** Continued From: Yo Ho, to SWAG! - Part #1

Ahoy, sex sailors! Are you adrift at sea without the stars to guide you? No land in sight? No wind for your sails? Are you looking for a map to your treasure? Maybe your fortune is closer than you think. Perhaps you should stop trying to navigate uncharted waters and turn to a tried and true method for collecting booty: SWAG.

"The life of a pirate captain is often fraught with peril. Don't let your act of savvy philanthropy become your bane. Plan your gifting strategically. Determine your purpose."

In part one of this Yo Ho article, I told you how giving free stuff to valued customers, members and affiliates can benefit your bank account. Whether you decide to stage a competition for prizes or simply want to show your special clients that you care, nothing spreads good will and encourages concerted effort better than the promise of something for nothing. Pirates called it Swag and the word may have been an acronym for "Stolen Without a Gun". That’s the way Swag should seem to beneficiaries ­ like shared treasure, earned the easy way. We’re not advising that you hit the deep blue on a journey of thievery and watery graves. We’re just putting a nautical spin on a time-honored business practice, the giveaway.

The question for you smutty captains is how to plot your course? Do you award one person one giant prize or do you divide your generosity into many portions and bestow it on several deserving souls? Do you opt for the always-popular batch of printed t-shirts; upgrade to cool tech gadgets imprinted with your logo; or do you go high-dollar with a plasma television set? Who are you rewarding and why? Will you devise a straight up bonanza, open to all takers? Or would you rather have the scalawags work for their precious bounty? The life of a pirate captain is often fraught with peril. Don’t let your act of savvy philanthropy become your bane. Plan your gifting strategically. Determine your purpose.

If your intent is to promote your company or solidify your reputation then you probably want to buy in bulk and give to many. Thanks to computer technology, you can have your logo or graphic printed on almost any merchandise. T-Shirts sure, but you could also give away imprinted pen sets, hats, mousepads, shot glasses, clocks and thong panties. There are companies galore that will glad to create your Swag for truly affordable prices, especially when you buy in bulk.

If you aim to compensate the one or few that have been integral to your success, then you want to chat with product manufacturers and dealers about special rates for promotional stock. The pricier the item, the less of it you procure.

It goes without saying that you don’t send a free Jet Ski to the hundredth Joe that joins your webmaster affiliate program. You set the bar higher. You hold a contest among your affiliates and designate a monetary goal they must complete for you. For example: Sell one hundred memberships and they win a game console. There’s a direct correlation between the value of the prize and the benefit you obtain by giving it away. Fifty personalized bike bags cost a couple hundred bucks and results in a nice round of positive attention. A free, super-powerful laptop is a gift you give to those that make money for you.

As mentioned, you can acquire almost any products for Swag. You would be gobsmacked to discover the myriad of merchandise that can be purchased in bulk or lots. A pallet of PCs. Bumperstickers by the thousands. A literal parking lot of electric scooters. You options are limited only by your funds.

For easy acquisition, go with a company that specializes in promotional merchandise. These folks offer scads of gifties that you can have printed or engraved or manufactured exclusively. Did you know that you could order flip-flop sandals with your company URL embossed into the soles? Give these to webmasters and watch your site leave impressions on beaches across the globe. If you have the big bucks, purchase a snappy speedboat, painted with your company colors and name.

Yes, lads and ladies. There’s treasure to be found in the great wide open. Avast, ye captains and share the loot! Set sail for new horizons and fortune. Spread some of your glorious bounty with worthy crew and passengers. Unlock that chest and throw some gold to the good mates that keep your ship afloat. Strengthen your reputation. Increase interest in your company. Reel in the big fish with the irresistible lure of free stuff. Say Yo Ho, to Swag!