If I had a dollar for every branded pen I’ve received I’d be rich. Instead, I just have a lot of pens. In the name of breaking the cycle of mediocre free pens, here’s a list of the best conference swag to hand out at events that will increase your brand visibility and make prospects happy. These out-of-the-box ideas are sure to make your brand stand out. Goal: Communicating company values Best swag: Personalize it! — When it comes to giving away branded swag, it’s always nice when the item is strategically chosen to reflect your company’s mission or values. These kinds of decisions show prospects not only your brand name but also what you care about, which can help differentiate your company from the rest.
Take time thinking through your company’s values and what kind of giveaway item can get that across. Are you a problem-solving company? Go for a personalized Rubiks cube. Want to get across your sense of humor? Tissues that say “We’re glad you picked us.” would be best. Do you put your customers’ safety first? Branded band-aids all the way! Personalizing these items with a witty background remove service slogan and your company logo makes them cheeky and memorable. Angel’s Cleaning gets their point across with travel-sized hand sanitizer. Image via Evans Manufacturing State of the Obvious’ graphic tote bag is obviously obvious. Image via behance Owens Corning helps their clients (and their inanimate pets) grow.

Image via Pinnacle Promotions Goal: Promoting your product Best swag: Coffee table book — If your goal is promoting the heck out of what you sell, a clever way to do this is through a good-looking book. Whether it be a ‘zine of customer stories, an artistic comic illustrating the ins and outs of your product or a coffee table book of in-real-life photos, a book is a memorable and professional looking way of showcasing your product and the ways customers use it. Pack it with interesting content like customer stories and helpful how-to’s tailored to your target audience to show off all the ways your product makes a difference.