9 Must-Have Apps for Meeting Pros

As long as you’re dragging that smart phone everywhere you go, you may as well put it to work. We’ve rounded up nine must-have apps for meeting professionals (and a few more just for fun). All are built for the iPhone, but BlackBerry users take heart: some comparable applications are out there.

The great thing about an app is the low cost. The most expensive on our list is $9.99 and several are free. If you bought the most expensive app in each category below, the most you’d be out is about $41—a small investment in productivity. See List from MeetingsNet

Common Mistakes Made in International Trade

Exporting products to international customers is generally a difficult process involving huge risk. In this competitive global market, a successful export business is ensured only when the exporter is able to carefully predict probable pitfalls and avoid several common mistakes that are made by various other exporters. Continue reading.

Signs of a surge in Las Vegas conventions

After more than a year of lethargic convention attendance in Las Vegas, the meetings and trade show industry will regain much of its health in 2001.

Continue reading from The Las Vegas Sun

21 Trade Show Predictions for 2011

1. SHOWS GROW: United States trade shows will return to growth for the entire 2011 for multiple reasons:

• Exhibitors will be past their smaller 2010 budgets set during the harsh 2009 conditions, and will have their replenished 2011 budgets ready to go.
• Companies awash in cash will invest in marketing to compete with aggressive competitors and spur growth.
• Larger number of new products developed during the less scary 2010 need to be introduced at 2011 shows.
• The weaker U.S. dollar (“quantitative easing”) will boost U.S. manufacturing sales (who are most of the larger exhibitors), and also make travel and exhibiting at U.S. shows less expensive for foreigners.
• B2B marketers impatient with their inability to demonstratedly drive enough sales volume with harder-than-it-looks social media will re-allocate more dollars back to proven trade shows.
• Recently hired entry-level professionals will be sent to get training at industry shows.
• Full article from BizBash
  

Top Ten Tradeshow Items of 2010

Through the course of 2010, we attended 20+ trade shows, gave out 2000+ of recyclable bags, 1000+ pens, 200 or more 20 year planners and although they were popular items – we wondered what were the most tradeshow items of 2010.

Our friend Lisa Groover at MacMannes (a promotions and branding company) was able to provide us with a study by the 2010 Advertising Specialty Institute about promotional products. Here are the most interesting facts we found -

TOP 10 TRADESHOW GIFTS OF 2010 (IN THE U.S.)

Writing Instruments
Shirts
Calendars
Bags
Caps/Headwear
Desk/Office/Business Accessories
Food Items
Ceramics/Glassware (includes Mugs)
Health & Safety Products
Jackets/Hoodies/Sweatshirts/Fleece

Full article from The National Conference Center blog.

Hands On Trade Show Exhibits Lure Attendees

When trade show exhibit goers walk the vast exhibit hall floors and come upon highly creative, interactive trade show displays, they get to stop and join in some fun. The trade show attendee becomes part of the exhibit. By using experiential activity, the trade show exhibitor not only entertains but also educates their key customer prospects with entertaining hands-on experiences.

Why are such participatory activities important at trade shows? Quite simply: they boost traffic to the trade show exhibit site, leading to product interest and often substantial sales from experiencing first hand a dynamic new product.

When Event Marketer covered the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in early January 2006, they found exceptional trade show exhibits that offered interactive experiences. Here are a few exhibitors whose hands-on trade show displays showcased new product trials on the trade show floor: Continue.

6 places germs breed in a plane

Holiday travelers are filling up flights, and flu season is in full swing, so it's more important than ever to protect yourself against illness. We dug deep to identify the major germ zones on planes (and tips to avoid them). No, you're not likely to contract meningitis, but better safe than sorry, right? Full article from CNN.

What video strategy is right for you

There are many types of videos and understanding the differences and purpose of each prior to starting is important. Ultimately, this is just one more piece of your entire multi-media strategy and it is important to manage and integrate it as part of your complete digital media package. Full Article from Greenfire Strategies.

Let Your Brand Shine at Tradeshows

In this article, you'll learn...

• Why tradeshows are key to a company's communications strategy
• How to let your brand take center stage at your next tradeshow
• Four steps to maintaining brand consistency at tradeshows
• Link from Marketing Profs
  

Basic Trade Show Exhibitor Guide to Effective Marketing

Trade shows are a useful tool to get your name out there in the industry, make contacts and sell your product. However, shows are not cheap, so before you start the trade show route you need to be very clear about what your goals are for attending shows. Here are some tips for effective marketing of your next event:

1. Compared to other marketing mediums, trade shows are expensive. You need to clearly set your goals. Without clear metrics and established goals, participating in a trade show is probably a waste of money.

2. Send out letters about your show. Direct mail is still the best way to inform a potential attendee that you’re exhibiting at a show.

3. Make use of the latest technologies available, including video, pictures, social media. Sending tweets from the floor shows you’re in touch, reaching out, and keeping non-visitors in the loop. Continue.

How to Make Your Next Virtual Event Fascinating

7 triggers to make your next virtual event fascinating

Here are the 7 triggers that Hodstead discusses and my thoughts on how we can apply them to creating fascinating virtual event experiences. The 7 triggers are: lust, mystique, alarm, prestige, power, vice, and trust. Let’s look at each of them as they relate to your next virtual event. Continue.

Use These 5 Tactics to Generate More Sales for Your Company.

There is way more to email marketing than to send customers a monthly newsletter. You can increase sales quite substantially by incorporating email into your sales process.

In the next year, you’ll meet many people that may not be ready to buy from you right at that moment. If you use email to keep in touch when they are ready to buy, they think of you first.

1. Lead nurturing. Lead nurturing simply means to send a prospect a series of pre-written emails over a specific time frame. These emails are designed to increase the level of trust with your prospect. The easier you are to trust, the easier you are to do business with. Click Here to continue.

Trade Show Trends: 21 Occasionally Silly Predictions for 2011

You’re probably aware of the major trends about trade shows: More exhibitors measuring their ROI; doing more with less, perceived competition from virtual trade shows; the shift to fabric graphics and custom modular exhibits, more interactive technology in booths, yadda, yadda, yadda. Yeah, we know those big trends. But what other trends are happening that will affect the trade show world? Trends that are perhaps less obvious and hopefully less serious? The List, from Skyline Exhibits

Video on Engaging Attendees

Trade show expert Marlys Arnold shares tips for engaging attendees, using lead cards, and following up after the show. Video

Visa Barriers Preventing $2.4 Billion in Trade Show-Related Sales

A new CEIR study measures economic impact of foreign trade hurdles.

Key findings indicate that the difficulties in obtaining visas have prevented 116,000 international visitors from participating in U.S. shows. That number breaks down into 78,400 attendees and 37,900 visitors. Full article from EXPO

Lighting Oversights

What you don’t know about lighting can hurt both you and your exhibit- or event-marketing program. Without at least some bare-bones knowledge of lighting do’s and don’ts, you’re likely to jeopardize your program’s effectiveness, and maybe even find yourself in the dark at your next trade show or event. Full Article from Exhibitor Magazine.

