Conferences and trade shows are the perfect opportunities for businesses to showcase their brand to prospects, connect with clients, and increase brand awareness. To ensure your brand stands out in a sea of competitors, you'll want the best conference swag to hand out to every new connection you make.
The best swag for conferences helps promote a company's offerings while ensuring your brand is at the top of consumers' minds when they're ready to purchase a product or service.
Every year, we compile a list of our favorite cost-effective picks for conferences, trade shows, and more. Here are our top seven best swag ideas for conferences and some of the benefits of these items.
Why Hand Out The Best Conference Swag Items?
At first glance, spending money on the best conference swag items to hand away for free may not seem like the best business model for promoting sales and growth, but make no mistake, the best conference swag is a wise investment and one of the most successful marketing strategies a company can adopt for a variety of reasons:
It's Cost Friendly
Considering the cost of other outlets for marketing, like print or digital advertising, purchasing swag for conferences is a budget-friendly and cost-efficient method to market a company brand. There is no need to worry about what to include in your tradeshow swag bags because there are hundreds of options to brand with company logos, meaning there are conference swag ideas that can fit any budget.
It's Effective
Paying for advertising through print or digital advertising may allow for more detailed information to be relayed about a company. However, these marketing materials will only be seen by customers once or twice, ultimately failing to leave a lasting impression. Branded swag items work more subtly but can provide more frequent touchpoints to consumers, helping to keep a brand at the front of customers' minds.
It's Useful
OK, maybe not all swag is useful. However, purchasing swag items that can be used in your customer's everyday lives is the best way to ensure the conference swag ideas you choose are kept out of the trash after an event. Customers love getting something for free, and practical items will help generate awareness for a company at the conference and after it ends.
It Promotes Customer Loyalty
Customers who receive promotional conference swag items are more likely to continue supporting the companies when they receive the gifts. In addition, loyal customers are more likely to recommend brands to their friends, helping promote awareness.
Tips for Handing Out Great Swag Items
After all the seminars, introductions, and informational talks, conference swag items can often be one of the few takeaways that will stick with attendees as long as it is done right. People love getting free stuff and will get caught up in the excitement and grab things they don't want. Hotel rooms can be littered with unwanted swag items after a conference comes to town. These abandoned items essentially waste company marketing efforts and costs.
Here are helpful tips to help ensure the best swag ideas for conferences you invest in don’t end up in the trash.
Value Quality Over Quantity
When faced with hundreds of conference swag options, spending money on higher quality items versus ordering a larger quantity is a worthwhile investment and ensures the items won't go in the trash. Cheaper quality items that easily break will surely fall flat in the eyes of customers and impact your company's reputation.
Gift Swag Items That Have a Purpose
Nobody wants overused swag items. A surefire way to get your swag thrown out is by giving things that have no use. Do some research before placing an order to ensure the most practical and best conference swag is being purchased.
Don't Over-Brand
Less is more when it comes to slapping a logo on swag. Having an item covered on every inch with company logos is tacky and will do more harm than good in the eyes of consumers. Find a way to get logos printed in a small and tasteful way that will act as a subtle yet effective reminder of a company's offerings.
Personalize Conference Swag to the Event and Audience
Effective swag makes sense for the audience that is on the receiving end. Take a second to consider the event theme and who the audience will be, and tailor the swag accordingly. Tech gifts like customized flash drives and portable power banks will have more of an impact at conferences focused on the design and creative industries. While travel kits and business cardholders will fare better at sales conferences.
Best Conference Swag Ideas
In need of some conference swag inspiration? Luckily, we got your back. Check out these promotional product ideas to make your next conference the best one yet:
- You can't go wrong with custom drinkware. These items are useful, practical, and eco-friendly. They are the perfect go-to for every attendee who needs to stay hydrated during the conference. Custom drinkware also comes in various styles, colors, and materials. Whether you're looking for a high-end option to give to higher paying customers or a low-cost option you can give to every prospect you connect with. You can also choose from plastic water bottles, coffee mugs, or travel tumblers.
- Let's face it: There are a ton of germs at conferences and tradeshows. People fly into these events from around the world, so there's a high chance you may come down with a cold after the event ends! That's why custom hand sanitizer is one of our favorite conference swag ideas. They are a practical crowd favorite that attendees will use and appreciate. They are also great to have on hand to use during the event.
- This low-cost conference swag idea will get your brand noticed well after the event ends. Phone wallets and accessories are a low-cost giveaway item with a high return on investment. If an attendee chooses to use it on their phone, your brand will get seen and noticed everywhere they go for the next few months.
- Eco-friendly products are hot-ticket items right now, and giving a reusable stainless steel straw set is a sure way to win with event attendees. This convenient set even includes its own carrying case to keep everything organized and clean.
- Customized totes are always a favorite for businesses and consumers alike. They are versatile, durable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective, making them win-win swag items. Custom tote bags are undoubtedly the most popular bag options for companies, but thinking outside the box (or, in this case, a bag) can yield effective results also. Custom coolers or custom backpacks are also great options that can mix up the swag item game.
- Nothing is more frustrating than finding yourself without a charger, charging cable, or headphones when needed. Help attendees make sure they're always prepared when on the go with these 3-in-1 tech travel kits that come complete with an organizer to help keep cords organized and easily accessible.
- Branded apparel is always a great conference swag item idea and can be as professional or casual as a company would like. One is no longer restricted to shirts or baseball caps as socks, bandanas, or neck-ties make great options to hand out at events and turn attendees into walking billboards as they wear their apparel in public.
1. Drinkware
2. Hand Sanitizer
3. Phone Wallets
4. Reusable Straw Set
5. Custom Tote Bags
6. Tech Travel Kits
7. Apparel
Explore Affordable Swag Ideas for Conferences With Bagmasters
Whether it's a tote bag, t-shirt, or water bottle, you can't go wrong with bringing conference swag to your next event. These items will set you apart from your competitors and help you grow your book of business.
At Bagmasters, we have various conference swag items to choose from. We offer low-minimum quantities, high-quality decoration methods, and quick turnaround times.
Explore our selection of best sellers today to get started.
