Swagging Up Virtual Events: Boosting Attendee Experience

Virtual events have become an essential part of our daily lives with the world shifting to online platforms. Whether it's a corporate conference, a music festival, or a wedding, the online event industry has been booming.

In fact, a massive 90% of event organizers believe that all large-scale events will be hybrid or virtual in the next couple of years!

However, let's admit it, virtual events can sometimes be a bit dull, with attendees feeling disengaged and disconnected. But there is a simple fix - Swag.

Now sure, swag isn’t the only way to spice up a virtual event that would otherwise demand your soul and happiness. But it is an amazingly effective way to get your attendees excited and engaged with your event.

With various branded merchandise such as t-shirts, tote bags, or stickers, you can create a buzz around your event and make it more fun and interactive.

Virtual event swag can also be used as a marketing tool to boost your brand recognition, drive social media sharing, and create a lasting impression on your attendees.

So whether you're hosting a virtual gala, a product launch, or a charity fundraiser, let's see how you can get creative and make your virtual event unforgettable with some fun and lasting swag!

In this article, we’ll go through

Why you should incorporate swag in your virtual events, and
Tips to follow to make your virtual event swag feel welcome and appreciated.

This’ll be quick! Let’s jump right in.

Why you should incorporate swag in your virtual events

Swag, or branded merchandise, can add a lot of value to your virtual events. Here are some reasons why you should incorporate swag in your virtual events.

Creates a memorable experience
Creates a sense of community
Incentivizes audience participation
Increases customer engagement
Boost brand awareness

Let’s take a closer look at each.

1. Creates a memorable experience

Swag is a fantastic way to create a memorable experience for your attendees in a virtual event. While virtual events lack the physical interaction of in-person events, swag can add a tangible and personalized touch to the virtual experience.

Imagine this - your attendees receive a package with branded merchandise like t-shirts, hats, or stickers. Not only do they have something to wear and use during the event, but they also have something tangible to remember the event by. Every time they see or use the swag, they will be reminded of your brand and the event, creating a lasting impression.

You can also get creative and design unique and personalized swag items that align with the theme of the event or the interests of your attendees. For example, if you're hosting a music festival, you can send out custom-designed earbuds or concert posters.

It adds a personal and memorable touch to the virtual event experience and can help to create a lasting impression on your attendees.

2. Creates a sense of community

When attendees receive branded merchandise, they feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves - a community of like-minded individuals who share common interests or values.

Attendees can feel a connection to each other and your brand through the shared experience of using or wearing the swag. This can lead to increased engagement and a feeling of excitement and anticipation for future events.

In a virtual event, it's important to create a sense of community despite the physical distance. Swag can help bridge that gap and create a fun and engaging environment that attendees will remember and want to be a part of in the future!

3. Incentivizes audience participation

In a virtual event, it can be a challenge to keep attendees engaged and motivated to participate. This is where swag comes in as a powerful tool to incentivize audience participation. Swag creates a sense of exclusivity and excitement around the event, motivating attendees to actively participate.

For example, you can create a swag bag for attendees that includes exclusive merchandise like t-shirts, water bottles, or even custom backgrounds for the event.

Attendees can earn these rewards by participating in polls, asking questions, or simply engaging with the event. You can also use swag to create a sense of competition by offering exclusive rewards to the most active participants.

Incentivizing participation with swag creates a fun and exciting environment that encourages attendees to get involved and take an active role in the event.

4. Increases customer engagement

Swag can be an effective way to increase engagement in a virtual event. Here's how:

Firstly, swag is a great way to get your attendees excited and engaged before the event even begins. Consider sending out a "swag bag" of branded merchandise to attendees before the event, which can help to generate excitement and anticipation for the event.

During the event, swag can be used to encourage interaction and engagement. For example, you can hold a swag giveaway or quiz, encouraging attendees to participate and engage with your brand. You can also use swag to gamify the event, such as by offering rewards or points for participating in certain activities or sessions.

Finally, swag can be used to promote social media sharing and create a sense of community around the event. You can encourage attendees to share photos of themselves with the swag on social media, using a branded hashtag or tagline. This can help to generate buzz around the event and increase engagement.

5. Boosts brand awareness

In a virtual event, it's easy for attendees to forget about the event as soon as it's over. But swag can help your brand stay top of mind long after the event has ended!

When you incorporate branded merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, or stickers in your virtual event, you're giving your attendees a tangible item that they can use or wear. And every time they use or wear it, they'll be reminded of your brand.

But it's not just the attendee who benefits! When attendees wear or use your branded swag in their day-to-day life, they're also promoting your brand to their friends, family, and social media followers. It's like free advertising!

So, don't underestimate the power of swag in boosting brand awareness in a virtual event. It's a fun and creative way to keep your brand top of mind long after the event has ended and to promote your brand to a wider audience.

8 best practices when incorporating swag in a virtual event

While swag does liven up a virtual event, you need to keep a few things in mind to get the most value out of it. Before we dive into some of the really important ones, let’s take a quick look at the no-brainers.

First and foremost, know your audience. You need to consider the interests and needs of your audience when selecting swag items. You want to make sure that the swag is relevant and useful to them.

Second, always remember, quality over quantity. It's better to offer a few high-quality swag items than a bunch of low-quality ones. Make sure the swag items are well-made, on-brand, and useful for the attendees.

And lastly, keep the swag relevant to the theme and goals of the event. This will help to reinforce the key messages and values of the event.

With that out of the way, here are other important best practices you can follow to really tap into the power of virtual event swag.

Consider shipping logistics
Consider the timing and set a budget
Make it interactive
Follow up with attendees
Communicate information clearly
Personalize the swag
Provide extra value to your attendees
Consider sustainability

Let’s dive into each.

