Using branded merchandise as a giveaway is an effective marketing technique but only when done right.
A giveaway can go wrong for a number of reasons. A company can either fail to properly promote their giveaway or give away products that no one wants. Sure, a lanyard might be a great item to give to employees and attendees at a business conference, but it might not be something that will end up in the trash when the conference is over.
Planning a giveaway is a crucial process. Below are some questions you should ask yourself to plan effectively. We’ve included some tips for how your business can have a successful giveaway.
What Is the Purpose of Your Giveaway?
Swag giveaways are very common at events and tradeshows but are often treated like an afterthought. If you want to stand out at the event and stir up some excitement for your brand, think about what your specific goals are. If you want to increase brand recognition, consider a low-cost promotional item that someone would want to reuse. If you want to get a spike in scan leads, then a higher-value product might be the way to go.
Companies can also do online giveaways. If your goal is to gain followers and increase engagement on your social media channels, you’ll want to make it worth someone’s time. These products should be unique, fun, and practical for someone’s day-to-day life.
How Will These Products Be Given Away?
Once you have an idea of the promotional products you want to use, you’ll then have to think about how these items will be given away. If you’re at an event or trade show, will they be included in a swag bag? Will you give the item to the person right away, or follow up with them after the event?
For an online giveaway, are you only targeting people in your area or will you be shipping the products? If you’re planning to ship items, you’ll have to think about the cost of shipping, as well as the packaging you’ll be using which can be another branding opportunity.
What Swag Items Make the Most Sense for Your Goals?
In this section, we’ll give you some tips for what promotional products would be the best fit for your specific goals.
- Budget-Friendly Event/Tradeshow Swag: If you want to attract attention to your booth, there are a lot of budget-friendly options to choose from, like silicone phone wallets, candy, gum, pens, and tote bags.. This is great if you want to do multiple giveaways without worrying about spending too much.
- High-Value Event/Tradeshow Swag: These items are perfect if you want to do one or two high-value giveaways at your event or tradeshow. Some swag options (which should be unisex and unisized) could include a high end piece of luggage, a popular brand of wireless speaker, or maybe even an electric scooter.
- Shippable Swag: While you can ship just about anything, it doesn’t make sense to pay hefty shipping prices for your giveaways. Instead, consider smaller items like notebooks, socks, and t-shirts are mail-friendly items that people will enjoy.
If you’re planning on doing a giveaway, the Prodigy Promos team can help you design and curate the swag that will help you stand out!