Multi-Facted View of Trade Show Entertainment

With the plethora of companies all vying for visitors’ attention, it’s the ones that stand out from the crowd that get noticed. People are drawn by glitter and excitement, but turned off by dull and boring exhibits. In essence, entertainment makes it all a lot more interesting. So, how can you add pizzazz -– some trade show entertainment — into your exhibit marketing without breaking the bank? The following are seven ways to incorporate a little bit of trade show biz to get you noticed. Continue

Calculating ROI For Your Tradeshow Booth

Was exhibiting at that tradeshow worth your time and resources? How would you know?

In today’s world where so much business is conducted on the phone or digitally, meeting customers, prospects and other stakeholder face-to-face is extremely important. At the same time, you want to effectively keep your costs down and use your time and resources wisely. In order to do that, you need to measure and improve your current strategies. Without data, your decisions about exhibiting or attending are based on nothing more than hunches.

It is fairly easy to determine the ROI for your Tradeshow booth. More from Midcourse Corrections

The Book of Trade Show Proverbs

Click Here

Seven Ways To Put Show Biz Into Your Trade Show

The best way to attract and mobilize more customers to attend your trade show is to bring a "show biz" mentality to all your marketing and at-show strategies. After all, you are in show business. In today's marketplace, consumers are drawn by glitter and excitement but turned off by humdrum events. If you put on a dull show you will generate little interest. Following are seven ways to put more show biz into your exposition. Continue.

Do You Lie (When Surveyed at a Tradeshow)?

Tell the Truth: Do attendees lie when they have to answer questions at a trade show? Do you lie when presented with a survey? Full Article.

Is the Recession Over for the Exhibition Industry?

For the first quarter in more than two years, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research Index showed year-over-year growth, jumping 5.5 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2009.

It had been nine consecutive quarters of decline for the CEIR Index, dating back to the first quarter of 2008— the longest downturn since the index launched in 2000. More.

The Art of the Quick Phone Call

1. You can start informally with banter - If I’m calling somebody I know a bit I usually try to start with a little friendly banter. If I know they like a sports team that might be a good start. If I saw their company in the press, heard that they saw somebody at an event that I know, they live in a town where a storm just rolled through – whatever. I think trying to humanize the call from the outset is good. When you jump straight into “sales pitch mode” it feels a bit strange.

Two things to watch for: 1) if you’re trying banter to build rapport but not “feeling it” then quickly shift to business. Some people just aren’t “chit chatters” and prefer to get on with things. I find that kinda boring, but I know some people are just wired that way. 2) some callers take this banter too far It starts to border on disrespectful of the person’s time or wasteful of your 15 minutes. Don’t be that person. Link from Both sides of the Table

Is Your Trade Show Exhibit a Good Investment?

Many marketing executives can’t completely answer this question. They basically repeat what was done in previous years with slight variations in execution. Taking a moment to analyze your trade show goals and results can help you find new ways to acquire more customers and make your trade show investment really pay off.

Trade shows are expensive but they can also be one of the best sales and marketing investments your company makes. Trade show exhibits provide unparalleled opportunities to forge stronger customer relationships, win-back old customers and acquire new, high-value customers. But you should expect this effort to deliver more. Full Article.

EXHIBITOR Magazine Releases Findings from its 2010 Marketing Technology Survey

11/24/2010 - Technology has taken over our world, but how is that tech takeover impacting the exhibit and event industry? To find out, EXHIBITOR fielded the 2010 Marketing Technology Survey. According to the results, exhibit- and event-related technologies can help marketers build brand awareness, improve client relationships, increase sales leads, and encourage trade show and event attendees to linger longer. Full article.

50 Free Apps We're Most Thankful For

As we prepare to give thanks for our delicious Thanksgiving meals (and impending food comas), let's not forget to pay tribute to the wonderful developers who bring us our favorite free apps. More from Lifehacker.

The Seven Deadly Sins Of Poor Boothmanship

How many times have you seen booth staffers make it tough for attendees to engage with them by standing in closed circles with their colleagues, talking on their cell phones, eating in the corner of the booth, or being otherwise engaged in anything but attending to the needs of show attendees? Full article.

CEIR Research Indicates Booth Personnel and Product Demonstrations Grow in Exhibit Booth Recall Effectiveness

DALLAS, 16 November 2010 - Today, research released by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) provides insights into the recall factors of attendees being able to remember a particular exhibit on the show floor. The study is an update to a report Most Memorable Exhibits: An Analysis of the Factors Affecting Exhibit Recall, published in 2000.

Memorability is important to an exhibitor because studies have shown that it can influence purchasing decisions that are initiated at a later time, and it builds long-term brand awareness equities as well. Serious buyers also appear to depend on booth recall as a valuable information base. The size of the booth, as might be expected, continues to be an automatic recall factor for several reasons: Continue.

18 Hidden Rules of Trade Shows

Trade shows also are governed by hidden, yet immutable rules. You may have already run up against them without realizing it, or discovered them through arduous experience. Since forewarned is forearmed, here are 18 hidden rules of trade shows:

1. The more words you put on your trade show display, the fewer times they will be read.
2. The larger the crowd of people already in your booth, the more other people will want to visit your booth.
3. The person who complains the most about the value of trade shows is usually the one who knows (and tries) the least.
4. The more fun trade show attendees have in your booth during the show, the more serious business you will do after the show.
5. More from Skyline Trade Show Tips
   

Hybrid Events: The Live/Virtual Combo

Want to get the most out of your virtual and live events? Don't treat them as completely separate entities. "The virtual world is all about enhancement, never replacement," Continue

Tricks of the trade(show) to boost ROI

Face-to-face encounters with other human beings are easily avoided with all the new technology we have at our fingertips. Given how easy it is these days to keep up with business acquaintances and colleagues by e-mail and social media, the traditional methods of engaging with professionals in your industry have taken a back seat. However, tradeshows, once the most direct way that companies engaged with and targeted new customers, are still an important part of any marketing strategy and should not be overlooked. More.

Tradeshow Exhibitor Checklist

Checklist from The Results Academy.

The Relevance of Tradeshows in the Digital Age

Gone are the days of swag and stunts to get you into the booth. These days, booths are so small it really only takes two or three people to fill them. You used to walk through intriguingly lit mini-caverns with massive desks of lights and flying faders and music moving around like a poltergeist. Now booths are just a place to hang a flat screen running a power point presentation and for staff to hang out when they’re not refilling the brochure stand. Well, it’s not quite that bad—there was plenty of gear on display, which is different than saying plenty of gear on hand. Historically, one of the key differences between attending a tradeshow and reading tradeshow news is that when you attend you get to experience the gear. . More.

