5 Things To Keep In Mind When Designing Event Giveaways

Hosting events is no easy feat. As such, it’s no surprise that companies are always looking for professionals to handle their events rather than plan their own.

Event giveaways are especially tricky to plan, with so many factors involved—from the kind of items to be given, down to how they’re packaged. These gifts need a specialized hand, as there are a lot of dos and don’ts involved in the process. To help you, we’ve summarized the important points.

Here are five things to remember when planning giveaways.

1. Learn the impression your client wants to leave

The very first rule to consider in every event decision is the client’s needs. Learning and leveraging your client’s guidelines are critical to successfully designing positive events. Ask yourself: How does my client want to be seen throughout the event? Is there any specific message that they want conveyed? You want to echo these vibes and messages in your giveaways.

For example, if you’re launching a product, then the giveaway should hint at the product’s benefits. Attendees can come away with different impressions of the brand, depending on your giveaways.

It also helps to learn a bit about design psychology to guide your decisions. Concepts like visceral reactions (a good feeling that comes out of nowhere) and the Von Restorff Effect (the unique object is always what people remember) help you understand how people interpret things.

You can then leverage this information to leave the best impression possible.

2. Personalize your giveaways

‍Personalized event giveaway kits will leave a longer lasting impression.

And personalization doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Even different names printed on the box or unique items selected based upon the recipient’s likes or habits indicated via registration implies that you value every attendee enough to personalize their gift.

3. Promote sustainability

‍Sustainability is not just a buzzword—it’s an aspect that should be present in all, if not most, elements of your events—including giveaways. This way, your attendees will leave with a good impression of your client’s brand and be more likely to continue using them.

‍According to marketing professionals from Nielsen, brands who practice sustainability are “in a good place to capitalize on increased consumer expectation and demand.” In other words, people like an eco-friendly company, a trend that is changing not just how people conduct business but how they study it, too.

Those who study marketing are better equipped to promote sustainable practices, with sustainability degree holders now working in every area of business from nonprofit organizations to corporate environments. Armed with the knowledge of emerging sustainable trends they will not only apply these ethics to changing the big areas of business, but also the small practices, such as gift giving, in order to better promote a brand.

With this in mind, the kind of sustainable decisions event planners can make are boundless. For instance, you can focus on the durability aspect of your gifts. Long-lasting items are least likely to end up in dumpsites. You may also opt to give away reusable goods like containers so it helps your attendees make sustainable decisions in the future.

The key to creating truly eco-friendly gifts is to think about their long-term impact.

4. Give attendees what they need

‍There are two types of giveaways to note here: The items that attendees may need during the event itself, and are shared ahead of the event, and the post-event giveaways.

The former is very straightforward. With the eventual permanence of hybrid events, event planners are now putting a special interest in crafting the perfect pre-event kits. Usually, included in these are sponsored items and pre-work materials. But if your event has something special in store, you may also opt to give attendees things they can use to enhance their event experience, such as interactive devices.

When considering post-event gifts, the only major rule is to make sure they’re not just promotional items, but also practical. Some examples include tech accessories, seasonal objects and stationery sets.

5. Make sure they’re easy to carry

‍When gifting physical attendees, ensure that your gift kits are light and small. Large gift bags and boxes will leave lasting impressions, sure, but people might not appreciate the hassle of carrying them. What if they have to ride a plane—will the item fit in their luggage? What if they used public transport? Always consider the fact that not all of them will have the means to carry big items back home.

And if you are shipping your giveaways, keep in mind the impact that size and weight will have on your shipping budget.

In any giveaway, the most challenging part is weighing both what your client wants and what your attendees need. Balance the two, and you’ll be able to craft the perfect giveaway.

Do you need help crafting the perfect giveaway for your next event?

We’d love to help. Contact us.