Swag boxes are a popular marketing tool for a reason. They are effective, affordable, and can be customized to fit any budget or target audience. If you are looking for a way to promote your brand, swag boxes are a great option to consider.
As cooperation gifting grows, swag boxes for all occasions and recipients are rising in popularity. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of swag boxes, kits, packs, or bags. (We won’t judge you on your preferred terminology.)
What Is a Swag Box Anyway?
A swag box is a box packed with branded merchandise or promotional products and other customized items, usually given to new hires or new customers.
These kits go by many names, from swag boxes to swag packs, and welcome kits to onboarding gifts. No matter what you call them, however, the core of the concept is giving a couple of goodies to an individual who you want to have a positive impression of your company. (Because who doesn’t love receiving gifts?)
Consider it a good first impression powered by consumerism.
Swag Boxes for Employees
Swag boxes for employees are incredibly common. I have been both on the delivering and receiving end of an onboarding swag box, and I’m sure many of you have as well. Companies may elect to gift swag boxes to employees for special milestones, achievements, holidays, or as a welcome gift during onboarding.
Swag boxes for employees are a creative and thoughtful way to express gratitude, enhance company culture, and promote brand loyalty. These boxes provide a tangible reminder of an employee’s contribution to the organization and can serve as a morale booster, fostering a sense of pride and camaraderie. By investing in these small gestures of appreciation, companies can create a positive and engaging work environment that encourages employee motivation and loyalty.
Swag Boxes for Customers
Sending a swag box to a customer is an excellent way to say, ‘thank you’. Often times you’ll find these to be food or wine packs. There are plenty of benefits to sending out swag boxes to customers including making them feel valued, fostering a sense of community, and increasing brand visibility. By providing tangible and branded items, you engage customers on a deeper level, increasing their connection to your brand and fostering long-term relationships.
Swag boxes for customers are often sent to especially loyal customers but they can also be used as a form of customer retention.
Swag Boxes for Virtual Events
Swag boxes for virtual events have gained popularity as a means to enhance attendee engagement and create a more immersive experience.
You may choose to send out swag boxes for virtual events to develop a tangible connection between the attendees that may otherwise be lacking in a digital space as opposed to in-person events. This is also a good way to tie in interactive elements, as well as to show appreciation and hopefully inspire brand invisibility. Plus, attendees will walk away with event memorabilia—keeping your company top of mind even after the event has long since passed.
When selecting items to include in swag boxes for virtual events, it’s important to consider the event theme, target audience, and overall goals. This could include unique limited-edition items, personalized notes, snacks or beverages, and virtual tools, among other items. Just remember to keep the items relevant, useful, and aligned with the overall virtual event experience. The goal is to create a memorable and enjoyable experience for attendees while reinforcing the event’s branding and messaging.
Swag Boxes for Prospects
When creating swag boxes for prospects, the focus is on making a positive impression, capturing their interest, and potentially converting them into customers. Swag boxes can be given to prospects at various stages of the sales and marketing process.
You may choose to hand out swag boxes to prospects during the following touch-points:
- During trade shows and events
- After deal closings
- During campaigns or special promotions
- As a follow-up or for lead nurturing
- As a lead gen tool or during initial contact
It’s important to consider the timing and appropriateness of giving swag boxes to prospects. Tailor the timing based on the prospect’s engagement level, their position in the sales funnel, and the specific goals of your sales and marketing efforts. Swag boxes should be seen as a thoughtful and strategic tool to nurture relationships, demonstrate value, and ultimately move prospects closer to becoming customers.
Swag Boxes for PR
So technically a swag box for PR purposes is called a PR package. They are slightly different than what you’ll find in a typical swag box. However, the differences are fairly tiny and I feel like this is worth a shout-out.
PR packages are generally sent out during a PR campaign and are used to foster relationships and garner media attention. These may be sent to influencers, journalists, or media outlets.
The items within a PR package will generally include additional information like press releases, product samples, and other metals used for media coverage. These have a B2B element that is often lacking in swag backs for other marketing purposes.
What Goes In a Swag Box?
Swag bag possibilities are nearly endless but there are some common themes you’ll find. Swag boxes often include some assortment of the following common promotional items:
- T-shirts
- Hoodies
- Hats
- Water bottles
- Pens
- Keychains
- Stickers
- Notebooks
- Bags
- Phone chargers
- Portable phone stands
- USB flash drives
- Snacks
- Product samples
- Hand sanitizers
- Lip Balms
- First-aid kits
- Phone grips
- Headphones
- Screen cleaners
- Sports towels
- Discount codes or coupons
- Personalized notes or thank-you cards
While these are the more common products, you should get creative a find ways to showcase your brand that feels on-brand. Creating memorable moments is what marketing is all about.
How Many Items Should Be In a Swag Box?
Three to eight products seem to be the sweet spot for swag boxes. However, the number of items to include in a swag box can vary depending on factors such as budget, the size of the items, and the overall desired impact. There is no set rule for the exact number of items, but it’s generally recommended to strike a balance between providing value and avoiding overwhelming the recipient.