The Breadcrumb Approach: Keys for a Crowded Trade Show Booth

Heidi Miller, professional trade show spokesperson and narrator, shares the four keys to gathering a crowd into your booth for your trade show presentation or demonstration. Video.

Create your Own Word Cloud

This is a Word Cloud that was generated for this blog. To create your own Word Cloud, go here.

Promotional Hand Sanitizers A Great Tradeshow Giveaway

One of the most effective and useful promo item to give out is promotional hand sanitizers. It is a product that everyone needs, and everyone uses. More.

Kimberly-Clark Takes Tradeshow Sustainability to New Level

Trade shows continue to thrive for their ability to bring people together and make valuable connections. Long a primary driver of business travel, some shows in the world can account for a sizable amount of carbon emissions. So when a company steps up to reduce their trade show participation’s environmental footprint, it’s a big deal. More.

Are You "Cell’ing" Yourself Short?

Cell phones have changed our world. With few exceptions, we can now talk to anyone we like whenever we’d like. The staccato symphony of ring tones accompanies us through our days: from the morning commute to the crowded restaurant at lunchtime, during meetings and even during the quick stop at the grocery store when the day is done. We’re always connected, always reachable. It’s a marvel.

It’s a marvel that can destroy your tradeshow performance. Continue

Going Green

Being green at a trade show exhibit is no longer as difficult as it used to be. There are many eco-friendly alternatives that allow companies who wish to cut down on their carbon footprint to do so. Here are a few different ways for exhibitors to use more Earth-friendly elements in their booths.

Earth-Friendly Trade Show Display Materials

Use recycled materials in your trade show exhibit. Get rid of the usual display materials and use bamboo, aluminum, or recycled fabrics instead. Not only will they be more eco-friendly, but they will allow for a more portable display. Bamboo is incredibly strong and will stand up to the wear and tear that a trade show display usually goes through. Additionally, it grows fast and is plentiful, which means it is a renewable material. If you utilize a bamboo trade show display and add in elements of aluminum or bonded metal, your display will truly stand out among the crowd as being unique and green. Nowadays it is even possible to find a bamboo display that holds literature, which organizes the booth and keeps it clutter-free. More.

Reverse Tradeshows: The Value of One-on-One

Most meeting planners and meeting facilities have attended a trade show in the extent of their career. The “typical” trade show organized by industry, allows companies to exhibit their latest product or service. In the case of meeting and conference planners, they’ll visit 50 – 100+ supplier booths. The “typical” trade show is seeing a change in interest as the industry moves to virtual exhibits and one-on-one interactions. More from The National Conference Center Blog.

23 Ways to Integrate Facebook and Twitter with Traditional Advertising

Integrated Media Marketing is when you effectively integrate social media with traditional marketing. Here are 23 ideas for integrating Facebook and Twitter in PR, direct selling, customer services, advertising and sales promotions.

1. Add Facebook Widget /plugins to website or blog
2. Show Twitter stream on website
3. Use buttons in footer, contact page and sidebar of website
4. Add Share/Like/Tweet buttons on products and content on website
5. Include links on your business cards
6. Include info in email signature file
7. Add Facebook /Twitter to voice mail messages (office and cellphone)
8. More from Beyond Social Media Marketing
   

What a Trade Show is Really About.

What do you want out of a trade show and what are you willing to put into the process? Trade shows are tried and true face to face marketing platforms. There was talk about trade shows “dying” because of social media and younger generations entering the workforce. Nothing can replace good old fashioned face-to-face marketing. Social media can enhance, but not replace it.

So what is a trade show REALLY about? The question remains, what do you want from it? Do you want to promote a new product or service, increase brand awareness, treat current clients to some customer appreciation, meet new clients, gain information on what your prospective clients want, or spy on the competition? Maybe you want a little of everything! A trade show can be all of the above and more. Continue reading from TSN

How One Association is Connecting Attendees with Exhibitors with Twitter

The International Studies Association has put together a Twitter List of their exhibitors. This list will allow attendees to follow exhibitors as they showcase their events, promotions and products on their Twitter feeds. You do not need to be a member of Twitter to view the list. Link to Article.

A New Mobile App for the Event World

by Joyce McKee at Let's Talk Tradeshows:

Here is a mobile app that can do many things that will aid attendees and show management alike. Some of the features are: Floor Map, Exhibitor Directory, Event Calendar, Speaker Bios, Local Visitors Guide and News/Announcements. Link to Article. Link to App.

How can I save money on my Rental Car rates?

Shopping the Internet can be the quickest and best way to compare many Rental Car rates.

If you are planning on purchasing extra items such as a damage waiver or insurance, you should also comparison shop those rates.

Make sure their mileage policy is favorable to you so you can avoid extra charges.

Airport fees can be quite large so you might see if it is worth it to use an off-airport facility. However, if the off-airport company picks you up at the airport, you'll probably still have to pay some of the fee.

You can check their national reservation centers and their local offices; one may be offering a better deal than the other. ASK, if this is the best rate they have available. More. (Check the rest of the site for other travel tips).

Unqualified booth visitors and time wasters

This article from the Hill Group, gives tips on dealing with the following types of booth visitors:

• Unqualified visitors and time wasters
• Unqualified visitors
• Booth beggars
• Competitive Intelligence Gatherers
• Know-it-alls
• Exceedingly social

Tradeshow Emergency Kit - What's a Gang Box and Why Do I Need One?

It doesn't seem like much right now, while you are in the comfort of your own office. When you're on the road, running out of staples, needing extra Velcro to attach your graphics to your booth, needing a little duct tape to fix, well, just about anything...it becomes a crisis and an expensive one at that. It's a simple case of supply and demand. You demand a roll of tape, it's 10 minutes before the show starts, the only supplier is show services...they can charge whatever they want.

Click here for extensive lists of Must Haves, Personal Items and Optional Items.

8 Easy Ways to Tie Social Media Into Your Tradeshows

Anyone who gets Exhibitor Magazine, has seen the retro photo that is in the back of each magazine, showing a tradeshow image from what seems like a century ago. As traditional as they are, tradeshows work because we are face-to-face with so many customers in just a few days.

But now, in today’s digital age, we are faced with new opportunities to mix tradeshows with social media to make our marketing efforts go even further.

Here are a few basic ideas on how can we tie the two mediums together to make for a more memorable experience overall:

1. Write a blog post about the event either pre-show, at-show or post-show to share your experiences and knowledge.
2. Prior to the show, monitor Twitter to see if there are any trending topics related to the event. If special event #hashtags are being used, make sure to put them in all your show-related tweets.
3. More from Vivid Image.
   

ExpoToGo: Tradeshow App for Android

ExpoToGo features: Exhibitor search. Session search. Customizable personal briefcase to add your favorite exhibitors and sessions. Community interaction with YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. NearMe search browse for local shops,restaurants, and more. Link.

