WHAT: A Swag Bag is a “goodie bag” filled with valuable merchandise offered as a gift to event attendees as an incentive for attending or to reward loyal customers.
WHY: Everyone loves swag. People get excited about discovering what is in them. When they are exceptional, they create a buzz that extends through social circles. Customers remember the thoughtfulness and have a greater sense that your brand cares about them
WHEN: Swag bags are a simple and perfect addition to your next massage practice open house, to gift to new clients, and to thank loyal customers at the holidays.
CONTENT IDEAS:
The Bag itself
Your Marketing Materials
stress ball, sticky calendar for computer screen, mini desk calendar,
lip balm with an sticker that lists your business, ideas are endless
Samples
Door Prize Ticket
Cross-Promotional Items
You could offer free inclusion when the business offers a sample, even charge a nominal amount for including literature without a goodie offered. Be prepared to tell the business how many bags will be distributed and for what purpose. You could even hit them up for a donated item to be used as a door prize.
Here’s a few ideas that I have snagged free for cross-promotions:
Discount on acupuncture Free visit to a chiropractor
Free bowling passes Coupon for a free rose from a local florist
Ten-day pass to a gym Buy-one get-one restaurant coupons
Discount card from health food store Free loaf of bread coupon from a bakery
WHY: Everyone loves swag. People get excited about discovering what is in them. When they are exceptional, they create a buzz that extends through social circles. Customers remember the thoughtfulness and have a greater sense that your brand cares about them
WHEN: Swag bags are a simple and perfect addition to your next massage practice open house, to gift to new clients, and to thank loyal customers at the holidays.
CONTENT IDEAS:
The Bag itself
- You could go low end, even a brown paper lunch bag could suffice.
- Mid-Range, you could order custom imprinted plastic bags, though these usually don’t hang around very long being tossed or recycled relatively quickly.
- High-end will hit your pocket-book a bit more but will have an indefinite lifespan giving regular reminders that you are available for business – custom-imprinted reusable totes (these can run from as low as 84¢ up to $$). Be sure to include your business name and at least one method to contact you in the imprint if you go personalized.
Your Marketing Materials
- Your business card, brochure, flyer, coupon, special offer
- Imprinted Promotional Items
stress ball, sticky calendar for computer screen, mini desk calendar,
lip balm with an sticker that lists your business, ideas are endless
Samples
- These can be samples of items you sell or use in your practice, for example – Biofreeze will ship free sample packets to therapists who sell their products.
Door Prize Ticket
- You could have winning tickets pre-drawn and they match their number to see what they won, or have them need to be present for drawing.
- Or it could be the drawing slip that they are required to put their name and contact info on, perhaps even a short 3 question survey and a notice if they are required to be present at drawing time or if winners will be notified.
Cross-Promotional Items
- This one takes a bit more time and effort, but other than gas if you drive around (and remember business mileage is a deductible business expense), won’t hit your pocketbook, and could potentially add to it.
You could offer free inclusion when the business offers a sample, even charge a nominal amount for including literature without a goodie offered. Be prepared to tell the business how many bags will be distributed and for what purpose. You could even hit them up for a donated item to be used as a door prize.
Here’s a few ideas that I have snagged free for cross-promotions:
Discount on acupuncture Free visit to a chiropractor
Free bowling passes Coupon for a free rose from a local florist
Ten-day pass to a gym Buy-one get-one restaurant coupons
Discount card from health food store Free loaf of bread coupon from a bakery
Leftover goodie bags from local charity walk or run – I asked if I could have some of their many leftover bags, and tucked those bags inside mine. In one case, after a pet walk I received twenty bags, not enough for all the bags I offered – so I set my bags that included those aside and noted they were for pet owners and included an additional offer of my own for a complimentary 10-minute furry pet massage with any in-home session for the owner. A huge hit! (Though be aware of regulation regarding animal massage in your state.)
IN CONCLUSION, the idea is to have fun. If you have more ideas, comments, or experiences about swag bags, we’d love to hear your comments!
Article author Lynn Marie Kutz, LMT has been a self-employed therapist for over 20 years, and proclaims that AMTA-WI Meet & Greets are a great way to hear about marketing experiences of other LMTs.
IN CONCLUSION, the idea is to have fun. If you have more ideas, comments, or experiences about swag bags, we’d love to hear your comments!
Article author Lynn Marie Kutz, LMT has been a self-employed therapist for over 20 years, and proclaims that AMTA-WI Meet & Greets are a great way to hear about marketing experiences of other LMTs.