--- title: "Gift Bags: The Evolution of Swag" id: "16329" type: "post" slug: "gift-bags-the-evolution-of-swag" published_at: "2013-03-08T22:46:57+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:04:24+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/03/08/gift-bags-the-evolution-of-swag/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/03/08/gift-bags-the-evolution-of-swag.md" excerpt: "How a convention brought to life the lightest gift bag of all: a virtual one. Also: Some tips on using Facebook to promote your upcoming event." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "event planning" - "Meetings" - "Social Media" - "virtual gifts" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Gift Bags: The Evolution of Swag No more goodie bags upon goodie bags. It’s all about virtual swag these days. That, and more, in today’s Social Media Roundup: ### Virtual Goodie Bags > Virtual Swag vs. Tchotkes: Why Virtual Gift Bags Could Be Right for Your Next Event [http://t.co/1OE309xewc (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/1OE309xewc) > via [@sharethis (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/ShareThis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — 5th Avenue Digital (@5thAveDigital) [March 8, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/5thAveDigital/status/310133320090521600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Have you ever wanted to put a gift bag down during a tradeshow?** The UtherConvention presented a cool, technological solution to the overabundance of goodie bags: virtual gift bags. “I go to 20 live conferences a year, and when they give you a bag when you walk in, you pick through the good stuff, and the rest gets discarded,” Lee [told BizBash (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bizbash.com/why_virtual_gift_bags_could_be_right_for_your_next_event/new-york/story/25435/#sthash.ky5AEH8M.dpbs) . “With this, nothing gets discarded. It’s a simple click, and it drives them straight to a website.” Virtual gifts are easy for guests to carry, and attendees still leave with a nice memory from your event. *(ht [@5thAveDigital (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/5thAveDigital/status/310133320090521600) )* ### A Social Event > RT [@astekweb (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/astekweb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > : 7 great tips on using Facebook for event planning from Community Mgr. [@JohnEQuatro (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/JohnEQuatro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [http://t.co/zauW0uAkjc (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/zauW0uAkjc) > [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — John Armstrong (@JohnEQuatro) [March 8, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/JohnEQuatro/status/310131377360224256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **To create buildup for your events,** you need to make the community aware of everything they can expect from it. Thankfully, social media is here to help. John Armstrong, the social media manager at Astek Consulting, says Facebook event planning goes way beyond just making a Facebook Event. He suggests event professionals make a page months in advance to build momentum, share content, and engage. “Facebook is not a business platform. People will be there to talk silly, share stories, and comment on how awesome your event will be,” [Armstrong writes (opens in a new tab)](http://www.astekblog.com/index.php/social-media/meeting-event-planners-guide-to-facebook/?utm_campaign=astek_content&utm_medium=Argyle%2BSocial&utm_source=twitter&utm_term=2013-03-08-14-04-00) . *(ht [@JohnEQuatro (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/JohnEQuatro/status/310131377360224256) )* What cool things have you been sharing on the interwebz today? Let us know in the comments. (iStockphoto/Thinkstock) [Anita Ferrer](https://associationsnow.com/author/anita-ferrer/) Anita Ferrer is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/anita-ferrer/) Tags: [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Social Media](https://associationsnow.com/tag/social-media/) [#virtual gifts](https://associationsnow.com/tag/virtual-gifts/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) - [VideoASAE TV Daily Recap: Final Day at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/24/asae-tv-daily-recap-final-day-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2013%2F03%2F08%2Fgift-bags-the-evolution-of-swag%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !