Create a Meaningful and Memorable Trade Show Pitch - The Goldilocks Effect
In the late ninety seventies one of my favourite television shows was the US sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. The character I remember most was Herbert Ruggles (Herb) Tarlek Jr., played by actor Frank Bonner. Herb was the epitome of bad salesmanship characterized by his boorish and tasteless approaches to clients. To complete his baboonish portrait, he wore loud plaid suits, with a belt that matched his white shoes.
Herb was the man you would never knowingly join on an elevator to face the consequences of his talking your ear off with information that you would have trouble relating to.
Fast forward to the second decade of the 21st century at a typical busy trade show when without warning you are approached by a modern day Herb who, while better dressed, still feels the need to overload you with information you care little about...
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3 Ways Google Analytics Will Help Your Next Event
By Erik_Mintz : Constant Contact Event Marketing
You spend time and money promoting your events, but you’re not sure which channels are actually driving attendance to those events. How can you know how effective your online marketing efforts are in delivering traffic to your event site? Now there is a way: We’ve added Google Analytics to our Event Marketing product.
If you don't know, Google Analytics is a free web-based analytics technology that can provide you with rich insights into who is visiting your website, event site, or blog...
Read More →What Is At the Center of Your Event? Surely, Much More Than Just a Ticket.
by Chris_Litster Constant Contact Event Marketing
Recently, my wife and I were looking for something fun to do with our kids. We decided on a sure thing, a trip to the movies. We went ahead and bought our tickets online, then headed to the movie theater.
When we got to the theater, we picked up our tickets, bought the popcorn and drinks, went in, and chose our seats...
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What's Different about Your Corporate Culture?
What's Your Company Culture?
Every company has a culture, whether they recognize it or not. Some companies promote it as an asset. Others see it as the elephant in the room which no one discusses. Then there are those executives who speak about their culture using glowing terms like empowerment, self-actualization, and mutual respect. They talk about "open doors" when, in fact, their company could be a reality series...
Read More →Pedestals and Workstations and Counters! Oh My!
The Debacle
Do you remember last year’s trade show debacle? The booth staff complained about the lack of storage. The marketing manager wondered where and how to demo your company’s product. Especially embarrassing was the aimless wandering of potential clients.
This year is different. You included, at the suggestion of your exhibit designer, pedestals, workstations and a reception area. These are the unsung workhorses of any exhibit, easy to overlook during planning, but always missed during a show. And, like nearly every teenage romantic comedy, what seems practical and unexciting at first transforms into a something smart and endearing at the end.
Pedestals
Let’s make this easy...
Read More →QR Codes Can Create Greater Trade Show Impact
If you want people to read your product and service information and yet want to reduce the amount of paper you bring to a trade show, QR codes may be your answer.
Quick Response or QR codes are that weird looking box found in the lower right hand corner of a product label. With an app on a Smartphone or tablet, the user has instant access to company or product information. In a recent projection by US based Gartner Research, by the year 2015 the number of Smartphone’s and media tablets worldwide will exceed one billion.
For the exhibitor looking to provide more information with a greater chance that it will be kept and reviewed, QR codes are the way to go...
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Planning The Perfect Giveaway
According to recent studies, giveaways trigger what researchers call the reciprocity effect--the conditioned cultural response to return the kindness of a gift--which can manifest itself in better response rates, repeat business, and powerful referrals. So, you don’t want any ordinary “trick or treat” freebie, you want a giveaway that is EXTRA ordinary. And PS, you don’t have to break the bank when you’re budgeting to come up with some cool swag for next year...
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VIRTUAL SURFING SIMLATORS - HIT OF ANY TRADE SHOW OR EVENT!
