Your logo, your brand, your merch
What is a swag bag? It’s more than just freebies in a tote – it’s a powerful marketing tool. Swag bags increase engagement and brand recognition at any trade show, corporate event, or virtual meetup. In this guide, we’ll look at the swag bags, their contents, and how to create memorable swag that accomplishes your goal.
Key takeaways
- A swag bag is a collection of branded or themed items used for marketing, gifting, or attendee engagement.
- Swag bags boost brand awareness, generate leads, and improve the event experience for attendees.
- Typical swag bag items range from tote bags and branded notebooks to digital downloads and promo codes.
- The right swag items depend on knowing your audience, balancing quality and budget, and choosing thoughtful products.
- Whether physical or digital, swag bags can turn a one-time interaction into long-term brand loyalty.
What is a swag bag?
A swag bag is a carefully curated collection of branded items, promotional products, or thoughtful gifts distributed at events to leave a lasting impression on guests. Swag bags, whether physical or digital, are designed to increase brand awareness, highlight your brand’s personality, and provide value long after the event has ended.
They’re frequently used at corporate events, trade shows, and virtual events to spark people’s interest, start conversations, and ensure that attendees leave with something useful, memorable, and branded.
Why do companies distribute swag bags?
Swag bags are more than just gifts – they’re a strategic marketing tool.
When done well, swag bags:
- Raise brand visibility. Branded swag items like t-shirts, water bottles, or stickers act as walking billboards long after the event ends.
- Create a positive experience. Thoughtful swag items improve the attendees’ experience, making your event more memorable and enjoyable.
- Promote social sharing. A memorable swag bag encourages attendees to share unboxings, shoutouts, and photos, increasing your visibility through user-generated content.
- Increase brand loyalty. High-quality and useful branded material fosters trust and keeps your brand top-of-mind in everyday situations.
- Generate leads. Include a QR or promo code to encourage recipients to follow up on your product or service.
- Market cost-effectively. In comparison to traditional ads, swag bags provide long-lasting impressions at a low cost per recipient.
- Start conversations. Unique swag bag items spark conversation and excitement at in-person events and online.
- Provide practical items. Swag that blends into everyday life, such as USB drives, phone chargers, or branded pens, keeps your brand visible.
- Measure engagement. With digital components or redemption codes, you can easily track interactions and return on investment (ROI).
What is typically in a swag bag?
A swag bag is only as good as what’s inside it. Whether you’re planning a corporate event, trade show, or virtual gathering, the content should be tailored to your target audience and goals. From promotional items to practical daily-use products, here’s what physical and virtual swag bags typically contain.
Physical swag bag ideas for raising brand awareness
Physical swag bags are a timeless option for in-person events, trade shows, and corporate gatherings, providing immediate value and a long-term promotional footprint. These bags not only contain useful products, but they also serve as mobile advertising platforms as recipients walk around the event space and carry those items, displaying your logo.
Here are some of the best swag bag ideas to consider from the Printify Catalog:
- Branded water bottles. These practical items are great for hydration and sustainability, and they are frequently used after the event. A sleek, branded water bottle can be carried from the event floor to the gym, office, or daily commute.
- Custom tote bags. Ideal for carrying other swag items, tote bags are especially useful at more informal events and conventions where attendees collect a lot of materials. Printed with a vibrant design or clever phrase, they’re often reused, increasing awareness of your brand.
- T-shirts or hoodies. These branded merchandise pieces transform attendees into walking billboards. A well-designed hoodie that is soft, stylish, and on-trend can become a wardrobe staple and a long-term marketing tool for your company.
- Phone chargers or USB drives. Compact and tech-savvy, these gifts are especially useful for conference attendees juggling multiple devices.
- Branded pens and notebooks. Event attendees frequently need to jot down notes. High-quality pens and notebooks with your logo add a professional touch while serving a real purpose.
- Stickers and pins. These small but mighty swag items are cute, affordable, and extremely easy to distribute, making them budget-friendly additions that are difficult to forget.
- Branded phone cases. A popular item that is ideal for today’s digital audience. Custom cases keep your brand literally in hand, day after day.
When creating the perfect swag bag, think beyond branding. Choose items that are consistent with the tone of your event and your brand’s personality. A carefully curated bag encourages attendees to engage more, remember your brand, and even share their swag on social media, resulting in fantastic brand ambassadors.
Digital swag bag ideas
Virtual swag bags are an innovative, paperless alternative for virtual events with sustainability or budget goals. They’re easy to distribute, inexpensive, and allow for personalized experiences while minimizing environmental impact.
Effective digital swag bag ideas may include:
- Exclusive promo codes or discount vouchers. Incentive-driven motivation for future engagement.
- Free digital downloads. Think checklists, eBooks, guides, or templates.
- Online educational resources. Offer value beyond the event with on-demand knowledge.
- Branded Zoom backgrounds or mobile wallpapers. Subtle ways to increase logo exposure.
- Gift cards. Give attendees a choice with access to popular brands or your own store.
