10 Ways to Pitch Games as Brand Storytelling Tools

Engage your audience with interactive experiences. Instead of static ads, frame custom-branded games as immersive promotional chapters. Games at trade shows and events tap directly into this trend. This listicle outlines 10 creative strategies—complete with example pitch angles and Promotoss products—to help promotional professionals sell games as powerful brand storytelling tools. We cover both classic games (cornhole sets, Ladder Ball) and trendy picks (pickleball, prize wheels) to give agency buyers concrete ideas. For the latest innovations, see our New Products page, and download shareable sell sheets from our Sales Flyers section.

1. Interactive Engagement: Turn Play into Brand Attention

Games are inherently engaging and cut through event noise. In your pitch, emphasize how playing a game beats passive flyers: attendees stop to toss a beanbag or shoot a basket and absorb your message organically. For example, setting up an All-Weather Cornhole game at a tailgate means your logo is prominently displayed on the cornhole boards and participants see it each time they take a turn. Sell this as booth-traffic gold: an interactive brand station that scores real engagement. Even a tabletop setup like our Mini Hoop turns players into live ads. Focus on conceptual ROI – visibility and dwell time – rather than vague counts, and highlight that playtime creates memorable brand touchpoints.

2. Maximize Branding: Make Every Game a Mini-Billboard

Remind clients that each game piece is a branding canvas. Promotoss products are customizable with your company’s logo, turning each interaction into a mini advertisement. Pitch that a mini basketball hoop printed in company colors doubles as a rotating billboard. Even Ladder Ball, Tiki Toss, or Cornhole becomes an eyecatcher when branded. Point out that out of all our promotional products, our cornhole sets remain the time-tested, best-selling branded games – a fact that reassures risk-averse buyers. Use the phrase “branded games for sale” naturally: e.g. “We have branded games for sale like this cornhole board so clients can prominently feature their logo.” Frame any game as delivering consistent brand visibility and recall, not just a one-off giveaway.

3. Target the Right Audience with Versatile Games

Frame your pitch as consultative: choose games to match the event’s theme and crowd. Promotoss’s catalog is versatile. For example, the popularity of Pickleball makes it a hit at sports expos or fitness fairs, while Ladder Ball and cornhole fuel friendly competition at company picnics or tailgate parties. For a kid-friendly carnival, suggest a Ring Toss or a mini basketball shootout; for a corporate tech fair, pitch a “startup scramble” obstacle course with cornhole or ladder toss. Be sure to slip in SEO-friendly terms: mention they can buy cornhole for events with custom graphics or easily stock up on branded picnic games. Emphasize how each game’s theme can echo the brand narrative, and mention conceptual metrics like “engaged attendees per game” to keep it concrete.

4. Gamify the Brand Narrative

Encourage clients to weave their story into gameplay. Pitch games as interactive chapters in the brand’s saga. For example, create a themed cornhole tournament where each round represents a product milestone, or design a Prize Wheel where each segment reveals a brand fact or special offer. Adding a game to “unlock” information or a sample adds memorability. Emphasize that this multi-sensory storytelling bridges product benefits and emotional engagement. Recommend adding quiz questions or trivia about the company that players answer for extra spins or throws, turning brand facts into game rewards. This sells games as immersive narrative tools: fun AND educational, crafting a memorable customer journey.

5. Leverage Trending Sports for Current Buzz

Attach your brand to what’s trending. Pitch pickleball fever: at conventions and expos, clients can sponsor or gift branded pickleball sets to associates. The sport’s communal vibe signals a modern, health-conscious identity. Or tie in seasonal themes – ring toss or croquet for a summer vibe, or mini hoop contests for basketball seasons. When talking to buyers, use phrases like “purchase pickleball for marketing” or “buy pickleball net” to match their search queries, showing you know their needs. By selling games that reflect current trends, you’re selling the client as current and relevant. (Bonus: these active games naturally drive booth traffic as people flock to popular attractions.)

6. Prize Wheel Spins for Engagement

Pitch prize wheels as engagement engines and story revealers. A spinning wheel draws a crowd – each spin is brand theater. Suggest filling each segment with product milestones or value props. For example, visitors spin after sharing their email or answering a quiz, instantly gamifying lead capture. In conversations, say something like “we can set up a custom Prizewheel – a proven booth magnet – to wheel out your key messages.” This aligns with SEO: clients may “purchase prize wheels for marketing” events, so use that phrasing naturally. Every segment on the wheel can communicate part of the narrative, so the whole wheel embodies the brand story. (Many event marketers say spinning wheels triple booth traffic.) End by highlighting how a branded wheel creates social-media photo ops, extending the story beyond the event.

7. Rivalry and Team Play to Showcase Brand Values

Sell games as ways to highlight company culture and values. Frame cornhole or hoop tournaments as company “playoffs” where teams compete embodying brand themes (e.g. Team Innovation vs. Team Growth). Pitch charity tie-ins: each made basket or point could trigger a donation or eco-action tied to the brand’s mission. These ideas let clients tell a story through action, not just words. For instance, offer a Mini Hoop competition or a Ladder Ball relay and tie it back to a narrative (like “score points for customer service”). When pitching, translate these activities into conceptual metrics: “We played 20 rounds of Chiphole (cornhole but with golf chipping) at last year’s event, reinforcing the brand’s risk-taking story to every participant.” This positions games as live-case studies of the brand story.

8. Unique Games for Unforgettable Moments

Stand out by offering unexpected games. Not just cornhole and hoops – our catalog includes Hook and Ring, Can-Shaped Cornhole, Tiki Toss boards, giant Jenga and more. Pitch these as conversation starters. For example, a custom Hook and Ring game can tie into a “hooking new customers” theme, or Chiphole (cornhole but with golf chipping) aligns with casino-style branding. By showing off unusual game ideas, you frame your pitch as creative and memorable. Use industry language like “immersive brand engagement tool” or “branded carnival game” to sell these concepts. When buyers see a game they’ve never heard of, it makes your pitch stand out – and shows that Promotoss offers fresh storytelling props.

9. Multi-Channel Storytelling: Social and Beyond

Advise clients to extend games beyond the booth. Suggest photo contests: e.g. “Post a shot of your winning cornhole toss with #YourBrand to win a prize.” Pair games with digital overlays or QR codes – maybe a scoreboard that posts scores to social media, showing company milestones as they play. Highlight how each event can become content: “Top 5 tosses of the day” videos, leaderboard highlights, or branded hashtags that keep your brand top-of-mind post-event. This multiplies brand exposure and makes physical games part of a larger digital narrative.

Discover our new products, including Cornhole Fully Loaded and Bottle Gift Box. Explore related pages like new product releases and pickleball tournament marketing. For more ideas, see memory encoding with branded games and Promotoss at ASI Chicago 2025.