1. Consider shipping logistics

When incorporating swag in a virtual event, it's important to remember to consider shipping logistics. You don't want attendees to receive their swag after the event is over, leaving them feeling like they missed out on the fun.

To make sure that shipping logistics are taken care of, be sure to plan ahead and have a clear shipping timeline in place. Make sure that you have enough time to send out the swag and that you communicate clearly with attendees about when they can expect to receive it.

You can also get creative with shipping, such as adding a personalized note or making the package look visually appealing to make the experience of receiving swag even more exciting. With some planning and attention to detail, you can ensure that attendees receive their swag on time and are able to fully enjoy the virtual event experience.

2. Consider the timing and set a budget

Nobody likes receiving a gift that arrives late or realizing that it's way over budget. So, plan ahead and be realistic with your budget!

For the timing, consider when your attendees will be receiving the swag. Make sure to give yourself enough time to prepare, package, and ship the swag so it arrives on time. Additionally, sending the swag in advance can help to build excitement and anticipation for your virtual event.

As for the budget, determine how much you're willing to spend on swag before you start selecting items. Be mindful of the costs of the swag itself, as well as the cost of shipping. But don't let a tight budget deter you from offering swag – there are plenty of affordable options that can still be exciting and valuable for your attendees.

3. Make it interactive

Incorporating swag into your virtual event can be a fun and interactive way to engage your attendees. Make it a part of the experience by creating interactive activities that involve the swag.

For example, you could use swag as a way to get early sign-ups to commit to your event. You could also try something more fun and create a virtual scavenger hunt that encourages attendees to use the swag items throughout the event.

Or, you can offer prizes or rewards to attendees who participate in certain activities or ask questions during the event. You can even gamify the experience by creating a leaderboard that tracks attendees' engagement with the event.

You have plenty of options with this.

The key is to make the swag a part of the event experience, and use it to drive engagement and participation. By making the swag interactive, you'll create a fun and engaging experience that attendees will remember long after the event is over.

4. Follow up with attendees

Following up with attendees is a crucial best practice when incorporating swag into a virtual event. It's important to gather feedback from your attendees on the swag and their overall experience to improve your future events.

This feedback can help you understand what worked well, what didn't, and how you can improve the swag offering in the future.

You can follow up with attendees in a variety of ways, such as a post-event survey or a follow-up email. You can also encourage attendees to share their experiences on social media using event-specific hashtags. This can help to build buzz for your next event and create a sense of community among attendees.

By following up with attendees, you’re essentially demonstrating that you value their feedback and are committed to providing a great experience. This can help to build loyalty and engagement among your attendees and improve your overall event strategy.

5. Communicate clearly

This means letting your attendees know what kind of swag they can expect to receive, how they can claim their rewards, and when they can expect to receive it.

To keep things fun and interesting, you can create a sense of mystery and excitement around the swag. For example, you can hint at the types of swag attendees can expect to receive, but keep the specifics a surprise until the event. You can also use social media to tease the swag and build anticipation among attendees.

Clear communication also means being available to answer any questions attendees may have about the swag. Make sure to provide clear instructions and contact information in case attendees need assistance.

By communicating clearly with your attendees, you can ensure that they have a positive and engaging experience with the swag, and help to build excitement for your virtual event.

6. Personalize the swag

Personalizing the swag creates a sense of exclusivity and excitement for attendees, making them feel appreciated and valued. It's also a great way to build brand awareness and reinforce your messaging.

You can personalize the swag in a number of ways, from adding a custom message or logo to offering different options based on attendees' preferences. For example, you can offer attendees the option to choose their own t-shirt size or color, or allow them to customize their own mug or water bottle.

Personalizing the swag not only makes attendees feel special but also helps to create a memorable experience that they will associate with your brand. So, don't be afraid to get creative and add a personal touch to your swag

7. Provide extra value to your attendees

Swag is a fantastic way to incentivize participation and create excitement around the event, but it's important to go beyond just giving away free stuff.

Consider offering swag that adds value to the attendee's experience, such as a digital guide or an exclusive webinar. You can also create interactive activities that involve the swag, like a virtual game that requires attendees to use the swag to solve challenges.

By providing extra value through swag, you can make the virtual event more meaningful and memorable for attendees. This will not only increase their satisfaction with the event but also encourage them to participate in future events.

Remember, swag is a tool that can help create a sense of community and engagement among attendees, so make sure to use it in a way that provides real value to your audience.

8. Consider sustainability

As we shift to more virtual events, it's important to consider the environmental impact of the swag we offer. Sustainability is a hot topic, and it's essential to be mindful of our planet's health. The good news is that there are many eco-friendly options for virtual event swag.

Consider using swag made from sustainable materials like bamboo or recycled plastic. You can also offer digital swag like custom virtual backgrounds, which eliminates the need for shipping altogether. By using sustainable swag options, you can reduce waste and make a positive impact on the environment.

Incorporating sustainability into your virtual event swag not only helps the planet, but it also shows your commitment to sustainability, which can be an excellent way to differentiate your brand and stand out to your audience.

Humanize and elevate your virtual event with Swageazy

Virtual events have become a norm in today's world, but it doesn't mean that they have to be dull and impersonal. By incorporating swag into your virtual event, you can humanize and elevate the experience for your audience.

Swag not only makes your virtual event more enjoyable and interactive but also serves as a reminder of the great experience that you provided to your attendees.

Swageazy is the perfect platform for creating and customizing swag for your virtual event, providing an opportunity to showcase your brand identity and connect with your audience in a meaningful way.

With Swageazy, you can choose from a wide range of products and personalize them with your brand's logo or message. So why not add some personality and creativity to your next virtual event with Swageazy's amazing range of products and swag packs and create an unforgettable experience for your audience?

Get in touch with us today to learn more.