4 Ways to Give Conference Gifts
Giving gifts? At a conference? GROUNDBREAKING.
Sure, handing out conference swag and gifts is nothing new — but what if we told you there are specific ways to get corporate gifting done right? After all, these gifts should be working for you, helping you to achieve your goals!
It’s way too easy to get caught up in the conference swag noise — giving gifts just to give gifts, just because everyone else is, and doing it in the same way over and over again.
Not only is it important to break away from the standard conference swag, but it’s equally important to think strategically about the way you approach gifting for conferences.
So, we’re breaking down four different ways to give gifts for corporate events and conferences so that your gifts pack a bigger punch!
1. Send it Ahead of Time
Take a step back from the conference itself and put yourself in the shoes of the folks who are likely to attend. How can you make sure they’re stopping by YOUR booth? How can you get them excited about your product? How can you incentivize them to attend the conference in the first place?
Consider sending a gift BEFORE the conference!
That’s right — instead of being passive, be proactive in your approach. Make them want to come to the conference. Pique their interest before they even meet/see/talk to you! There are tons of different ways you could do this:
- Create hype by giving them a gift with a sneak peek of your product
- Get them excited about the event with a fun, on-theme gift
- If they have to travel to attend, treat them to a travel-themed gift to make their journey feel more luxurious
- Show love for the conference’s host city by gifting items from local businesses (you could even give them a voucher to a local restaurant group to use while they’re there!)
- Provide them with items that will to use/enjoy during the conference.
Need some ideas? Check out these examples from our past projects:
The SHRM Conference was set for New Orleans, so Paycor hyped up their prospects with gifts inspired by the French Quarter! Getting these into people's hands BEFORE the conference was a brilliant way to entice attendees to drop by their booth.
Are attendees traveling far and wide to attend the conference? These travel-themed gifts are the perfect way to show them how much you appreciate them making the trip!
Lessonly created a *buzz* about their virtual conference with these coffee-themed gifts! To invite attendees, they enticed them with locally roasted coffee and a camper mug to enjoy a cup of coffee during the event!
2. Give Gifts During the Conference
Sometimes it makes the most sense to give out gifts during the conference — not only is it a thoughtful gesture, but it’s a great way to make a lasting impression!
But there are definitely some do’s & don’ts when it comes to gifting during the conference:
Do…
- Opt for something lightweight and easy to carry
- Make sure your gift has snacks! With long days full of events and networking, people need to nosh!
- Include things that are practical for conference attendees — think: pens, notebooks, and portable phone chargers.
Don’t…
- Give them something big/clunky/heavy that's a hassle to carry around all day
- Go too overboard with your company logo or promotional products
Planning to hand out gifts during the event? Here are some gift ideas for conference attendees:
An insulated coffee mug to refill all day, snacks to stay satisfied, an icebreaker game to play, AND an Uber Eats gift card to get food delivered to the hotel later!? Drift understood the assignment!
Hosting a conference at a sunny destination? Lucky you! Give conference attendees everything they need to make the most of their experience — cocktail mixers and plantain chips, sunscreen, a hat... someone tell me where this conference is, and I'll be there!
A foolproof gift for conference goers = snacks! We've found that delicious treats are the top requested items in corporate gifts. Not to mention, you'll help attendees avoid getting hangry — which is always a plus!
Check Out All Our Brand New Designs
View The Corporate Catalog3. Follow Up With a Gift
What better way to WOW a prospective customer than to surprise them with a gift when they’re least expecting it — after the conference! This is a great opportunity to really stand out from the competition. Here are our top tips for this touch point:
- Make the gift feel super personal by adding a note to thank them for stopping by your booth.
- Use the gift as a tool to provide more information about your business and products
- Include an exclusive offer for your product if possible
- Consider mixing merch from the event plus some fun non-branded keepsakes. You can use a kitting and fulfillment partner to do that!
You may be wondering, how are you supposed to get a gift in their hands after the conference? Great question! When they sign up to attend the event, make sure there’s a field where they can input their address (either residential or business - leave it up to them!)
Or if you’re limited to collecting that kind of information at your conference booth, that works too — simply set up an iPad where folks can “check in” and they can add the information then.
Here are some examples of great gifts to send AFTER the conference:
Thanks a latte! We loved these pun-tastic thank-you gifts we designed for Gong. What better way to perk up your prospects than with a coffee-filled gift!?
Follow up with a gift filled with items from your city's local businesses! Then, include a booklet or pamphlet to explain more about your company and products.
Inspire potential customers to grow with you! This plant-themed gift we designed for CallRail would make for the perfect post-conference gift box.
4. Let Attendees Choose Their Own Gift
We know how much work goes into a successful conference. The planning, the logistics, the preparation — it’s a lot! And that's without worrying about putting together conference swag and gifts. But imagine a world in which:
- Your company avoids overbuying a bunch of swag
- You don’t have to cart deal with shipping, storing, and carting around conference gifts
- Attendees are hands-free during the conference, making their experience more enjoyable
- You still get to WOW prospects with a stellar gift (but we handle all the logistics for you)
- Swag waste has been officially reduced
Well, folks — no need for imagination — the future of gifting is here! Now, you can let attendees choose their own gift with our corporate gifting platform, which we call Portals.
Here’s how it works: At your conference or trade show booth, attendees simply scan a QR code that leads them to your company-branded Portal with selectable gifts. They choose their favorite gift, and it goes right to their door — all they do is enter their shipping address.
We handle the rest! It’s truly a win-win for everyone!
1. Conference attendees scan the QR code you provide — you can have a big one displayed on the side of your booth or just hand out cards with the info so they can take it home!
2. Once they enter your company's Portal, recipients can choose from your selection of curated gifts. All they have to do is enter their shipping info!
3. And just like that... Your branded gift arrives at their door. Ta-da!
Give the Best Conference Gifts with Teak and Twine
Not to toot our own horn, but corporate gifts are totally our THING! (Toot toot!) We've helped thousands of companies give WOW-worthy gifts for all kinds of occasions — conferences and trade shows, awards ceremonies and galas, company milestones — you name it! But we know finding high-quality conference gifts for attendees can be a headache — talk to our team to learn how we can help.
Whether you're looking for custom corporate gifts or simply need some gift ideas and inspiration — we've got you covered!
Ready to chat with our team? Get connected with an Account Manager today!
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