Trade show and industry observations

We would like to take a few minutes to review some industry trends (from our point of view) that we are seeing in the event marketing industry. The last two years have seen dramatic budget cuts, reduction in show attendance and higher cost per lead at any given event…now the good news. The industry continues to bounce back with greater innovation, new ideas and smarter spending. Here are just a few of the trends we are witnessing: Full Article from Blazer

Dirty Little Secrets: Five Things Trade Show Attendees Don’t Want You To Know

Look at the show floor. Check out the attendees. They look ordinary enough -- but they have secrets for successful selling. Dirty little secrets that they'd never tell anyone, not even under duress. These secrets are strong unifying factors influencing buying decisions. If you, as a smart and savvy trade show exhibitor, tailor your exhibit accordingly, you'll come away with higher sales every time. Read full article by Susan Friedmann

The Secret Weapon Every Savvy Exhibitor Should Use

Picture this:

You're standing, with your booth staff, in your exhibit at a large tradeshow. This is one of the best shows you regularly participate in as it attracts a sizeable number of your target audience. Your team is prepared. Your display looks terrific. You've got interactive demonstrations, you've sponsored a speaker, and your giveaway items convey your marketing message, appeal to your target audience, and are in plentiful supply.

Looks good, right?

There's something in this scene, something I haven't mentioned yet, that could make it all even better. Something that will not only boost your ROI, but will create that most vital of marketing tools.

What is it? Continue.

The do's and don'ts of exhibiting

The recent FaceTime research revealed the power of exhibiting, proving what many in the marketing industry have believed for ages.

According to the study, exhibitions and tradeshows had a very strong psychological impact on visitors. In fact, after visiting such an event, people were more likely to believe it was the best form of marketing to interact with and compare, and were more likely to buy a brand's goods.

So it's not surprising that many companies use exhibitions to market their goods and services. Yet, it's not always as simple as just showing up at an event and standing at a wooden table. Exhibiting requires lots of effort to ensure it goes successfully.

1) Do research: Research various shows before you go to ensure that you attend one that works for you. But, don't be tempted to do all your research online. While using the internet to find out about tradeshows is a good idea, nothing beats attending a few. This will ensure you can experience the atmosphere of the venue and see whether it would really suit your brand. Continue reading from TSNN UK

Are You a Tradeshow Ninja?

Ninja: – noun, a member of a feudal Japanese society of mercenary agents, highly trained in martial arts and stealth (ninjutsu), who were hired for covert purposes ranging from espionage to sabotage and assassination.

While the term ‘ninja’ seems to hold reverence for a lot of people due to the clever and stealthy way in which he practiced his arts, in most tradeshow marketing cases you DON’T want to be hidden. You want to be right out there in plain sight for all to see and engage with.

And never mind the sabotage and assassination aspects of the ninja. Those blatant acts would probably get you headlines of the unfriendly type (and should it be capitalized – Ninja? – I’m a little stumped here…)

As for espionage, in a tradeshow marketing situation I’m all for it. As long as you’re not breaking and entering or hacking a competitor’s website, you should try to find out as much information about your competition as you’re legally able to. More from Tim Patterson, the Tradeshow Guy.

6 Things To Say When Your Boss Asks “Why Are We Spending So Much On Trade Shows?”

1. We spend money on ads, money on direct mail, money sending our reps into the field…all in the hope that we can get face time with the people who matter. At a trade show, all of our best prospects are in one place at one time.

2. At a trade show, we get to see all of our existing clients in one place, at one time. We can use the opportunity to ascertain their future needs and their current satisfaction with our products and services. More from Skyline Trade Show Tips.

Preview Las Vegas Hotel Rooms on Video

Planning a trip to Las Vegas isn't always easy because there are so many choices!

Vegas Chatter helps you with your decision-making process. Here is a complete video library of Vegas hotel rooms. Link.

Video on How to Inspect for Bedbugs

Demonstration video on how to find the little buggers if they are lurking in your hotel bed. From the Washington Post. Video.

Also check out The Bedbug Registry

Trade Shows: What’s In It For You—And Your Management?

For many of us, trade shows are a major part of our corporate lives: planning, scheduling, staffing, designing, developing, theming, creating presentations and product demos, ordering swag and logoed polo shirts—and traveling to them. Then there’s the show itself: three days of putting on your best smile and doing your best to communicate your company’s marketing message clearly, concisely and memorably. Those can be the hard parts of the business of trade shows—time consuming and wearying (not to mention hard on your feet).

So what are the good parts of the trade show experience, besides the last day at 5:00? Exhibitors know that trade shows are one of the best ways to accomplish four important business objectives: Continue reading at The Center

CEO of Center for Exhibition Industry Research, Doug Ducate, Sees 2012 Trade Show Recovery and Some Signs of Optimisim

2 1/2 minute video. From BizBash Hive

Douglas L. Ducate, President and CEO of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, in their blog, reports that the Exhibition industry is about to enter its 10th down quarter but he is optimistic that some signs of uneven improvement exist including, perhaps, a recovery in 2012. He reports that once we do get into a recovery mode it could be speedy based on previous 2001-2003 experience.

Is Your Booth Staff On Paid Vacation?

You budgeted time, money, blood, sweat, and tears to a trade show. But in the eyes of some co-workers, you are a ‘glorified party planner.’ How many times have you heard that one? Well, now that you have planned your party, cleaned house, set out decorations, don’t forget the most important thing – be the hostess with the mostest!

Yes, staffing your trade show booth is a critical piece of ensuring trade show success. Some people relish the idea of being out of the office on a ‘company-paid vacation.’ Trade show venues are in vacation cities for a reason – to attract attendees to bring the family and stay longer. But this shouldn’t be the mindset of the booth staff!

There are 4 key steps for booth staffer success: Engage, Qualify, Present, Close Continue to full article from Skyline Trade Show Tips

Five Common Mistakes Trade Show Exhibitors Make

by Traci Browne on October 10, 2010

I spend a lot of time at trade shows and I constantly see the same mistakes being made by exhibitors. The five listed here are very common to smaller booths-the 10 x 10’s and 10 x 20’s. Pause for an honest assessment…are you doing any of these things?

Hey you! Get off my lawn!

Are you placing a table across the front of your booth to display products or brochures? What you are actually doing is creating a barrier. A barrier to conversation, curiosity and possibly sales. Full Article from The Trade Show Institute

Engaging the Trade Show Visitor

Two and a half minute video. Click.

3 Tips for Working with International Exhibitors in the U.S.

Many U.S.-based suppliers are eager to capture a share of the market for international companies who market themselves in North America -- my company included. As a sales leader for Freeman, the most progressive face-to-face marketing company in the U.S., I certainly get my fair share of opportunities to do so. But anyone who offers their products and services to internationals doing business here in the western hemisphere will be unprepared if they don’t embrace three fundamental business practices beforehand: Continue to full article on Face to Face with Freeman

How to Incorporate Technology into Your Trade Show Display to Gain Attention

As you begin to prepare for your next trade show, forget about same old same old. Amidst the plethora of banners, tables and people clamoring for attention, you’ve got to stand out. You’ve got to be different! You’ve got to catch the attention of potential customers in a single glance.