CBS Television's Hawaii 5-0 and Microsoft, ABC Television's Extreme Make Over, Sheraton Hotel events were a total hit with our "VIRTUAL SUR SIMULATORS!" developed in Hawaii. Make your next trade show or corporate event a total crowd pleaser with our proven electronic surfboards. Easily engage and make contact with potential customers with with our portable surf simulators that deliver the "Fantasy of WAIKIKI SURFING". This is a guaranteed crowd magnet. We are proud to be the world's first and only company to develop a virtual electronic fleet of electronic surfboards. Bring excitement and laughter to any event. Guests challenge their visual and coordination skills while surfing a 30 foot video wave - avoiding sharks and the reef...
NEW Enhancements to EIA
We’ve made several improvements to EventsInAmerica.com you’ll want to know about.
1. Webinars and Virtual Events. We’re starting to track online events with greater emphasis. We enhanced the online form that event owners fill out to better acknowledge both webinars and virtual events with exhibitors. If you host either, you’ll want to add your online events to EventsInAmerica.com. There’s no cost to add your event and our site provides another tool to promote and broaden the distribution of your event.
2. Monthly Calendars. On any interior page in the right-hand column, you’ll now see two calendars: One for Live Events; the other for Virtual Events and Webinars. Click on any day to see what events are happening that day. These calendars are a great tool to get a quick look at what’s coming up.
3. Venues to Be Determined. You can now use our Advanced Search tool to find events that have yet to choose a venue. This should be a great tool for hotel sales managers. You’ll find the Advanced Search link on the home page right under the search fields.
We’re always on the lookout for new ways to improve our site. If you have a suggestion, please email me at: publisher@eventsinamerica.com. And we’re always looking for sponsors and advertisers as well...
Read More →How Exhibitors Can Boost Their Brands By Raising The Roof
Savvy marketers are grabbing attention and building brand awareness by "raising the roof" on their trade show displays. From our design studio through to the factory floor we've seen a dramatic increase in demand for overhead hanging signs in variety of organic and geometric shapes.
How Fabric Displays Can Save You Money…
Fabric displays demand attention on the show floor yet they’re compact, lightweight and easy to assemble so you save on storage, transportation, drayage and labor expenses.
What The Experts Have To Say…
Vince Alberta, VP of The Las Vegas Convention Center and Visitors Authority, even reports a recent surge in suspended fabric displays from years past, touching on their proven ability to drive brand exposure at trade shows and deliver ROI.
Measure Effectiveness...
If you are hesitant to wholeheartedly invest in a fabric display or hanging sign, there is always the option to rent first. Renting eliminates the burden of ownership costs and allows you to test the effectiveness of the fabric display in your trade show marketing program ...
Staying Relevant in a Changing World
One of the great benefits of attending an exhibition is the opportunity to network with industry colleagues, suppliers and buyers. Yet, we see people with their eyes cast downward, mesmerized as their fingers fling across a miniature keyboard at lightening speed.
Have face-to-face interactions faded into the ether, never to be seen again? Have we turned a corner on human interaction and lost our way? The answer may not be as simple as yes or no.
The real culprit in the mix is demographics. The baby-boom generation (ages 40-63) were comfortable meeting people face-to-face...
Read More →We're Making Improvements to the Site Right Now
Hi all. Our weekly list of New Events is going to be a bit lighter than usual for the next few weeks because we're in the process of adding more content to the events we already have in our directory and we're making other improvements to the site. Please be patient. You'll have much more to see soon. In the meantime, click here and view the collective wisdom of our industry peers. Thanks.
Read More →Pity the Poor Pop-Up Display
Over the years, I'll admit, I've had a bit of an obsessive fascination with pop ups. I started my career working for a pop up manufacturer in the mid-nineties back when pop ups still elicited WOWs and most fabric units sold for $3600. Back then, I could talk about the idiosyncrasies of one frame vs. another frame, the strengths of one channel bar vs. the competitors, and the nuances of a magnet-to-magnet vs. a magnet-to-metal panel connection...
