mdolla: 4 Better Ideas For Your Next Event Giveaway

Event giveaways are a tried-and-true promotion strategy that companies big and small have been using for decades. For starters, it gives businesses the opportunity to provide value to potential customers, which can go a long way toward keeping your brand fresh in their minds long after the balloons are popped and the signs are taken down. Further, branded materials promote brand recognition to all who come in contact with it, even if the recipient of the prize isn’t promoting your company through word-of-mouth.

There are some things to consider, however. Like any marketing strategy, the target audience should be at the top of your list. What works for some may not work for others, and you’ll want to decide whether you want to create a following of die-hard consumers who will advertise for you on their own or cast a wide net, attracting college students and soccer moms with the same giveaway. To that end we have provided the following, a list of ideas for you to consider when you’re planning your next event giveaway.

Event Giveaway Ideas

● If you’re looking to avoid using the same old t-shirt giveaway, consider the other types of apparel provided by sites like Utspromos, particularly customized hoodies and sweatshirts. T-shirts giveaways aren’t exactly original, and most recipients will end up wearing them only around the house. On the other hand, a customized hoodie or sweatshirt is much more practical in the cold seasons, meaning they’ll have extra incentive to wear them all year, and you’ll have a much better chance at gaining valuable exposure.

● Most people don’t care what’s printed on their mouse pads, so long as the surface is sufficient for their pointing and clicking needs. A mouse pad is a practical gift that consumers are more likely to accept even if they’re already set on them. This is a good opportunity to place your brand imagery in his or her homes, and the nature of the mouse pad provides a constant reminder of your business designing to anyone who uses the computer or happens to glance over the user’s shoulder.

● Any beverage enthusiast will tell you that you can never have enough cups. For relatively cheap, you can customize the side of the traditional ceramic coffee cup and provide yet another practical gift; but why not take it a step further and emblazon your logo on the side of a plastic travel mug instead? If you produce a travel mug that’s high quality, it can easily become the recipients “favorite cup”, so he or she will advertise for your company by taking your brand everywhere. The athletes among your consumer base may appreciate reusable water bottles instead, and again, free advertising everywhere they work out or run. Customized coasters are another inexpensive giveaway for the drinking crowd.

● Pen giveaways are about as overused as t-shirts, but they remain one of the most practical gifts you can give to potential consumers. They are likely the cheapest option out of the bunch, and like mouse pads, the logo on the pen makes little difference to the person in need of a writing utensil. If you want to avoid the cliché, look across the desk for other ideas that are likely to warrant daily use like notepads and letter openers.

Considerations for Your Event Giveaway

We’ve provided a few ideas to springboard your creative process, but there’s more to consider. Specifically, there are these three (3) important considerations:

● The target audience–youthful, tech-savvy audience appreciates little gadgets like keychain flashlights and micro-usb cords over old-school gifts like moleskin planners.

● The time of year–handing out hoodies and sweatshirts in the middle of summer would probably be less effective than flip-flops in the Summer and umbrellas in the Spring.

● The nature of the event–Depending on the expected turnout and how many other companies will be participating in the event, you may need to switch up your tactics to stand out.

Remember, practical useful items are likely to gain the most traction and warrant use long after the event. Now you’re ready for your next event giveaway here!

Featured photo credit: Heartifb via heartifb.com

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