You have decided that giveaways will be part of your trade show presence in 2011. But have you given much thought to what those items will be? Before searching the web for the latest gadget, or calling your promotional products distributor for the trendiest item, take a step back. Consider: What do I want to achieve with a giveaway?
Do you want to drive traffic and increase brand awareness? One strategy is to purchase a large quantity of a small, inexpensive item and distribute to everyone that visits or passes by your booth.
Do you want to get the word out, but only to potential clients? Spend a bit more money and reserve your giveaways for those individuals who show genuine interest, not just everyone looking for a freebie.
Do you want to provide incentive? Perhaps a demonstration is part of your program this year. Maybe you hope to collect information. Give an incentive gift to thank individuals for their participation, or in exchange for providing you with information.
Regardless of your objective, the product you select as your giveaway should be relevant to your business and to your audience. Visitors to trade shows collect a lot of swag, so don’t just pick something that fits your budget and slap your logo on it. Make sure your giveaway stands out by connecting with your brand or message. If you choose your promo gift wisely, your message will continue to resonate long after the trade show is over.