- Early access to webinars or content. Reward loyalty with something exclusive.
- Downloadable branded assets. Include digital planners, custom icons, or fun social media templates.
- Event recap videos or behind-the-scenes content.
Easily distribute these digital goodies by email or QR code. Whether for conferences, product launches, or company meetups, virtual swag bags let you encourage attendees to stay connected and engaged with your brand even after they log off.
Swag bag vs goodie bag: What’s the difference?
While the terms are frequently used interchangeably, there are important differences between a free swag bag and a goodie bag, particularly in a business or event setting. Here’s a simple breakdown.
| Feature | Swag bag | Goodie bag |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Promote a brand, event, or company | Provide small gifts or treats, often for fun |
| Common use | Corporate events, trade shows, virtual events | Birthday parties, weddings, informal gatherings |
| Contents | Branded items, promotional products, tech gadgets | Candies, toys, personalized items |
| Target audience | Clients, partners, attendees, employees | Friends, family, guests |
| Marketing goal | Increase brand visibility and engagement | Primarily for enjoyment or a thank-you gesture |
| Value perception | Often higher due to utility or exclusive content | Fun and lighthearted, usually more sentimental |
In short, a swag bag aims to boost brand awareness by providing useful promotional items or unique products, whereas a goodie bag focuses on simple gifts and treats with no strings attached.
How to create a swag bag that stands out at corporate events
A well-curated swag bag can make a lasting impression on your attendees, helping them remember your brand long after the event is over. Whether you’re planning formal corporate giveaways or more casual events, make sure your strategy is intentional. Here’s how to create the perfect swag bags for events.
Know your audience
Your swag bag’s success depends on understanding who will receive it. Consider your target audience’s age, job role, industry, and even lifestyle habits.
As an example:
- Tech-savvy professionals may appreciate branded wireless charging pads or phone cases.
- Health-conscious attendees would love eco-friendly water bottles, skincare products, and nutritious snacks.
- Executives at a conference will be impressed by luxury pens and leather-bound notebooks.
Tailoring your bag items to your recipients’ interests and needs increases the likelihood that they will keep and use them, boosting your brand’s recognition.
Set a budget
The price of your swag bag depends on what’s included, the size of your audience, and the level of personalization. A high-impact marketing strategy does not always mean spending more money – spending wisely will still result in big success.
When setting your budget, consider the potential ROI each one could yield. If a more expensive swag bag could result in a big client for your company, it may be worth the investment.
Look for bulk discounts on custom items from companies like Printify to save big on your swag bags.
Choose quality over quantity
A handful of well-made, useful items often outperforms a bag stuffed with forgettable trinkets. Quality increases perceived value, and recipients will associate that value with your brand.
- Use high-quality materials for branded products.
- Prioritize function. Consider items that attendees will use in their daily lives, such as notebooks, tech gadgets, or travel mugs.
- Don’t forget to test items yourself before committing.
It is better to have three strong items than 10 fillers that no one will keep once they get home.
Brand thoughtfully
Over-branding can sometimes backfire. A subtle, well-placed logo on a stylish item – such as a tote or thermal flask – will be more frequently used than an aggressively branded keychain.
- Match your branding to the event’s tone – bold for fun, low-key for formal.
- Allow your brand’s personality to shine through colors, product selection, and packaging.
- Add a QR code that leads to a landing page with a promo code, video, or personalized thank-you message.
Think about sustainability
Many attendees prioritize eco-friendly practices, and sustainable swag can really help you stand out.
Show your values by choosing:
- Biodegradable or recycled packaging.
- Bamboo utensils or reusable shopping totes.
- Refillable water bottles or notebooks made from recycled paper.
This appeals to the conscious consumer and ensures that your swag bag items are used rather than discarded.
Event swag bags: FAQ
Swag bags are marketing tools that help to raise brand awareness, create positive event experiences, and provide promotional items for attendees to take home or use on a daily basis. They help to leave a lasting impression while also subtly promoting your business.
Most event swag bags contain 3-7 high-quality items. The appropriate number is determined by your budget, event type, and goal, which may be brand exposure, lead generation, or creating value for attendees.
The swag bag definition refers to a curated bag of branded goods or gifts given away at events, conferences, or campaigns. “Swag” stands for “stuff we all get,” and it typically refers to promotional goods or free items used to promote a brand.
A goodie bag often contains fun or party favors, whereas a swag bag usually contains branded marketing items. Swag bags are more commonly used at office events, trade shows, and virtual events where brand engagement is important.
Design swag bags for your next event
Creating the ideal swag bag can make all the difference in how attendees remember your event. Swag bags are more than just freebies – they’re an effective marketing strategy for increasing brand visibility and providing real value through branded merchandise.
Printify helps businesses of all sizes create custom promotional products for swag bags that stand out. Whether you’re planning corporate, virtual, or casual events, facility tours, or networking meetups, our tools make it simple to create and deliver branded items that make a lasting impression.
Ready to start? Explore our swag bag ideas or create your own branded swag with Printify today!
