The innovative world of e-sports and gaming has quickly become one of the world's leading entertainment industries, transitioning from a niche hobby for the minority to a mainstream trend for the masses. The gaming community is filled with passionate and loyal participants who are the ideal audience for a marketing tool such as branded merchandise.
Branded products align brilliantly with the e-sports and gaming sectors. They can help deepen engagement, build brand loyalty and generate an additional revenue stream. Furthermore, there are a wide variety of promotional products that will appeal to this audience, including custom gaming mousepads or printed t-shirts.
It’s an unmissable opportunity for companies that want to tap into this market.
The Rise of E-Sports and Gaming
Although competitive gaming dates back to the 1950s, e-sports only gained momentum in the early 2000s after technological advancements made it more accessible to the masses.
As a result, worldwide tournaments were established, and championship competitions with prize money of over $ 1 million took place.
Over the last decade, the e-sports audience has witnessed impressive growth, with Statista projecting that there would be over 318 million e-sports enthusiasts by 2025. They have also forecast a revenue of $4.3bn for the e-sports market worldwide this year.
It’s clear that there is huge potential in this sector, where the audience is no longer restricted to children and teenagers. The demographic of gamers is diverse and ranges from Gen Z, who grew up when e-sports was reaching new heights in popularity, to the millennials, who played a huge role in driving this industry forward.
The growth potential of this sector, coupled with the young and highly engaged audience, creates fertile ground for brands to connect with consumers through various channels, including custom merchandise.
What Is The Role Of Promotional Merchandise In Gaming and E-Sports?
There are many ways in which a brand can utilise branded merchandise in gaming and e-sports to build brand awareness, strengthen customer relationships and bring in revenue.
Promotional giveaways have always been a popular method of marketing, and they are particularly effective in the gaming community where the audience is already participating in competitive activity. For example, a prize draw or raffle where fans can win a branded hoody or custom cap is a great way to create hype and excitement around a brand.
The same can be said for social media contests where fans are encouraged to engage with your social media page for the chance to win a promotional item such as a custom headset stand.
Custom SWAG for Merch Boxes
A monthly or quarterly subscription box is another highly effective way of incorporating promotional merchandise into your marketing strategy. You can fill it with promotional items, like printed beanies or custom pop sockets and send it out at a subscription cost, providing a consistent stream of revenue and keeping your fans engaged with your brand on an ongoing basis.
Promotional Gifts As Incentives
You could also consider setting up a loyalty or referral programme. A loyalty program rewards longstanding fans or those who consistently support your brand by giving them points for their purchases or participation. These points can then earn them branded merchandise as prizes. Similarly, a referral programme is a reward system but in this case fans that refer friends to join a game or purchase from your brand will be gifted a promotional product.
Merchandise To Show You Appreciate Your Fans
Gaming companies can incorporate branded merchandise into their beta testing programmes where fans get to try new games before they are ready for the public. As a way of thanking them for their participation, fans can be given promotional items, such as custom headsets or exclusive in-game items.
Community challenges take things a step further by bringing people together through challenges and competitions with winners receiving promotional items such as custom water bottles or printed phone stands as an incentive to get involved.
If you are a gaming event organiser, then two of the most impactful ways to tap into promotional merchandise is through e-sports training camps and pop-up shops.
E-sports training camps are the ideal place to offer exclusive merchandise to aspiring professional gamers. You can distribute branded clothing, like printed t-shirts, that participants can wear at the camp and even offer custom gift bags stocked with more promotional merchandise as memorabilia once they leave.
Branded Gaming Products For Sale
Then, at the gaming events you host, you could set up merchandise booths where you sell exclusive promotional products to attendees. Not only does this create another stream of revenue to help fund the event, but it also goes a long way toward building brand visibility and creating long-lasting memories for those at the event.
Once they leave, they will have a branded item that constantly reminds them of their time at your event while exposing your brand to hundreds of other people who may see your brand, product, or message with every use.
Shop Promotional Categories
When Custom Merchandise Can Work Alongside Traditional Marketing Strategies
Branded merchandise can complement traditional marketing strategies in the e-sports and gaming industry too.
It’s typical for gaming companies to collaborate with popular gamers and online influencers in the lead up to the launch of a new game or product. Gaming merchandise can be easily integrated into these campaigns by sending promotional items to the people you want to work with to spark interest and drive engagement.
You can even offer merchandise gifts as part of a gaming bundle to further encourage gamers to buy your new game or product. For instance, if you are releasing a new piece of hardware or a console and want to make the offer more appealing, throwing in a branded armrest or controller seems more worthwhile.
E-gaming Sponsorship Made Worthwhile
Cross-promotion is another popular marketing strategy that works well with promotional merchandise. A great example would be sponsoring a gaming event or e-sports tournament. You could add some branded merchandise to the gift bags at these events to build brand awareness and strengthen your relationships with other businesses in the industry.
Elevate Your E-Gaming Event with Unique Merchandise With The Branded Company
At The Branded Company, we specialise in transforming your E-Gaming event into an unforgettable experience. By partnering with us, you can ensure your event runs smoothly while impressing your attendees with exceptional promotional gifts that resonate with your message.
Our wide array of branded products guarantees that every participant walks away with a memorable item that enhances their experience and keeps your brand top of mind. From custom gaming accessories to engaging merchandise, our gifts cater to the diverse preferences of the E-Gaming community, providing practical and lasting reminders of your event.
With a deep understanding of the unique demands of E-Gaming sports events, our dedicated team offers personalised solutions tailored to your specific needs. We excel in managing the logistics, allowing you to concentrate on delivering an engaging and immersive event while we handle the details.
Choose us for a professional and comprehensive service that ensures your E-Gaming event is a resounding success.
Whether you need your promotional gifts delivered to individual addresses or on-site, we’ve got you covered. Let's create an extraordinary experience together!
Written by Muzi - Account Manager At The Branded Company
Tel: 0116 298 2555
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