What is Event Swag?

First things first, let’s lay out what event swag really is. Swag or schwag, as some say, is known as promotional items or goods given to people who attend or participate in an event. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to it.

Swag, or promotional material, is a great way to get your virtual event or actual event seen by more people and to create a lasting impression. It can also be a fun way to get attendees excited about your event. But what kind of swag should you choose? And how do you make sure it gets seen by the right people?

Event swag has seen some highs and lows in the event industry. In the early 2000s, people would attend a party just for the gift bag. (They were that good.) Companies would seemingly try to one-up the next on which could create the better swag. Then, brands started giving away items just for the sake of giving them away…and most swags went unused — irrelevant samples, cheap tchotchkes, garishly-branded items, coupons, etc. (What are you supposed to do with a coupon at an event?) So, sadly event swag sort of disappeared.

In recent years, free promotional products are back on the rise. In a culture that is oversaturated with consumer goods, brands are trying to create experiences for the customer that will keep them coming back. So, there’s no harm in giving consumers or event attendees an awesome free gift — it’s actually a great move to build brand awareness, ignite a call to action, or simply say thank you for your loyalty.

Practical Swag Item

Typically, the purpose of giving away swag items is for the recipient to reuse them in a way that others see them and talk about them. (Continue the discussion, if you will.) That goal is usually accomplished when the swag gifted is practical and actually reusable. Here are some examples of good swag items:

• Subtly branded umbrella — Fact: it rains everywhere and everyone always needs an umbrella
• Notebook and pen — While a little old school, a good notebook and pen are always useful
• The actual product you’re launching — If the goal of your launch event is to continue the conversation, event attendees should most definitely walk away with that product
• Portable charger — In the digital age, we can’t think of a better gift
• Portable speaker — Perfect for a music-themed event
• stress ball – A stress ball is a toy made of rubber or elastic material, designed to be squeezed or manipulated by the hand. Stress balls are used to relieve stress and tension, as well as to improve hand strength.
• Customized T-shirts – T-shirts are always a popular choice for event swag, and they can be customized with your event logo or slogan. They’re also a great way to promote your brand or organization.
• Customized Pens – Pens are another practical item that event attendees will appreciate. They can be customized with your event logo or slogan, and they’re great for promoting your brand or organization.
• Customized Mugs – Mugs are another popular choice for event swag, and they can be customized with your event logo or slogan. They’re also a great way to promote your brand or organization.
• Customized Magnets – Magnets make a great choice for event swag, and they can be customized with your event logo or slogan. They’re also a great way to promote your brand or organization.
• Customized Swag Bags – Swag Bags are a practical item that event attendees will appreciate, and they can be customized with your event logo or slogan. They’re also a great way to promote your brand or organization.
• Customized tote bag – tote bag is a popular choice for event swag, and it can be customized with your event logo or slogan. It’s also a great way to promote brand awareness.
• Customized Flash Drives – Flash drives are a popular choice for event swag, and they can be customized with your event logo or slogan. They’re also a great way to promote your brand or organization.
• Customized Notepads – Notepads are a popular choice for event swag, and they can be customized with your event logo or slogan. They’re also a great way to promote your brand or organization.
• Customized Reusable Water Bottles – Reusable Water bottles are a popular choice for event swag, and they can be customized with your event logo or slogan. They’re also a great way to promote your brand or organization.
• Customized Candy – Candy is a popular choice for event swag, and it can be customized with your event logo or slogan. It’s also a great way to promote your brand or organization.
  

Who Popularized Event Swag

Swag, or promotional items, have been a staple of the marketing and advertising world for decades. But who really popularized event swag?

It’s hard to say for sure, but there are a few contenders for the title.

Some people say that event swag really took off in the early 2000s when companies like Apple and Starbucks started giving out freebies at their retail stores.

Others say that the Olympics started the trend of giving out promotional items to attendees, starting with the 1916 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

But regardless of who popularized event swag, it’s clear that promotional items are an important part of any marketing or advertising campaign.

