Planning on Handing Out Swag Bags at BlogHer? Think Again

I was reading through Frequently Asked Questions on the BlogHer Site today.  I had planned on working with some companies and another blogger on putting together Swag Bags to hand out at this year’s BlogHer in New York City in August.  However, after reading through some material on their site, it looks like we won’t be working to fill up those Swag Bags to hand out this year.

Here is a direct quote from the site:

“Q. Can I pass out materials at the event?

A. One of the most widespread complaints we received about BlogHer ’09 was that sponsored bloggers were distributing unwanted materials to other attendees. We received overwhelming feedback that unsolicited materials from sponsored attendees were unappreciated and left a negative impression of both the attendee and the sponsor.

Therefore, in a change from last year’s guidelines, no sponsor swag, gifts or literature may be distributed within the conference space, directly or indirectly. Such materials will be removed if left lying on any surface within the conference space. Any bloggers seen indiscriminately distributing materials to attendees will be given a personal warning.

Any second incident, whether of leaving materials on a surface within the conference space or of indiscriminately distributing materials to attendees may result in the attendee’s badge being confiscated and attendance revoked for the rest of the conference.”

There are some things that you can pass out at the conference.  These items include traditional business cards, buttons, bumper stickers, or other similar items that promote your blog URLs and/or Twitter handles.  You can include information from your sponsors on these items.  It is also ok to where clothing from your sponsors, whether it be hats, t-shirts, or jackets.  In other words, you can hand out YOUR OWN materials, not materials for your sponsor.

I honestly think this is a good idea.  You won’t have to worry about becoming a “walking billboard.”  However, does this mean that there will be a drastic reductions in sponsorships?  What do you think?

I think that for me, personally, if there are companies who wish to sponsor me and help financially send me to BlogHer, I would be happy to represent them on my site through Ad Space.  I am also willing to write a few posts stating who my sponsors for BlogHer are.

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