Here are some considerations to help determine the appropriate number of items:
Value versus Variety
Include a reasonable number of items to ensure the swag box feels substantial and provides value to the recipient. Aim for a mix of different items, such as branded merchandise, tools, and informational materials. When possible, always throw in a small surprise element.
Budget
If budgets didn’t exist, we could curate the swag boxes of our dreams. Unfortunately, your boss likely isn’t going to hand over the company card and tell you to go crazy.
Consider your budget and the cost of each item when deciding on the number of items. It’s better to focus on providing a smaller number of high-quality items rather than including a larger quantity of lower-value items.
Relevance
Prioritize the relevance of the items, ensuring each item serves a purpose and aligns with the brand or event. Including a smaller number of carefully selected, meaningful items can have a more significant impact than a larger quantity of generic items.
Remember, you want to make a positive and memorable impact.
Unboxing Experience
Everything is about the experience these days. (Honestly, can’t blame this trend for existing.)
Consider the unboxing experience and how the recipient will perceive and interact with the items. Too many items and you risk overwhelming the recipient. They then won’t be able to appreciate each one. Too few or too many that seem irrelevant to the recipient and they may find the box to be lackluster and actually end up with a negative view of your company. (Totally not the goal here.)
You want to create a positive and memorable experience, so it’s important to strike the right balance.
Package Size
Consider the packaging and your selection of items. Multiple large items may require a larger box. This will affect packaging material prices and shipping expenses.
Do you have the budget for a larger package? If not, it’s back to the drawing board on your selected items.
In a way, you’re working with a jigsaw puzzle. (Hey. That’s an interesting idea for a promo item!)
How Do You Make a Custom Swag Box?
Ready to make your very own swag box? Creating a custom swag box involves a ton of moving parts. You need to make sure it aligns with your brand, resonates with the recipients, and meets your goals. Among a bunch of other things.
Let’s get into it. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make a custom swag box.
Define Your Goals and Budget
Determine the purpose of the swag box and what you hope to achieve with it. Set a budget that allows for high-quality items while considering the number of recipients and any customization or branding costs.
Understand Your Audience
Consider the preferences, interests, and demographics of the recipients. Tailor the contents of the swag box to resonate with their needs and preferences.
If you run an eco-friendly company then don’t send non-eco-friendly products. Likewise, if your target audience is big burly men then vegan chocolate may not go down so well as a promo gift.
Conduct surveys, gather feedback, or analyze customer data to gain insights into their preferences.
Select Items
Choose items that align with your brand, event, or campaign. Consider including a mix of branded merchandise, practical items, unique experiences, or personalized elements.
Ensure that the items are of good quality and add value to the recipients’ lives. It’s super easy to fill a box up with low-quality junk. Be sure to really consider each item you choose. Less is honestly more in this regard if the budget is limited.
Branding and Customization
Incorporate your brand identity into the swag box. Add your logo, colors, and messaging to create a cohesive and recognizable brand experience.
Explore customization options such as branded packaging, personalized notes, or customized merchandise to make the swag box feel special and tailored to the recipient.
Packaging and Presentation
Pay attention to the packaging and presentation of the swag box. Choose high-quality packaging materials that protect the items and provide an appealing unboxing experience.
Consider adding decorative elements, tissue paper, or custom inserts to enhance the overall presentation.
Distribution and Delivery
Plan how you will distribute the swag boxes to the recipients. Consider logistics, shipping, or in-person delivery methods depending on the context.
Ensure that the swag boxes are delivered in a timely manner, especially if they are associated with a specific event or campaign.
Measure and Evaluate
Track the effectiveness and impact of the swag boxes. Gather feedback from recipients, monitor engagement metrics, or conduct surveys to evaluate their satisfaction and the success of the swag box initiative. Use the insights gained to inform future swag box strategies.
Remember, the key is to create a memorable, personalized, and meaningful experience for the recipients. Adapt the process to fit your specific goals, audience, and brand identity to make the custom swag box a success.
Get Started With Swag Boxes
While you can complete your own in-house swag box campaign, (Been there done that, honestly pretty fun.) there are an ample number of companies who will take the stress off your hands. Let’s take a look at some popular companies that fit the commonly sought-after, ready-made boxes, affordable boxes, and of course, custom boxes.
Ready-Made Swag Boxes
You can get ready-made swag boxes from SwagBar, Teak & Twine, or Packed with Purpose. Ready-made swag boxes will lack the charm of customization. However, for busy marketers, this could be the way to go to begin the process of incorporating swag boxes and incorporating gifting into your budget.
Cheap Swag Boxes
One person’s cheap is another person’s expensive. Working on a budget is a reality of life. If you’re looking for cheap swag boxes, you may want to go with a completely self-curated box that you put together yourself. This can be done more affordably than most services. However, the cheaper you go the less professional the look. Just try not to go too cheap.
Custom Swag Boxes
You can get custom swag boxes from Swagger, Goody, or Swagmagic. Customization is the name of the game. Get the most from your cooperation gifting campaigns with custom swag boxes. I love the work provided by the aforementioned companies. Innovation and customization will be certain to please your recipients.
