.
So to help you plan for your next event,
we’ve collected examples of some of the best and worst swag we’ve come across at recent
conferences. Hopefully this will help to
inspire you to put together awesome swag and leave behind the trinkets that
ultimately end up on the dumpster.
Good
Swag: Mobile Chargers
Everyone is on their phone at
conferences. Whether they're tweeting, checking their email, or trying to meet
up with other attendees, their phone is most likely going to be at 50% battery
life by lunch time. Giving out mobile chargers as event swag is the best way to
fix that problem, and make every attendee love you and learn your name. Not
only will attendees be pleasantly surprised when they see such practical and
thoughtful swag, but they will be able to engage even more throughout the
conference via their mobile devices -- something every conference coordinator
wants. Furthermore, a mobile charger is something that will be used way after
the conference is over. And what does that mean? That means your logo will be
visible long after your conference ends!
Bad
Swag: Keychains
It
used to be cool to get a keychain in your swag bag. But then ... well, everyone
started to give out keychains. Pretty soon after that, it became widely
accepted among event coordinators as one of the least effective ways to get
attendees to remember your brand.
Some
companies have adapted the keychain so that is has other functions, such as
doubling as a bottle opener or whistle. Yeah sure, that's a little better. But keep
in mind that ultimately attendees don't want a keychain with your company's
logo on it. If they like that adapted version of your swag, it's because they
need a bottle opener or a whistle. But
if everyone is giving out keychains, it’s probably not the best way to stand
out.
Good
Swag: Seasonal Items
Everyone likes unique gifts in their
event swag bags. What makes an item unique? Well, one way to stand out is using
seasonal items. Most companies don't give out seasonal items because they're
looking for gifts that can be used year round. But that fact alone makes these
items even more special!
If
you're hosting a summer
conference or an event in a beach location, for example, giving out
items like beach towels, flip flops, and frisbees goes a long way, because they
cater to activities attendees can partake in during the event. Think another
step ahead, and consider when and where your items will be used, too. Beach
items and outdoor sports paraphernalia will be used in public places where
other people may ask, "Where did you get that?" or "What company
is that?" That way, your company's exposure will go far beyond the
conference's attendees.
Bad
Swag: Pens
Sure
you can always use a pen, but I mean ... come on. A pen? Giving out a
pen at a conference is the oldest of old school. First, we live in an electronic world. People aren't relying on pen and paper as
much as they were 10 years ago. Unless it has an integrated stylus, I say don’t
even bother! Only if you are willing to
spend a substantial amount of money on higher quality pens, which are probably better suited for say client
gifts, I suggest you should put that money toward a more unique and memorable
experience for your attendees with a better swag item.
Good
Swag: Moleskines
That doesn't mean all paper-related swag
items should be out of the question, though. Whether you're at a conference or
back at the office working, it's important to have something to write on. In a
time when everything is done digitally, moleskines have still remained the most
popular item for people to use when you just need to write something down on
paper. They also aren't the cheapest item, so if your company gives them out as
event swag with your logo branded on it, you can be sure that it will be used
by almost all of the attendees. And pssst, I want an invitation to that conference! When considering what swag to purchase, keep in
mind that the more your audience will use it after your conference, the better
the swag is. In this case, moleskines will be used way after the event is over.
Bad
Swag: Large Items
This
is a bit of a broad "item," but critical to remember when purchasing
your swag. A lot of conference attendees travel a long distance to come to
conferences, many of them flying in to the conference location. When deciding
on what event swag to purchase, consider the attendees who are coming from
these faraway places. They may often not have a lot of extra room (or carryon allowance)
to pack larger items of swag and, as a result, will leave them in the hotel
room or throw them out. If you want your swag items to last and keep your brand
top of mind long after the conference, make sure they're a manageable size.
Good
Swag: Reusable Water Bottles
It may sound like a simple idea, but a
reusable water bottle is one of the most valued swag items to give out at a
conference. With the recent emphasis on conferences going green, reusable water
bottles are a great way to help the environment while also providing a lot of
convenience to event attendees. Instead of grabbing a glass of water, having to
hold onto the glass, or putting the glass of water on the floor risking having
it spill, attendees can just fill up their water bottles and carry them in
their bags. Plus, the water bottles will also be used long after the conference
is over. Yep, get ready to spot that
brand all over the city!
Bad
Swag: USB Flash Drives – Wait…..Maybe…Maybe Not
USB
drives are bad event swag? Seriously?! Well, a lot of people think so
but I don’t always agree. A few years ago, a USB drive would have been a
slam dunk. But now you have to up the
ante. Programs like Google Drive or Dropbox and other file sharing applications
could make the USB drive obsolete. But if you do it right, the drive itself can
make even more of an impact that what it actually does.
Good
Swag: Umbrellas
You can never predict what the weather
will be. Unless you are here in Austin during the summer (yep, it’s hot in
here), unexpected rain can be one of the most frustrating annoyances at a
conference but having free umbrellas for your attendees to take will make
their overall conference experience better. It will also get your attendees
talking about how amazing your company is for prepared for any given situation.
These dos and don’ts are only a small sampling of
the branded giveaways we offer. So, give us a call and we’ll talk about your
needs. We specialize in finding you the kind of event swag that will blow the
socks off your competition. We’d also love to hear about the most successful and coolest swag you’ve given away or received.
Drop us a line.