Virtual Event Giveaways 101

As virtual events are expected to continue well into the future, event organisers are trying to come up with creative ways to continue to personalise their conferences. Virtual event giveaways are becoming all the more popular to achieve this goal. By building up excitement, creating brand ambassadors, and even driving online engagement, giveaways have been a valuable tool for making virtual events a success. One of the most compelling reasons to do virtual event giveaways is due to the fact that it humanises your brand. In the digital age where people are spending more time online, putting a face and personal touch to a company is more important than ever. The Brandability team has put together this guide to help you use promotional products at your next virtual event. Send Attendees Mystery Items After people sign up to attend your event, get them intrigued by sending a fun or even mysterious item that hints at what your virtual event experience will be like! No one wants more time in front of their computer for a boring event, so prove that your event won’t be like that. This could also be a great incentive for people to sign up and create hype around your event. In terms of products, you can make use of a selection of small, cost-effective branded items like wristbands or pens. When using multiple items, it adds to the fun as attendees will have no idea as to what they will be receiving. For those who really want to go all-out, you can even send attendees branded apparel before the event and ask them to wear it when joining the conference. Create Opportunities For Audience Engagement Don’t let the host do all the talking. A truly memorable event is one where everyone can get involved and engage with the topic at hand. To get your audience involved, consider giving them the chance to get a branded product that relates to the virtual event. For instance, everyone that asks a question during the event could be entered into a draw to win useful products. You could also use platforms that incorporate gamification into your virtual event. These apps can create fun, quick games participants can play and will select a winner who can be sent a reward in the form of a promotional item. Some organisers might prefer offering attendees the chance to only engage with what has been presented after the fact. Using something like a survey or Google Form is a great way to easily capture details of those who are in the running to win branded items. Nothing stops you from sending all those who engaged a small gift, though. Make The Products Shareworthy After an event, brand-building doesn’t stop. By creating unique, eye-catching promotional products, you will have the opportunity to let your attendees post images about the products they received on social media. Seeing as products are likely to arrive only a day or two after the event has come to an end, this is excellent for organisers who plan on hosting similar events or the same one in the future as it becomes a sort of organic marketing opportunity. What makes promotional products shareworthy? A number of factors play into this. For one, you can try to think out of the box when selecting the items you want to use for your promotion. Items that are not as commonplace are likely to earn a spot on your attendees’ social media channels. Other than that, the colour and kind of branding you add to the products can also play a role. Try to make your logo prominent and choose a colour that stands out, while still matching the palette of your event’s identity. Involve Your Sponsors If your event has sponsors, promotional items and giveaways are a great way to market their companies. Boosting their brand exposure can be done by creating promotional products branded with their logos and corporate identities. In terms of a giveaway, this can become part of your program. For instance, you could have a 10-minute quiz at the end of the event on what was presented and winners can score a few free prizes, courtesy of your sponsors. Other than that, it is also beneficial to discuss any of the above giveaway ideas with your sponsors. They might be interested in covering the cost of the items in exchange for exclusive branding rights. Where To Get Bespoke Branded Products Brandability’s team of experts can assist you in finding the best products for your next online event. We also brand all items with your company's logo and identity to offer a true one-stop shopping experience. Visit our store here.