Company Swag Guide: The Best Branded Freebies for Your Business!

Company Swag Guide: The Best Branded Freebies for Your Business!

When it comes to marketing your business, one of the most effective and overlooked tools is company swag. Also known as branded merchandise, company swag can be a powerful way to promote your brand, engage your customers, and build loyalty with your employees.

But with so many options out there, it can be tricky to know where to start. What types of swag should you order? How much should you spend? And how do you make sure your branded freebies actually deliver a good return on your investment?

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to create an effective company swag program that gets people excited about your brand. From the most popular swag items to creative ways to distribute them, read on for your ultimate guide to company swag.

Company Swag Guide: – 1

1.The Benefits of Company Swag:

Before we dive into the specifics, let’s discuss why company swag is such a valuable marketing tool in the first place. Here are just a few of the key benefits:

• Firstly,Brand Awareness: Each time someone uses or wears your branded swag, it’s an opportunity to spread awareness of your company. This is a simple but highly effective way to keep your business top-of-mind.
• Secondly,Customer Loyalty: Giving out fun, useful freebies is a great way to show your customers that you appreciate their business. This can go a long way in building brand loyalty and turning one-time buyers into lifelong fans.
• Thirldy,Employee Engagement: Company swag doesn’t just benefit your customers – it can also be a powerful tool for boosting employee morale and pride. Branded t-shirts, mugs, and other items help your team feel more connected to your brand.
• Lastly,Cost-Effective Marketing: Compared to other marketing tactics like ads or direct mail, company swag is a relatively low-cost way to get your brand out there. Many promotional products can be ordered in bulk for just a few dollars per item.
  

Company Swag Guide: – 2

2.Popular Types of Company Swag

Okay, now that you know why company swag is such a smart investment, let’s talk about the most popular types of branded merchandise to consider for your business. Here are some of the top options:

• Apparel: T-shirts, hats, hoodies, and other apparel items are classic choices for company swag. They’re practical, wearable, and provide lots of real estate for your logo and branding.
• Drinkware: Mugs, water bottles, tumblers, and koozies are always useful swag items that people will actually use. They’re a great way to keep your brand visible on desks and in break rooms.
• Tech Accessories: Phone cases, earbuds, power banks, and other tech gadgets make excellent branded giveaways, especially for more modern, tech-savvy audiences.
• Office Supplies: Pens, notepads, calendars, and other everyday office items are smart choices that keep your brand relevant in the workplace.
• Experience-Based Swag: Consider offering experiences like tickets to local events, gift cards, or subscription boxes as part of your swag program. These types of experiential freebies can be especially memorable and appreciated by recipients.

When selecting swag items, think about what would be most useful and relevant for your specific audience. For example, if you have a lot of remote employees, tech accessories might be a better fit than t-shirts. And if you often exhibit at trade shows, logoed pens or notepads could be a smart choice.

How to Create an Effective Swag Program: – 1

Now that you have a sense of the types of swag to consider, let’s talk about how to build an effective company swag program from the ground up. Here are the key steps:

1.Firslty,Set clear goals: Before you start ordering anything, take some time to think about what you want to achieve with your company swag. Are you trying to increase brand awareness? Boost employee morale? Reward loyal customers? Having specific, measurable goals in mind will help you choose the right swag items and distribution strategy.

2.Secondly,Determine your budget: Company swag can range widely in cost, from just a few dollars per item to hundreds or even thousands for more premium merchandise. Set a realistic budget that aligns with your goals and overall marketing spend. As a general guideline, most businesses spend between 1-3% of their total marketing budget on company swag.

3.Thirdly,Choose your swag items: Based on your goals and budget, select 3-5 core swag items that will be the backbone of your program. These could be a mix of apparel, drinkware, tech accessories, and other practical freebies. Make sure to order a variety of sizes and styles to accommodate different preferences.

How to Create an Effective Swag Program: – 2

4.Furthermore,Design your branding: Work with your marketing team or a graphic designer to create eye-catching, on-brand designs for your swag items. This is where you can really make your company swag shine and stand out from the competition.

Develop a distribution plan: How and when will you hand out your branded freebies? Some common options include:

• New customer/client gifts
• Employee onboarding packages
• Raffle prizes at events or trade shows
• Rewards for referrals or social media engagement
• Holiday or anniversary giveaways

5.Finally,Track and measure: Set up a process to monitor the performance and impact of your company swag program. Track metrics like redemption rates, social media engagement, and brand recognition to see what’s working and where you can improve.

Creative Ideas for Distributing Company Swag:

Speaking of distribution, here are some fun, creative ideas to get your branded swag into the hands of your target audience:

• Subscription Boxes: Partner with a subscription box company to include your swag as a special “bonus” item. This is a great way to reach new customers and make a memorable impression.
• Social Media Contests: Run social media giveaways where people have to engage with your brand (like, comment, share, etc.) to be entered to win your swag. This can be a powerful way to boost online visibility.
• Loyalty Programs: Incorporate company swag into your customer loyalty program, offering branded freebies as rewards for referrals, repeat business, or other desired behaviors.
• Charity Donations: Donate swag items to local charities, community organizations, or causes that align with your brand values. This is a thoughtful way to give back while also getting your name out there.
• Employee Appreciation: Don’t forget to shower your own team with company swag! Hand out t-shirts, mugs, and other goodies to recognize good work and foster team spirit.
• Trade Show Giveaways: If you exhibit at industry events or conferences, company swag makes an excellent free giveaway to attract attendees to your booth.

The Key to Effective Company Swag:

At the end of the day, the key to an effective company swag program is making sure your branded freebies are actually valuable and useful for your target audience. Don’t just order generic, cheap items – take the time to think about what your customers, clients, and employees would genuinely appreciate and use.

When you provide swag that’s thoughtful, high-quality, and aligned with your brand, it can be an incredibly powerful marketing tool. Your customers and team will feel appreciated, your brand will stay top-of-mind, and you’ll see a tangible ROI in the form of increased loyalty, referrals, and sales.

So what are you waiting for? Start planning your company swag program today and watch your brand take off!