While spending time and energy to create a dynamic and professional booth to highlight your product or service is essential to any successful trade show booth, gaining the attention of potential clients is equally important. The best way to maximize the potential impact of your booth is to spend time thinking about how you are going to draw people to your booth. One way to do this is through the strategic incorporation of technology. Full Article from Trade Show News

Quantity versus Quality of Trade Show Marketing Leads

By: Barry Siskind

Which would you rather have: 500 mediocre leads or 25 – 30 high value leads? The answer is obvious and yet many exhibitors who attend trade shows try to talk to as many people as possible then go back to the office with a fist full of business cards and say; “see what I accomplished.”

The cost of following up on these so-called business leads is enormous and it leaves your sales reps often disheartened with the number of rejections they receive. The solution is three fold: Click here to go to full article from The Tradeshow Network Marketing Group.

TSNN Launches Two New E-Newsletters

TSNN introduces two new additions to its growing portfolio of cutting-edge publications.

Association Show News promises to provide you with all of the latest news and issues impacting the association trade show industry, while MedShow Monthly will feature up-to-date news and information related to the dynamic and rapidly changing medical and pharmaceutical trade show markets. Launched Sept. 23 and 29, respectively, these exciting e-newsletters are just the latest in TSNN offerings that will explore specific segments of the trade show industry. Link.

It's a Different Game for Tradeshow Exhibitors Overseas

Question: Is it better for an American trade show exhibitor to rent a trade show booth abroad if the exhibit hall is in Europe or Asia rather than ship a trade show exhibit from the U.S.?

Answer: Yes. It makes better sense logistically and economically to rent a trade show display in a foreign country where it will be exhibited. Why? For starters, the savings on round trip international shipping and handling charges are substantial. Full Article

International CES Named Greenest Show by Trade Show Executive Magazine

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^® announced today that the 2009 International CES^® was named North America’s Greenest Show by Trade Show Executive Magazine. CEA was awarded the highly coveted “Leader in Green Initiatives” Gold Grand Award for outstanding green presence in producing the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, the International CES. Full article.

Exhibitors Warned to Avoid Conference Housing Poachers

ALA Conference Services sent out a warning yesterday asking exhibitors to “beware of housing poachers.” Conference Services Director Deidre Ross notes, “We have been having poachers trying to get exhibitors to book outside our block as well as other people trying to lure our exhibitors’ money away from ALA. So this letter is being sent out to all Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference exhibitors as we speak. This kind of thing bothers us every year. We also send cease-and-desist letters out to the offenders.”

The cease-and-desist letter from Ross reads: Continue

Confuse or Lose: 3 Keys to Avoid Trade Show Confusion

By Susan Friedman:

In a recent coaching session, my client started telling me all about the different products he was going to be showing at the trade show he was preparing for. I listened patiently and then asked “which is the most important one?” “They all are” was my client’s response.

Over the years I’ve seen this mistake played over and over again at various shows. Booths stuffed full of stuff, different stations and activities that makes it look like a three-ring circus. Presented with this jumble, the visitor may or may not try to figure out whether the exhibitor has something of interest to offer. More from The Tradeshow Coach.

Reduce Trade Show Waste With Environmentally Friendly Eco-swag

The planet needs our help, and that means we all have to stop making excuses and start making a difference. Environmentally friendly promotional products are a great way to promote your business while keeping environmental impact to a minimum. So don’t wait – start browsing selections of eco-friendly tradeshow giveaways today!

Paper, plastic … or recycled fabric? Did you know that 100 BILLION plastic bags end up in landfills each year? Instead of using plastic bags to distribute trade show goodies, its time to switch to a more eco-friendly option. Promotional tote bags made from recycled materials are an excellent alternative to plastic bags. These reusable totes will serve a purpose outside the confines of the exhibition, which is good news for the environment and your logo. More

Business-to-Business Marketing at Trade Shows

Business-to-business (B2B) marketing can be extremely effective at trade shows. Surveys show that participating in trade shows is critical for increasing profits, making new business connections and creating successful partnerships. This article will discuss lead capture/CRM and automating your follow up.

The main reason trade show participation can be so successful is the target audience. Surveys show that 75% of the attendees are those with the authority to spend company money. Many are looking to develop new partnerships, find better and/or cheaper business solutions and make solid connections with their peers (and competitors). With that in mind, you should be able to make your next trade show a complete success! Here are a few things to consider to help you do just that. More from Marketing Review.

4 Steps to Better Trade Show Results: Monitoring VIPs

It can happen to even the most prepared sales person. The trade show booth gets too crowded and hectic, and the one client or lead they were counting on speaking with, visits the booth unnoticed.

Also leaving the booth with that VIP, is a marketing opportunity and potential revenue. More from StudioBlog

How to be a Trade Show Tightwad

1. Negotiate Booth Space Discounts

Bypass the salesperson and call the show manager directly. Show management would rather make less money on an occupied booth space than no money on an empty booth space.

2. Trade Your Stuff

Is your product or service something that show management or exhibitors can use during the show? Can your CEO give a speech? Trade for free booth space.

3. Partner-Up

Get a partner to pay for the booth space in exchange for doing all the show preparation. More from ESP Exhibits Blog

Guide to Trade Show Union Jurisdictions by U.S. Cities

Each city has its own jurisdictional peculiarities. While Exhibitor Appointed Contractors (EAC) do not control jurisdictional rules, they must abide by them to insure future operational success. In some cities, EACs may not touch anything electrical. In others, hand operated genie lifts are not allowed. More from The Tradeshow Network Marketing Group

What should you know about your Trade Show prospects?

One of the most important decisions you need to make about exhibiting at a trade show is what information you should collect from your key prospects.

Many trade shows place barcodes on attendee badges and have scanners available for rent at a reasonable fee. This streamlines the process of building lead lists and provides a fast, unobtrusive way to gather critical information for follow-up. Continue at the Tradeshow Insider's Blog

Classic Exhibits Explains Flooring (Carpet and Padding) at Trade Shows

Attractive flooring is essential to any successful trade show display. The first choice is often carpeting. The reasons are obvious. It’s available in many colors, it’s easy to transport and maintain, and paired with the right padding, it’s comfortable. To get you started in the right direction, here are some basic FAQ’s.

1. How do I calculate the amount of carpet I need?

Just follow these easy steps.

1. Calculate your square footage – this is done by multiplying the length of the area by the width of the area: 10 x 20 booth space will be 200 sq ft.
2. You will then need to calculate the carpet needed to cover the square footage.