Read More →How To AMP UP Your Brand Presence At Trade Shows With Social Media
It’s here! We invite you to be the first to download our newest and most anticipated social media ebook: Tune in Turn on and Take off with Social Media For Trade Shows and Events. In our information packed ebook you’ll learn how to harness the power of social media to promote live events. Our special ebook educates exhibitors on the tremendous value that social media can bring to the trade show and events space.
Use social media to enliven your brand on the show floor, entice your target audience to take immediate action and influence future purchasing decisions...
Read More →A Back-up Objective for the B to C Exhibitor
You may think the secret to exhibit success lies in your ability to focus all your resources on a single, achievable and measurable goal. But there are situations where focusing on one goal may mean lost opportunities, particularly when you are exhibiting at Business-to-Consumer shows.
Typically, exhibitors who participate in shows that attract the end-user focus on selling products, setting appointments or writing orders. For many companies, these goals provide an immediate method of gauging success. The opportunities that may be slipping through your fingers, however, are with those attendees who are not ready to buy your product or commit to the appointment and need more time before placing an order.
To address this challenge, review your marketing plan...
Read More →Choosing the Right Trade Show Display
Choosing the right trade show display is rarely straightforward. Most of the time, you are selecting between two similar but slightly different displays. Sometimes it’s about the price. Other times it’s about a personal design preference. Many times, it comes down to weight and assembly.
We can’t cover every scenario, but we can review some of the more common “this or that” portable/modular choices. You gotta make a decision . . . which one will you choose?
Briefcase Table Top vs. Full-size Table Top
Briefcase Table Top
This comes down to price, presentation, convenience, and assembly...
Read More →Show Smart Steps To Multiplying Your Booth Traffic
We’ve gathered essential “intel” and have listed the latest tactics your colleagues are using to AMPLIFY their booth traffic and get the results they want. So, kick your promotional efforts into overdrive with these Show Smart tips:
1) Enliven Your Booth Staff
Video badges were all the hype at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show. Now savvy Exhibit Marketers everywhere are using them in their face-to-face initiatives because they make a perfect conversation starter...
New Free Online Exhibit Directory
Businesses that need help in designing a trade show booth, or in displaying products, or that require other exhibit services can find assistance through a new online directory at 3D-Standards.com.
Early results have been strong for both businesses seeking help and suppliers providing services...
Read More →Two helpful bits of data for your exhibition program
More and more exhibitors are now calculating the Return on Investment, (R.O.I.) from their show participation. R.O.I. tells you whether you are achieving your goals and if you are adding to the bottom line of your corporate profits. However, as you gather R.O.I information, it will be helpful to also look at two additional factors: Your success ratio and your sales and buying cycles. Both are intertwined and knowing both will help you immensely.
Success Ratio
The success ratio addresses the conversion rate of leads to sales. Often exhibit managers feel a sense of frustration when they talk about R.O.I...
Read More →How To Steal The Show Floor One Step At A Time Part II
We heard that you liked part I of our booth flooring post, so we thought we'd add a couple of bonus features to our repost for your viewing pleasure, so enjoy!
Trade show booth flooring is commonly overlooked and at times is compromised in an effort to meet smaller exhibiting budgets. Something as seemingly average as exhibit booth flooring can actually impact buying behavior and boost your overall trade show performance. Below are some exclusive "must knows" in booth flooring to consider before your next trade show:
1) Don’t Cause A Traffic Pile Up
Keep your carpet design clean and simple; platforms, multiple tiers and added height can make set up difficult, cause traffic jams and make your trade show display appear less open and inviting.
2) Count Your Pennies – Watch Your Dollar
Keep in mind that booth flooring will increase the overall weight of your trade show display meaning that shipping and drayage with exponentially surge as well...
5 Ways To Make Your Banner Stand DAZZLE
Banner stands are an ultra portable, cost efficient complement to your corporate events, mobile marketing and trade show line up. Built for convenience and speed, when used creatively, banner stands can be your exhibiting co pilot. Below are some Show Smart ways that banner stands can liven up your face-to-face marketing mix.
