Large events and conferences are great for networking, learning opportunities and what many attendees look forward to the most-coming away with some free goodies, or “swag.” Many in-person events and conferences have been reimagined as virtual events. This leaves event planners with the challenge of executing virtual events that still provide attendees with value.
The Importance of Swag Bags
Aside from boosting goodwill, providing event attendees with branded swag items helps them revisit their conference experience each time they see or use that item. It also serves as a nice reminder of the reasons they connected with your brand at the event and keeps you top of mind when they need your services. Promo items last well beyond the event itself. In fact, a recent study shows that 57% of consumers have kept promotional products for more than five years. Swag can also be a nice follow-up touchpoint, helping to keep that conversation from the event going and moving prospective clients through the sales funnel.
People Want to Feel Connected
One thing that technology and virtual events struggle to provide attendees is something tangible. Enter virtual swag bags. Not only does swag provide something physical that attendees can touch and feel, it brings a level of normalcy that many people are longing for these days-a delivery to their door and a sense of connectedness. And while virtual communication can often feel isolating, virtual swag can bring your customer relationships to a more personal level and help attendees feel further connected to the event, other attendees and your brand.
The Positive Side of Virtual Events
While they’ve gotten a bad rap in recent months, virtual events can be exciting, provide value to attendees and have quite a few benefits that don’t come with in-person events. A virtual event:
- Has no venue space limitations
- Requires no travel to attend
- Is less of a time and budget commitment
All of these benefits potentially result in more “attendees” than an in-person event could attract or even accommodate and open the door to attendees who may have been limited by budgets or time in the past. There’s also potential to obtain valuable attendee information, such as updated mailing addresses. Attendees may be more willing to provide digitally, than they would at an in-person event, in exchange for event materials and swag bag items delivered to their homes.
Event Planners are Taking it up a Notch with Virtual Swag Bags
Many brands have already shifted to this approach, mailing goody bags and promo packs to attendees who register for their virtual events. For example, one project management software company recently enticed registrants for their conference with a free gift mailed to their home, including a raffle number to be used for a grand prize drawing for an Apple iPad Pro. Registrants were asked to update their mailing address to receive their virtual swag – and as any good marketer knows, getting prospects to update their contact information is always a win.
Don’t Be Afraid to Get Creative
A virtual event can feel limiting and constraining. Don’t limit your possibilities. Consider ways to keep your brand in front of your customers by making your virtual swag work harder for you. Maybe you send attendees a video encouraging them to post photos or videos on social media of themselves tuning into the conference wearing their custom T-shirt with a branded hashtag. Or maybe you create a Snapchat filter and encourage attendees to share snaps of themselves receiving their swag bag. The opportunities to get creative with your swag in a digital environment are almost endless.
Let’s Talk Details
Sorting through the details of sending event swag can be a daunting, time consuming task, but it doesn’t have to be. We offer free, no obligation consultations, to help your team brainstorm digital swag bag ideas and select the best promotional items for your event. However you decide to execute your creative corporate swag bag ideas, our team here at MARCO Promos is ready to help. You pick virtual swag items, send us a list and we’ll pack and ship it for you so you can get your branded items in attendees’ hands quickly and easily.
Swag Bag Ideas
When considering shipping swag bags for events, you’ll want to keep item sizes in mind, as shipping large items to your full attendee list could become costly in a hurry. And because registrants will be attending from home or the office, you may want to provide items that can be used during the virtual event. Some examples include custom personal protective equipment, wearable items, a webcam cover that will keep your logo front-and-center for years to come, or a branded tumbler that attendees can use to stay hydrated during the event. Whether you want to stick with a themed pack of wellness and safety items, imprinted tech products or feel like mixing and matching with promotional drinkware, bags and totes and recognition gifts, we’ll help you send high-quality promotional products to wow your audience and connect them to your event and your brand.
Down to the Wire?
And if your event is just around the corner and you’re wishing you had considered swag bag opportunities sooner, we offer 24-hour rush delivery on thousands of promotional items that can most often be shipped the next day, for no additional charge.
It only takes a few seconds to reach out and schedule your free, no obligation consultation. Get started on your custom promo pack today and get your brand in their hands from afar!
