Many booths
at the Consumer Electronics Show
were offering schwag,
low value items given away
for promotional purposes.
There is always talk
about people visiting booths
just for the schwag.
Those people are few,
especially at
a business-only convention
like the CES.
I can buy my own pens.
Thank you very much.
Schwag, to me,
is like a welcome sign.
It is an indication
the company wants to reach out
and talk with prospects.
Different schwag serves
different purposes.
Edible schwag,
like a small bag of popcorn
or some chocolate bars,
stops the prospect
for a longer time.
As they consume it,
you have an opportunity to talk
about your business.
Some of the startups
requiring funding
successfully used
edible schwag.
Highly visible schwag,
like brightly colored
bags with huge logos,
prompt other people
to visit your booth
and talk about you.
Many of the larger companies,
companies seeking media attention,
used highly visible schwag
to their advantage.
Wearable schwag
is great for spreading awareness
about your product
once the prospect returns home.
With a large convention
like the CES,
this means your company
suddenly has an international presence.
Your marketing has gone global.
The t-shirts I was given
are all from companies
with international order-ready websites.
Ensure the schwag you offer
serves your main goal.
It is a powerful tool.
Use it wisely.