Banner stands can be used:
1) As directional signage to guide attendees to your location or areas within your booth space
2) As a platform for QR codes: passersby can scan with their phone and be redirected to your corporate website for: special offers, event registration, or information on your products and services
3) To acknowledge sponsors or to promote your own sponsorships
4) To spotlight your event agenda for registered guests
5) As a portable brand stand for recruiting events, lobbies, retail point-of-sale and so much more!!
These super compact solutions are ideal for taking on the road where ever your marketing needs may lead you. They're lightweight, retractable for the fast set-up and take down, and can accommodate inkjet or fabric graphic panels on one or two sides.
So dust off your banner stand and get your show on the road today
13 Common Trade Show Mistakes
Mistakes happen whether you're a newbie or a seasoned trade show veteran, but you can avoid the 13 Most Common Trade Show Mistakes by following this advice. So, let's take a few minutes, while your competitors are reading about Lindsey Lohan or watching reruns of Jersey Shore, to super-size your trade show marketing skills.
1. Going Too Big
We all want to think we're the big dog on the block, but we're not. If you're new to trade show marketing, starting with an inline 10 x 10 or 10 x 20 may make more sense. You learn what works -- from graphics to display configurations -- before investing in an island exhibit...
Read More →Trade Shows as First Dates: Will It Be a Perfect Match?
Are You Nervous?
Trade shows are like first dates, first meetings, or job interviews. Unless you have an ego like Donald Trump, these "firsts" scare the bejesus out of you. They should. No matter how well you prepare, the unknowns trump the knowns by a ratio of about 10,000 to 1. If you've ever been on a blind date, or even a first date with someone you've just met, you know that a date is about being the person you strive to be, not the person you are.
Of course, not everyone has the gumption, the imagination, or the self-awareness to lift their game to the next level...
Read More →Top LinkedIn No No's That You Didnt "No" About
At some point during your professional career in the Events Industry you’ve probably joined 100,000,000 other users on LinkedIn to connect with business colleagues, partners and prospects from trade shows. While there are free and fee based options to promote yourself and your brand, here are some commonly overlooked rules to keep in mind when using your personal LinkedIn account for trade show business development.
"No" Your Limit
Contrary to popular belief there IS a limit on the number of invitations you can send from your LinkedIn account. Your lifetime limit is 3,000 invites per account and it’s limited to sending 50 invites at a time.
"No" The Invite Skivvy
When/if you exceed your invitation limit you may contact Customer Service to request an increase in your threshold of invites. LinkedIn developed invite limitations in an effort to deter wide spread spamming common with other social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter.
LinkedIn grants additional invitations based on a ratio of acceptances to the quantity of invites you have sent out. If your acceptance rate is low, you will be granted an extra 100 invites but if your acceptance rate is high you'll be granted an additional 500. You may solicit Customer Service for additional invitation allocations 30 days after your previous request.
"No" Your Groups
As a LinkedIn user you are limited to joining no more than 50 groups. So join groups that are relevant to your business, where you can leave comments in the group feed that offer value to members. When you join a group, be mindful not to be an aggressive self promoter, it's not considered good LinkedIn etiquette. A softer sell approach is to link back to your blog or web assets in your group comment feed so other group members can easily familiarize themselves with your brand when/if they choose to.
“No” Your Personal Group
If you decide to create your own group, know that LinkedIn limits members to 20,000 per group...
Why I Attend Trade Shows -- Love on Aisle #600
Shame. Shame, Shame. Get your mind out of the gutter. This is neither a steamy romance nor an even steamier fantasy. This is about the love of trade shows and why you, me, or anyone else attends them.
Over the years, I’ve read more articles than I’d care to admit about why trade shows are important, why exhibit marketing is effective, and why we MUST attend them. They make sense, in the same way that taking vitamins makes sense. On some level you know it can’t hurt and it’s good for you, even if you can’t always measure the results...
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