• If your carpet is 12’ wide, and your area is 10 x 20, you will have to purchase a 12 x 20 to cover the area = 240 sq ft.
• If your carpet is 10’ wide, you will then order 200 sq ft.

3. It is always safe to order an extra foot of carpet to insure you are totally covered in your area. More from BizBash

Getting Past Perception: The Psychology Of Trade Show Displays

We all do it to some degree; some more than others. Driving past a prospective restaurant, we sum up the potential quality of the dinner based upon our perception. The look of the restaurant, the number of cars in the parking lot and the look on the faces of those leaving; all of these factor into our decision. In that instant, we make a decision about the restaurant. If the perception is negative, the adventurous will listen to the mantra, 'Don't judge a book by its cover.' The not-so-adventurous will move on resorting to the typical location where they know they get a good meal. Full article by Chris Hamen

Pre Show Promotional Strategies Often Get Overlooked

It is no secret that gearing up for a tradeshow can be a costly event. Even if you are just sending a few salespeople to only attend the event, it can still be a serious investment of time and money. Should you decide to pay for booth space or sponsor a part of the show, a clear commitment to success must be established. You have arranged accommodations, designed and purchased a display, printed your marketing materials, and feel you are ready for the show. Shockingly, a lot of successful companies manage to overlook one of the most important steps prior to the actual event which are pre-show promotional strategies. You cannot just show up to the event and expect it to pay off without a little pre-planning. More from Trade Show Emporium

3 Metrics to Measure Trade Show Performance in Real-Time

Marketers can devote serious time, money and effort to developing interactive content for a convention exhibit. Yet, how do the marketers know if their content is as effective or attractive on the convention floor, as they thought it would be?

It is also difficult at live events for marketers to gauge the audiences' exact demographics and level of engagement with key messages.

There's no need to go into a live event and gamble blindly on one set of prepared content. By working with software developers, marketers can build real time analytics into their live events and collect data to show how effective content is, what the audience demographics are and the level of audience engagement with crucial messaging. Full article from StudioBlog

Using Social Media Marketing To Drive Your Virtual Tradeshow Leads

The following is a guest post from Cece Salomon-Lee on It's All Virtual.

As a marketer, one of my goals is to generate the right leads for my sales force as efficiently and quickly as possible. This requires constant evaluation of existing tools — emails, banner ads, and events — as well as new ones such as social media and virtual events. While webinars arguably are a standard part of a marketer’s lead gen toolbox, virtual tradeshows are just being considered. Part of the challenge is how to effectively drive qualified sales leads to your booth or virtual event.

Here are recommendations on how to leverage social media to market your next virtual tradeshow (Please note that these recommendations are for organizations who are hosting their own virtual tradeshows and may need to be amended for those exhibiting within a virtual event): Continue.

Why You Need To Integrate Your Exhibit Booth

This post isn’t about integrating your exhibit booth with the rest of your marketing. That’s a given. This post is only partly about your trade show marketing. It’s really about something much bigger…Integrated Marketing and Communications.

What is Integrated Marcom?

Read more: from the Trade Show Institute

ROI Measurement — It’s Importance to the Future of Meetings & Events?

For many years, during a “healthy” economy, the meetings business survived and thrived based upon value defined largely by attendee reaction or satisfaction. Rarely did many organizations look beyond these feel-good factors to measure deeper outcomes such as learning, application and business impact.

The Great Recession, of the past couple of years, changed that. With significantly increased financial strain, businesses began to earnestly evaluate every aspect of their operations, including meetings and conferences. This put many event professionals into the “hot seat” as they were suddenly challenged by their executive leadership to demonstrate, more tangibly, the value of the company’s meetings. More from Mike McCurry

Trade show exhibitors like McCormick Place changes

Costs dropping, satisfaction increasing as International Manufacturing Technology Show prepares to open. Full article from Chicago Tribune.

Organizers ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ About Industry Rebound

While far from booming, the tradeshow industry has received a few positive shots in the arm recently. Last month, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research reported that although the overall industry slipped 1.4 percent during the second quarter, certain “indicators of recovery” have seen declines slow compared to previous quarters. Professional attendees, another of the recovery indicators, actually grew 4.5 percent during the quarter.

And there was Champion Exposition Services, which in its Exhibitor Trends Survey found that more than half of exhibitors surveyed plan to participate in more tradeshows in the future. The report also called for a rebound in tradeshow activity next year. And so does media and information industry private equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson. Partner Hal Greenberg recently said the tradeshow market will show a gain of about four percent over the next five years.

With these positive points in mind, we reached out to a few of the industry’s most significant expo producers to find out how their businesses are fairing now amidst the downturn and what their forecasts are for 2011. Here’s what they had to say. Full Article from Expo.

Sexism in the Trade Show Industry

by Emily Fearnley

"Booth Babes" can be defined in a few ways - promotional models, scantily clad women encouraging attendees to stop and buy, or poor attractive girls being objectified by the males around them. However you categorize a booth babe, these enticing women tend to reveal the sexism in the trade show industry.

When asked to describe their experiences, booth babes generally have the same responses. Besides dealing with the grueling 10-hour days on your feet, often in heels, many women have to deal with being groped, being spoken to inappropriately, and stares that would make your skin crawl.

If the above reasons are not blatant examples of sexism, then I don't know what is. Although a healthy level of rudeness would be acceptable to put men who step over their boundaries in line, many of these promotional models are too polite to do so. They are also hired for the trade shows to sell or promote products, so being rude (even to put some one in their place) is not the best tactic for selling.

The fact that booth babes are proven to grab attention and get people into the booth makes is easy to see why companies hire these attractive women. But the real question is, do the companies do anything to protect or prepare these women for potentially dangerous or abusive situations? How do the companies ensure the women's safety and comfort during a trade show? Full Article from Map Dynamics.

What To Do When Nothing’s New: Five Strategies for Success

Look at that throng of people crowding the trade show floor. People come from all over the country to walk these aisles, eager eyes flitting from booth to booth, scanning the exhibits for…what, exactly?

Research shows that the vast majority – 76% — come to trade shows to discover what’s new and exciting. Maybe it’s a new product, or an innovative bit of technology, or a snazzy new application, or even an entire company that they were never aware of before. In an ideal world, every company would be constantly innovating, creating cutting edge products at phenomenal savings guaranteed to meet the customer’s needs.

But as you and I know, business doesn’t work that way. There are years when companies struggle to survive. Other years, it takes every ounce of effort just to maintain market position. And still other times, things might be fine, but the newest innovation is six, twelve, even eighteen months on the horizon.

Is it even worth exhibiting during these times? Do the results of participating in a trade show while your company’s in a lull phase justify the costs?

Absolutely! In fact, it is precisely at these times when not participating could hurt your bottom line. Businesses rise and fall based on the strength of personal relationships. There is no better place to form new relationships and maintain and reinforce existing relationships than at a trade show. Full article from World Gazette News.

