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Jul 24

2008

What is This Obsession With Swag?

by Alexis Martin Neely - Posted in BlogHer, Life, Mom-a-rama |

I’ve never heard the word swag uttered as many times in my 34 years of living as I have in the past 3 weeks since I became a blogger at LAMomsBlog and went to BlogHer08.

Mom bloggers LOVE the swag.

If you haven’t already seen my video walkthrough of the MomSelect.com Swag Suite where my company participated in the swagfest, take a walk through the swag suite with me here.

Check out the Silicon Valley Moms Blog. See that pink banner in the corner about the Mom’s Summer Tour? Click it and check out the swag sponsors.

Nor, bear in mind, this was swag put together for a BlogHer Sub-Group made up of the 200 or so contributors to the collaborative Silicon Valley Moms Blog site.  Not even for the 1000 bloggers that attended the BlogHer event.

There were at least two other huge bags of Swag for all BlogHer attendees. One, a red bag from Scholastic for people who attended the People’s Party. I didn’t go, so I can’t tell you what was in the Scholastic bag.

Plus, registration for the event included a whole bag of swag and there was a whole separate swag room just for mom bloggers.

If I seem a little obsessed with this swag thing, I am. It’s fascinating on both a personal level and a business level.

I’m both a swag consumer and a swag creator. And, I’m obsessed like everyone else. I imagine we love it because it makes us feel celebrity-like. Or maybe that’s just me and everyone elsejust likes free stuff.

It’s big business this swag. Even GM and Michelin, two of the huge BlogHer sponsors, gifted some swag. One of my bags had a little michelin guy in it.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7iOAyq8DnE&feature=related]

Anyway, I have 4 bags of swag I put in a huge box and brought back on the plane with me from San Francisco. I’m givin’ it all away.

Want some?

I’m having a contest. I’m not sure how it’s going to work yet though.

Any ideas? Please share them with me by commenting here and then I’ll pick the format of the contest out of the commenters. The one I pick can have first pick of the swag bags.

Points are given for:

  1. simplicity,
  2. least work necessary from me
  3. attracts new people to my blog and makes them want to stay
  4. FUN!

I can’t wait to see what you come up with!


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  • sauerswald

    A contest, huh? Well, it’s got to involve Twitter if you want people to come here and comment. How about having people guess how many copies you’ve sold of “Wear Clean Underpants”? Sounds easy to me. I’ll check back to see what you decide!

  • katebeth45

    How about you have people leave a comment on how they think the word Swag came about. Could be funny and it’s simple and doesn’t require much work from you. :) And they can gain extra entries by subscribing to your feed or twitter. This way you gain new readers.

  • http://masonmafia.wordpress.com/ grfxboy

    1. Photo Contest – you pick the topic.
    2. “What is the Strangest or Coolest item of swag you ever received?”
    3. “What would you offer as swag at your own booth?”
    Follow me at twitter.com/lenmason

  • blossom747

    Maybe I am too late to comment on this.
    A Contest:
    1. Come up with the coolest swag(s) that will help soar Alexis’ business.

    a.) The swag has to align itself with motherhood
    b.) The swag has to align itself to the needs of children
    c.) Economical
    d.) “Green” swag…people will use it, not a throwaway
    e.) Eye catching/Attention Grabber (why will they come to my vendor booth and/or I want them to remember my name)

    2. One must do their research, ideas without a plan means absolutely nothing….that means have an implementation strategy.

    3. Winner will receive one Alexis’ session/coaching

  • http://masonmafia.wordpress.com/ grfxboy

    1. Photo Contest – you pick the topic.
    2. “What is the Strangest or Coolest item of swag you ever received?”
    3. “What would you offer as swag at your own booth?”
    Follow me at twitter.com/lenmason