Conference swag is the promotional merchandise that you give away to your attendees, speakers, sponsors, and partners. It can help you create a memorable impression, increase brand awareness, and foster loyalty among your audience. But how do you design, produce, and distribute conference swag effectively? Here are some tips to help you out.
The first step is to decide what kind of swag you want to offer. You should consider your budget, your audience, your theme, and your goals. You want to choose something that is relevant, useful, durable, and appealing. Avoid cheap or generic items that will end up in the trash or the back of a drawer. Some popular examples of conference swag are t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, stickers, pens, notebooks, and USB drives. You can also get creative and offer something unique or customized, such as a puzzle, a plant, a game, or a personalized message.
If you're going to give people something, make sure it is actually useful and something of quality, because they'll remember you either way, and you don't want to be remembered for giving them junk! For example: if you're considering a bag as a 'swag' item, consider giving people an actually useful small backpack from REI or Cotopaxi. Similarly, people will appreciate a quality stainless steel water bottle for years, but nobody really wants another plastic throwaway—or anything else made of plastic, really. Ditch the gadgets and gimmicks and provide something useful-or not at all.
The next step is to design your swag with your brand identity, your message, and your audience in mind. You want to make sure that your swag reflects your conference's vision, values, and personality. You also want to communicate your key information, such as your logo, your name, your slogan, your website, and your social media handles. However, you don't want to overcrowd your swag with too much text or graphics. You want to keep it simple, clear, and attractive. You can use colors, fonts, shapes, and images that match your brand and your theme. You can also use humor, emotion, or storytelling to make your swag more engaging and memorable.
The third step is to find a reliable supplier who can produce and deliver your swag on time and on budget. You should research different options and compare their prices, quality, reviews, and customer service. You should also ask for samples, proofs, and guarantees before you place your order. You want to ensure that your swag meets your expectations and standards. You should also consider the environmental impact of your swag and choose a supplier who uses eco-friendly materials and practices.
The fourth step is to plan how you will distribute your swag to your attendees, speakers, sponsors, and partners. You should think about when, where, and how you will hand out your swag. You can distribute your swag at the registration desk, at the entrance, at the exit, or at specific sessions or booths. You can also mail your swag to your online or remote participants or to your VIPs or influencers. You should also consider how you will package and label your swag. You can use branded boxes, bags, or envelopes. You can also include a thank-you note, a feedback form, or a call-to-action.
The fifth step is to promote your swag online and encourage your audience to share it on social media. You can create a hashtag, a contest, a challenge, or a giveaway to generate buzz and engagement around your swag. You can also feature your swag on your website, your blog, your newsletter, or your podcast. You can also ask your speakers, sponsors, and partners to showcase your swag on their platforms. You want to make your swag visible, viral, and valuable.
The final step is to measure the impact of your swag on your conference's success. You can use different metrics and methods to evaluate how your swag helped you achieve your goals. You can track how many people received, used, or shared your swag. You can also collect feedback, testimonials, or reviews from your audience. You can also analyze how your swag influenced your brand awareness, your reputation, your loyalty, or your sales. You want to learn from your swag's performance and improve it for your next conference.