Labor issues heat up again at Convention Center

From Philadelphia Inquirer:

The rules that govern workers at the Convention Center have long confounded planners wishing to bring their business to Philadelphia. Even those who have learned the byzantine code marvel at what it takes - and what it costs - just to set up and dismantle an exhibit.

Consider the ubiquitous laptop. If it is for personal use, an exhibitor can set it up. For audiovisual purposes, a member of the stagehands union must do the job, at $37 an hour. And if it is used to register conventioneers, the task falls to a union electrician, at $46 an hour.

Or consider the cost of a booth, the mainstay of conventions. When you add up everything, the work of a carpenter comes in at $107 an hour in Philadelphia - more than $24 higher than the national average and more costly than in Washington, Boston, Chicago, and Baltimore, according to a 2009 survey by an industry trade magazine.

Now, with the $786 million publicly funded expansion nearing completion, the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority is seeking sweeping changes to simplify the rules that govern the building's union workforce and, in the process, reduce costs for hosting events. Among the most contentious proposals: Cutting the number of unions from six to as few as three and making the center's workers employees of the state. Full Article.

How Exhibitors Can Sell the Benefits of RFID to Trade Show Organizers

For years, one of the hot “water cooler” discussions for event organizers has been about audits—showing exhibitors once and for all who, how many, and what type of visitors attend a show. Although attendance audits are extremely helpful, they don’t tell the entire story. Other rich analytics tools such as RFID (radio frequency identification) provide more specific data about who attends which sessions, amount of time spent on the exhibit floor, which booths they visit, and their behavior inside the booth.

Audits are great for the big picture. RFID yields more specific information about attendee behavior patterns—the kind of data that exhibitors need to quantify the value of their participation. Using RFID on the trade show floor requires an investment from the show organizer to provide badges with an embedded RFID tag. Antennas installed in booths at the exhibitors’ expense read the RFID tags and record the behavior of attendees when they enter. It is a partnership that more and more exhibitors are asking for from show managers. Full Article.

Who's responsible for innovation at a tradeshow?

From the ASAE Blog, Acronym:

At Annual in LA, I had the chance to attend the "industry power session"--a rapidfire discussion about the future of tradeshows facilitated by John Parke and building in part on the results of several focus groups of meeting planners and CEOs held before the conference.

The session was structured around a series of questions. The reactions and comments to each were fascinating to me (I've got a good dozen pages of notes to think about), but one question that particularly stood out was "Who is responsible for bringing innovation to a tradeshow?"

In the discussion that followed, a number of interesting points came up (all of the following are paraphrased):

- Innovative tradeshows need to recruit exhibitors who are on the cutting edge of their industries. Prospective exhibitors look at the list of companies that will be at a show and decide whether to attend based on whether they see other "like" companies.

- How can I expect exhibitors to bring innovation to a tradeshow when my exhibitors won't even read the materials I send them? (from a meeting planner) More.

A Paperless Trade Show Exhibit

By: Barry Siskind, Tradeshow Network Marketing Group

Within five years trade shows will be completely paperless is a prediction I heard at a recent conference. When I passed this idea along to some of my clients, they balked, saying,

“How will we get our information to our customers if we don’t have literature at the trade show booth? ”

“Visitors want to take away literature.”

” What impression am I making by not having literature to hand-out?”

If this is starting to sound familiar then perhaps its time to re-think the purpose of your exhibition and look at a different strategy for execution. More.

Go Green with Graphics Says Hargrove

-Sustainable materials are no longer cost prohibitive – if you plan early and set your environmental goals at the start of your project.
-Beware of buzzwords — just because a material is recyclable or biodegradable doesn’t mean it will be.
-Companies can pursue environmental stewardship and success simultaneously.

At the end of the day, when you’re using any type of printed graphic in your program, you can very often make a sustainable decision–at no additional cost. Full article from BizBash.

Bumped? What your airline ticket says about you

Deciphering the code
The letters airlines assign to certain levels of coach can vary widely, but a couple are universal. "Y" class is a widespread denotation for the highest class in coach among most major airlines, according to Jami Counter, senior director of TripAdvisor Flights and a former pricing strategist at American Airlines. These tickets are usually fully refundable, last-minute coach fares purchased mainly by business travelers. They're the most expensive tickets, but they have the most flexibility.

Some others that are generally used among the airlines: "J" or "C" usually indicate business class. "F" and "P" denote first class or premium. Full article from MSNBC

Dave Lutz on When Conference And Tradeshow Websites Fail

Here’s a few tips that succesful major events are implementing on their Web site to improve relevance and the user experience.

1. Exhibitor Search
Access to a real-time floorplan that allows attendees to search by keyword/phrase, primary product category, secondary product category, booth number or exhibitor name. The best shows are refining this list every year to make sure that they are keeping up with the times and delivering search results that match the requests. (Hint – by reviewing keyword searches, you can identify categories or sub-categories that should be added.) To improve engagement, some shows allow users to create a list of exhibitors to visit, the ability to schedule appointments and to request info. More.

Tips for Creating Traffic-Stopping Tradeshow Booths

The key to maximizing booth traffic is to make sure the booth commands attention at several distances, starting with about 30 feet away. Your booth needs something eye-grabbing that attendees can spot from that distance. "Side wing" displays that catch attention from several aisles are also a good option.

Getting in the Zone—Three Zones, Actually.

But let's say you weren't able to secure such a desirable spot—or, for that matter, invest in a fancy exhibit booth. That's OK; attendees are still going to pass your booth at some point, and you can still attract—and sustain—their interest by displaying three types of messaging, each uniquely suited to viewing from one of three distinct zones:

• The Memory Zone—about 15 feet away.
• The Sensory Zone—close enough to interact with booth materials and demos.
• The Data Zone—as much a state of mind as a particular proximity, the Data Zone is where booth visitors are looking for evidence that your product or service will solve their problems. More.
  

Choosing Appropriate Tradeshow Giveaways For Your Business

When you are taking part in a tradeshow, it is important to choose promotional products that are going to be valued by those who will visit your booth and will be an item they are going to use after the show has ended. As you carefully consider all of your choices, you would think that the best thing to do is ask yourself whether the products are something that you would want for yourself. However, there are many more things to think about when choosing appropriate tradeshow giveaways for your business. More.

Trade(show) Secrets

How to leverage tradeshows into media coverage

When contacting writers, try to schedule a new product introduction, update or other announcement to coincide with the show. If you prepare a news release to distribute at the show, perform doubly by distributing it to your prospects too. If possible, coordinate your publicity efforts with the public relations efforts of the show’s organizers. Find out if your company’s media materials can be included in a press kit distributed by the show’s organizers. More.