Swag can help you build brand awareness, create goodwill with customers and attendees, and generate leads and sales.

And with so many different types of swag to choose from, there’s something for everyone.

So if you’re looking to promote your event, don’t forget the swag!

Types of Events that need Swag Items

There are many types of events that could use swag items. Some of the most popular events that could use promotional items are:

1. Trade Shows
2. Virtual Conferences / Live Conferences
3. Seminars
4. Business Meetings
5. Corporate Events
6. Charity Events
7. Political Events
8. Fundraisers
9. Award Ceremonies
10. Grand Openings
11. Festivals
12. Concerts
13. Sporting Events
14. Movie Premieres
15. Television Show Tapings
16. Theater Productions
17. Book Signings
18. Product Launches
19. Customer Appreciation Events
20. Employee Appreciation Events
21. Networking Events
22. Holiday Parties
23. Birthday Parties
24. Anniversary Parties
25. Reunions
26. Bar and Bat Mitzvahs
27. Graduations
28. Quinceañeras
29. Wedding Receptions
30. Baby Showers
31. Bridal Showers
32. Charity Auctions

Swag for Virtual Event

When it comes to online events, there’s no shortage of ways to get swag for your participants. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1.Live Q&A Sessions

Many online events include a live Q&A session with the speaker or panelists. This is a great opportunity to give participants the chance to ask questions and get answers directly from the experts.

You can also use this time to give away swag. For example, you could randomly select participants to receive a prize or offer a discount code for the next event.

2. Giveaways

Another great way to give away swag is through giveaways. This could be done in several ways, such as:

• Raffle: Participants enter a raffle to win a prize.
• Contest: Participants complete a task (such as a quiz or survey) to enter a contest.
• Sweepstakes: Participants enter by submitting their contact information.
  

3. Social Media

You can also use social media to give away swag. For example, you could post a photo of the prize and ask participants to like and share it to enter.

4. Email

You can also give away swag through email. For example, you could send a link to a contest or survey and ask participants to enter to win a prize.

5. Live Webinars

Finally, you can also give away swag during live webinars. This could be done in several ways, such as:

• Raffle: Participants enter a raffle to win a prize.
• Contest: Participants complete a task (such as a quiz or survey) to enter a contest.
• Sweepstakes: Participants enter by submitting their contact information.

No matter how you choose to give away swag, be sure to make it fun and engaging for participants. This will help to ensure that they enjoy the event and feel appreciated.

Charitable Donation Swag

Charitable donation swag is the perfect way to show your support for your favorite charity! When you make a donation, you can receive a special gift in return, such as a tote bag, T-shirt, or mug. This is a great way to show your support for a good cause and help promote the charity as well.

Many charities now offer this type of swag as a way to thank donors for their support. It’s a great way to show your commitment to the charity and help spread the word about what they do. You can also use the swag to show your support for the charity to your friends and family.

If you’re looking for a way to show your support for a good cause, consider donating to a charity that offers swag as a reward. You can feel good about helping out a good cause and get a special gift to show your support!

Swag Isn’t for Everybody

There’s a lot of talk in the business world about “swag.” And, to be frank, a lot of people think it’s a waste of money. But is it really?

The answer, as with most things, is complicated.

Swag can certainly be a valuable marketing tool, but it’s not appropriate for every company or product. And, even when it is appropriate, it’s not always necessary.

(A GENIUS IDEA)

Ok, so we’ve been over the fact that some event swag is useful and some of it is most definitely toss-able. (When will brands learn?)

“You can never have enough free stuff. Until you do.”

In 2016, Hershey relaunched its Take 5 candy bar at SXSW and produced an activation called the Swag Item Exchange. Attendees swapped free swag items they didn’t want for stuff they actually did, like flasks, portable iPhone projectors, dinner reservations, and gift cards. On top of that, Hershey did a little good and donated the traded-in goods to Austin-based charities. As a result, the activation saw over 18.5 million media impressions and Hershey’s gave over 5,000 products to charity. Win. Win.