Have you ever dropped into a local business and dropped off swag / a gift to try and get a meeting? It's complete cold outreach; if so, does it work? what is your messaging?
SaaS_Slingling_Slasher
Swag Drops to get a meeting
15
I think this is one of the biggest wastes of time and money a sales team can bother with. I don't need to bribe my prospects to talk to me, I'm valuable and so is what I'm selling.
What is the swag item? It better be more than a t-shirt or some bullshit koozie or stress ball.
haha its a canvas bag including teeshirt, Hat, branded portable charger, odds and ends and candy
No
So then all the bullshit useless items.
End of line.
End of line.
What are you selling? Are those items reflective of the quality of your product/service?
Here's a bunch of worthless crap marketing couldn't get rid of at a trade show. Congrats, now it's your worthless crap! Give me moneys please ๐ฅบ๐ฅบ๐ฅบ
okay everyone chill this is to get a meeting with a company out of complete cold outreach for them to notice us - to active deals i send much more (pro v - 1s, Vuve, cookies, breakfast); I was just inquiring about a good way to deliver itย
People get meetings without sending swag, though. That's why I'm asking what you sell.
Try to deliver yourself.
I use to do it in CPG (with prior appointments) but all the gifts that we had was somewhat related to the product my prospects were selling.ย
I use to do it in CPG (with prior appointments) but all the gifts that we had was somewhat related to the product my prospects were selling.ย
Nope, the closest I've got is merch at conferences and even then most of that merch is trash at least make it memorable or useful... like socksย
I do a bio with references, a condensed company bio with client logos, biz card. Obviously my bio has a photo cause Iโm cute.ย
And I rollerblade in.ย
Sometimes I bring coffee and donuts for the workers ๐คทโโ๏ธ
And I rollerblade in.ย
Sometimes I bring coffee and donuts for the workers ๐คทโโ๏ธ
Previous company I worked for would send out gourmet cookies, video brochures, books, and other random shit that was industry specific to that prospect. Sometimes we would get a tad overboard with the "gift".ย
Overall it was awesome. Wait until they were delivered, call same day or next with a follow up email, and in the beginning it was the easiest appointments ever to nail down. Stick rate was pretty good. The only issue with this is in some cases the prospects would have a shitty reaction like we're buying them off for a meeting, or making them feel bad to take a meeting. I'd always spin it and make them think differently but in some cases they wouldn't care to listen.
Another mistake I've seen with this approach is sending multiple gifts throughout the year to the same prospect. Shit get's annoying and makes it look like you have money to blow. Also make sure your targeting is damn near perfect so you don't waste time and money on someone that's not a fit.ย
Overall it was awesome. Wait until they were delivered, call same day or next with a follow up email, and in the beginning it was the easiest appointments ever to nail down. Stick rate was pretty good. The only issue with this is in some cases the prospects would have a shitty reaction like we're buying them off for a meeting, or making them feel bad to take a meeting. I'd always spin it and make them think differently but in some cases they wouldn't care to listen.
Another mistake I've seen with this approach is sending multiple gifts throughout the year to the same prospect. Shit get's annoying and makes it look like you have money to blow. Also make sure your targeting is damn near perfect so you don't waste time and money on someone that's not a fit.ย
Me personally, no. But I read a thread on LinkedIn this week where sales reps from some company were offering airpods to have a meeting with them.ย
For us, we use a service that lets people we meet with pick a gift of their choice within a certain budget. It's never cold outreach though, only if we've done business with them
For us, we use a service that lets people we meet with pick a gift of their choice within a certain budget. It's never cold outreach though, only if we've done business with them
Is that Alyce?ย I've used it, it's pretty genius.ย ย Thing is, I cheerfully used it and told people it was a bribe to get some time with them.ย Yes, last year was flat out boring.ย ย I got a couple great meetings out of it, a couple pointed me in the right direction, but the hit rate, even with some really cool gifts, was about 5%.ย And Canadians can't participate without prior approval from them, so half my target list was not available for the program.
Gifts > Swag for sure. No one wants your branded merch. But honestly, the holidays are coming up so worth a try.
I think you're looking at it the wrong way. We treat swag as something they remember you by and refer you to others, not something to get their business. If possible, make it fit your market and product so it calls back to the value you added every time they see/use it.
As an example, since we make soft goods for defence and aerospace markets, we made some generic bags and handed them out at trade shows to existing customers. There is no branding or anything other than a small company label INSIDE. Nothing outwards that says it is from us or limits a client from using it.ย
Some of the older customers have bags that are 20+ years old now. They are the first to refer new business to us and are always used as references when looking for other ops in different parts of their org.
Any non-customer that wanted a bag had to simply hand over a business card and listen to our 2 min company story.
As an example, since we make soft goods for defence and aerospace markets, we made some generic bags and handed them out at trade shows to existing customers. There is no branding or anything other than a small company label INSIDE. Nothing outwards that says it is from us or limits a client from using it.ย
Some of the older customers have bags that are 20+ years old now. They are the first to refer new business to us and are always used as references when looking for other ops in different parts of their org.
Any non-customer that wanted a bag had to simply hand over a business card and listen to our 2 min company story.
when I was at my last company, we would make a huge deal to send branded t-shirts to everyone in the database who hasn't received one. I can't even tell you how many we sent out pre-revenue. It didn't do anything. It is a waste of time.
However, dropping into a local business to sell, figure out base fit, or set up an appointment, makes perfect senseย
However, dropping into a local business to sell, figure out base fit, or set up an appointment, makes perfect senseย
I find their ops people... and then drop off a box of doughnuts. not to set a meeting, but to have them love me.ย
You'd be surprised that not setting a meeting but being in the wings and around the "water cooler" is a great way for them to reach out first.ย
You'd be surprised that not setting a meeting but being in the wings and around the "water cooler" is a great way for them to reach out first.ย
I have in previous roles. It was always something clever or useful.ย
Waste of time and resources from what Iโve seen in the past
Same idea I hate when people raffle off shit at trade shows. You get a bunch of fake leads but whatever makes you sleep better at night
I was forced to do it. ย It was a waste of time.
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