Most Exhibitors Have Cut Back, Some With Regrets

From Association Meetings:

Four out of five exhibitors (81 percent) have scaled back their trade show participation over the past year due to the economy, and many are regretting their decision, according to a new report from Champion Exposition Services.

The Middleboro, Mass.–based company surveyed 1,002 exhibiting companies in May and June and found that the most common trade show cutback was sending fewer staff. About 56 percent of those surveyed sent fewer staff to trade shows, and of those, 39 percent report that they regret it. More.

SISO Comes Out, Officially, Against Exclusive Services

The board of directors of the Society of Independent Show Organizers has released a statement opposing arrangements where a facility requires show organizers to use an exclusive in-house service. These types of policies, says SISO, drive up pricing and wreak havoc with multi-show deals that organizers set up with other service contractors. More.

Conference and Show Web Sites Need Better User Experience

Here’s a few tips that succesful major events are implementing on their Web site to improve relevance and the user experience.

1. Exhibitor Search
Access to a real-time floorplan that allows attendees to search by keyword/phrase, primary product category, secondary product category, booth number or exhibitor name. The best shows are refining this list every year to make sure that they are keeping up with the times and delivering search results that match the requests. (Hint – by reviewing keyword searches, you can identify categories or sub-categories that should be added.) To improve engagement, some shows allow users to create a list of exhibitors to visit, the ability to schedule appointments and to request info. More.

IAEE Social Media Task Force Releases Best Practices

DALLAS, 17 August 2010 – The International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ (IAEE) Social Media Task Force announces the availability of Social Media Best Practices for Exhibitions and Events. This free member publication provides a thorough break down of social media terms, outlets and basic requirements, as well as helpful tips for planning and executing social media campaigns as they relate to exhibitions and events. More.

Trade show exhibitors going “green” in a big way find benefits

Trade show experts says the benefits of going green in trade show exhibition go beyond environmental concerns, and can go directly to the bottom line. First, of course, is the “green” statement made to customers and potential buyers an exhibitor meets at a trade show; many buyers make purchasing decisions based on the ecological stance of vendors. In addition, using lighter-weight materials in booth construction can drastically reduce costs of shipping, a major expense for exhibitors. More.

Tradeshows Don’t Have to Suck

From Tradeshow Insight:

Something has be weighing on me the past few weeks. Like a knot in the stomach. I’ve been afraid to either admit it, or say it out loud, but a recent post by Dave Lutz at TSNN has given me the strength to come out with it.

Tradeshows kinda Suck.

Yesterday, I was re-reading HubSpot’s Social Media & Business Marketing eBook, and I came across something that startled me. More.

iPad is “Magic” for Tradeshow Floor Demonstrations

There is a reason Apple characterizes its iPad as a “magical” device: Physically interacting with interface elements heightens a user’s connection with the user interface, and creates a sense of immersion.

Tablet computers are a great tool for physically sharing information with someone in a way that they are immediately invested in the content that is being communicated. The small screen forces the listener and communicator to interact on a close, personal level, and the positioning of the two parties as they stand close, peering into the screen, evokes a sense of discovery. More.

Marketing Beyond The Trade Show Event

You have a lot of options for trading your business at a trade show. Marketing and advertising does not have to begin and end in trade shows though. You should be advertising and marketing before, during and most specially after the trade show event. Doing these things can surely help you make a good investment and generate higher profit. Let's learn some of the ways you can do this to market your business before, on and after the trade show event. Link

EACA Has a Blog

Exhibitor Appointed Contractors Association Link.

Top 3 Things Exhibit Marketers Wish Their Boss Knew

As an exhibit marketer, there’s a lot you’ve learned about trade shows. But what do you most wish your boss and other senior managers knew about trade shows? Read full article.

Trade Show Booth Flooring – A Key Consideration

Trade show booth flooring is often overlooked as an important trade show accessory. Yet, your exhibit area floor covering can play a vital role in furthering your company brand image, enhancing the overall booth design, and creating a welcoming environment that draws prospects into your booth.

Consider that you have invested a tremendous amount of time and money producing a beautiful, high-impact display. This includes carefully selecting your display layout and graphics, lighting, accessories, and promotional item to help ensure you maximize your effectiveness and achieve your objectives from show participation. More from the Tradeshow Guy Blog.

GOING GREEN

From Exhibitor Magazine: I want to take steps to Green my exhibit program, but with so many eco-conscious options available, I’m a little overwhelmed. So where should I focus my efforts? What eco-friendly changes will offer the most ROI for Mother Nature?

You’re right. There are seemingly countless ways to go Green. While eco-friendly products are certainly becoming more prevalent in the industry, environmentally friendly tactics now include everything from limiting solid-waste production to decreasing volatile-organic-compound (VOC) emissions. Especially when you’re green about going Green, the options can be overwhelming. But just as with any sizeable project, you have to start somewhere. And a logical place to focus your efforts is in the reduction of the carbon-producing elements in your program. Continue reading.

CRM & the Event Industry – Tips from the Trenches

From Face to Face with Freeman:

There was a question in the "Trade Show Executive" LinkedIn group posted a few weeks ago that gave me pause:

What are the most effective CRM (customer relationship management) systems out there to drive exhibit sales growth?

I have been asked this question numerous times throughout my career. Technology has become such an integral part of business that we depend on systems to solve problems and yield bottom line results. However systems don't grow a business. Systems are tools used to achieve objectives. Too often, CRM is defined as a technology solution. While there are a number of technologies that can be employed to support CRM, the practice of deepening and broadening relationships with customers is about much more than technology.

At this point I had a few choices. I could:

• Ignore the question
• Call out the person asking the question
• Reframe the question and provide a meaningful answer

I chose the final option and came up with the following: Continue.

Transparency or Decline – Your Trade Show’s Future Is at Stake

from TSNN:

Have you been paying attention to what’s going on over at the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA)? In late April, they held their inaugural Red Diamond Congress, bringing together many industry leaders. They discussed several key issues that keep exhibitors up at night and create distrust between organizers, facilities, general service contractors and other key suppliers. Read full article

Tradeshow Training Minute: Goals and Objectives

New Video from Susan Friedman. 1:45 minutes long. Link.

Public Relations Etiquette

When I bring up PR etiquette in a conversation it usually generates a few chuckles. Now why would that be? Maybe I should refer to this as public relations professionalism. Whatever you want to call it the recent Ag Media Summit provided several opportunities to comment on it. During the event’s InfoExpo I had two situations that provide a real good lesson in what “not to do.”

The first one involved me walking to a scheduled appointment with an exhibitor to conduct an interview. While walking past a certain exhibit one of the people in the booth grabbed me by the arm, stopping me and “asking” if I could interview their representative who was at that moment already being interviewed. I explained that I had a scheduled interview and could come back later. My arm was still being held and further pressure was applied verbally to stay. I don’t know about you but even though I like a good welcoming hug, I’m not fond of being grabbed. Needless to say I did not return to this booth. Continue reading.