Creating memorable, keep-able promotional items can enhance your brand / campaign rather than getting tossed out. On a hiking trail, Dave shares “rules” and considerations from experience, including many examples and anecdotes, ergo:
Rules:
- Light enough to travel
- Photo-op-able
- Sizes suck
- Quality goods
- Metaphorically yours
- Will it fly?
- Thrifty for lots
- If you’ve seen it before, don’t do it
Examples:
- Scarves (muted design, subtlely design, useful in chill too)
- Flags (simple design, sized to fold, wear like a cape, bonus for decorating event)
- Beer coozies (low cost, party-friendly, connect to home)
- Passports (independence, handy for notes, interactive)
- Pins and stickers (easy giveaways, make a bundle for excitement, mailable, each unique)
- Temp tattoo (inspired by Sailor Jerry rather than just a logo)
- Masks (remixed from users, great for events, provides interactive activity)
- Plush owls (remixed from user, take like a traveling gnome, shoot from cannon!)
Other Considerations:
- Design for your audience and crew
- Workshirts with patches + bandanas
- Swag-box exchange and unboxing
- Budget guidelines
- Making best t-shirts
Breaking rules:
- Lighters and pint glasses with etched logo (renegade “hippie” culture)
- Coasters (allowed us to leave bread crumbs, bars/restaurants find useful)
Recorded spontaneously in May 2013 on Varley Trail, Lynn Valley, North Vancouver
Listen to: Making Great Swag – soliloquy on a trail, part 3 (23:37, 192k mp3, 37MB)