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  • Author Author: dougw
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How Motivating Is Swag?

There have been polls in the past to find out what items members preferred to receive as swag, but I am curious to know how it affects participation.

I assume everyone likes to receive free swag, but how does it affect participation? Do you post a blog note when you receive swag?

If swag was often given to each participant in a Project14 or specified in specific Project14 contests, would you be more likely to participate?

I know I sometimes do a project on a Project14 topic, but my project is not very impressive, so I may or may not go to the trouble of blogging about it. Clearly these projects aren't aimed at winning the contest, but are probably still of some interest. If there was some swag up for grabs it might tip the scales towards blogging about some marginal projects.

If there was a possibility of swag for blogging about a project that is not part of any contest, does it increase the likelihood that you would blog about more independent projects?

How could the impact of swag be increased?

By the way, in case it isn't clear, swag in this context means free handout promotional items supplied by element14.

  • I'm wearing my Ben Heck Show T-shirt right now, kindly given out as swag.

  • I like the occasional swag surprise.

    I have a nice collection of element 14 T shirts that I wear to promote the site and start conversations with people.

     

    It has been a while since I have seen any swag and it has not changed by participation.

     

    DAB

  • I think swag definitely encourages participation - especially for newer members. Once you've realised the benefits of participating for its own sake then it becomes less important. It still brings a smile to my face when something unexpected turns up in the mail though.

  • I think handing out swag is definitely a fine balance - in order to motivate, the swag has got to have some appeal, be it practical value in terms of utility, rarity, recognition, sentimental value, etc.

     

    Expensive swag is nice ... but obviously that becomes something that's more likely to be a prize and less likely to be doled out at random. Inexpensive swag may be more easily doled out, but sometimes, perhaps not worth the shipping if it's way too promotional or flimsy - it's not ecologically sustainable either.

     

    I definitely appreciate any little bits of swag that I get ... but I do see it more of a surprise bonus than something that motivates me.

     

    - Gough

  • All my element14 T-shirts have become rags, I've worn them so much image

     

    Please sir, may I have more - happy to blog away too image

  • Swag is always a feel good gift, even if it's just a small trinket.

     

    > ...so I may or may not go to the trouble of blogging about it.

    I'm with you on that one, but I don't know if swag would make me take the extra effort to blog about my partial or unfinished projects. It's still mainly the time considerations that are holding me back.

     

    I do, however, think it would get me on-board with the contest projects if every project entry were to receive some sort of trinket regardless of how it ranked.

     

    There is this online exercise motivation membership which sends out medals for each completed quest (https://www.theconqueror.events/ ) - the medals are excellent quality, and people seem very motivated by them, and will pay fairly good membership fees to get them. So I think in general swag is a good motivator.

     

    I'm not sure what the ideal swag would look like for me, but I do know that having element14 branding on anything makes it a magnitude more special image  the breadboard is a great example of that. I've also very much enjoyed the branded T-shirts and bottles. I've even used element14 stickers to embellish contest prizes to give me that ongoing happy reminder of where that item came from. Maybe a few smallish element14 stickers could be thrown around so we can embellish our tiny Arduino and Raspberry Pi cases image

     

    Cheers,

    -Nico

  • in reply to kmikemoo

    Doug always comes up with the best questionnaires image

  • Swag always come as a pleasant surprise to me but is not something I actively aim for. But swag and the overall welcoming at element14 encourages the posting of small projects I might not otherwise write up. Surprisingly, some of these throwaway posts elicit more response and feedback than things I work on the hardest. I fairly regularly get comments on my element14 shirts.  Most recently at the grocery store last Monday a checkout clerk asked about the meaning.

  •   I love the question.  In my opinion, swag works.  It increases participation - even if it's just in the hopes of a random gift from Tariq and the e14 team.

    I'm commenting mostly because the phrases "...but my project is not very impressive..." and "marginal projects".

    :-(

     

    I know that you intended no harm in these statements, but some of us struggle mightily with these thoughts.  I have to keep reminding myself that we all have different skill levels.  What may be simple for some isn't quite that way for others.  I was so thrilled when I made A Crystal Clock with 1 Transistor - the Pierce Oscillator.  I've read about JFETs but never used one - until then.   Victory!!

     

    If swag makes the difference... BRING ON THE SWAG!  I absolutely remember pondering. "What can I do to get one of those sweet element14 breadboards?" - to the point that I purchased one from Newark.com and was contemplating adding my own e14 sticker.  Thankfully, Tariq and the e14 team saved me from myself.  Whew!

    I wear my e14 t-shirt with pride in hopes that someday someone will recognize it and say "Hey!  I'm part of e14 also!"  Nerd nirvana - without shame!  Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!    <thumbs up emoji>