Beware: Scams Are Everywhere in the Trade Show Industry

Scammers are getting smarter, and the internet has made it even easier for just about anyone to promote what seems like a “real” trade show to unsuspecting exhibitors and even venue operators, who also have gotten burned.

It’s not foolproof, but one suggestion for exhibitors to try and protect themselves from getting duped in the future is if they have never heard of a show or a show organizer before, ask a few key questions, such as: May I have three references from people you have worked with in the past? Who is your general service contractor? Can I see the list of other exhibitors? And, still, call the venue and ask them if they have a history with the show or what kind of check they did on the show before booking it. Article from TSNN

The Geek's Guide to Getting Free Stuff

Conferences and Tradeshows

Some tips for getting swag at tradeshows and conferences. most of these are gleaned from John Chow's How to get free stuff at trade shows, unless otherwise linked to.

1. Show up early. A lot of the small bags of software and mousepads, etc., are in limited supply and are given out on the first day of a show.
2. Ask for samples. if you don't see any, you can always ask at a booth.
3. Get a media pass. if you're going to be reviewing products on your blog, show proof of that, and you might get your hands on some nice swag. You may need to show a business license and/or Federal Tax number to a tradeshow official.
4. Make an appointment. an exhibitor may have more samples but may need to retrieve them.
5. Crash parties. some companies will have side parties in the evenings where they give stuff away.
6. Work for it.
7. Wait until the end. at some shows, exhibitors may not want to pack up items. Full article.
   

Where Does Social Media Fit In With Your Marketing

Where does social media such as forums, blogs, social bookmarking fit with your overall marketing strategy?

Social media does not replace all of your other marketing – it just changes the mix.

When I look at a company’s marketing I categorize it into two main areas – Online and Offline. I then break these down into further categories. Article.

What time is our appointment? Right Here, Right Now!

Everybody is busy. Nobody has enough time to do what has to get done. I can’t wait that long. These are just the realities of business as usual today.

The world we live in has changed. The business environment has become so fast paced as a result of having to do more with fewer people. Even going to a trade show is now a time critical event. People used to walk the aisles of a show to see what is new. Today, more people are pre-planning their visit and accomplishing more purposeful results. Full article.

Are Your Event Attendees Lying To You?

More importantly . . . can you tell when they are because, they probably don’t mean to.

When asked, most attendees will tell you what they hope to accomplish, what they plan to do and how they intend to maximize their event experience. . . in reality, they don’t have a clue.

Ask any exhibitor what they really want to know and they’ll tell you “give me data on what my prospect is actually doing – show me the action”! Their actions, then, become the true measure of their desires because nothing else matters – not even what they say. More.

SEMA New Products Showcase

SEMA Show exhibitors may now enter their new products into the New Products Showcase by visiting www.SEMAshow.com/newproducts. All exhibitors may enter one product category at no cost if submitted before October 8, 2010.

With nearly 2,000 companies exhibiting throughout the 1 million square foot Las Vegas Convention Center, the New Products Showcase makes it easy for buyers to get a quick glimpse of what’s new and debuting at the Show. Buyers and media have said that the New Products Showcase is among their must-see attractions each year, with many visiting the Showcase before they even hit the exhibit floor. Link.

How to Leverage Digital and Social Media at Events/Conferences

Good information on how one company set up for social media. Link.

Eight Tips For Attracting Millennials To Your Next Tradeshow

By Dave Lutz

Exactly who are Millennials? Well, the answer depends on who you ask. Defined as much by mindset as by birth, Millennials are those molded by cultural norms, demographics, the economy, parenting styles and more importantly, the Internet. These 18-29 year olds have begun to forge their generational traits as change-embracers, confident, liberal, self-expressive and upbeat.

So why do Millennials matter? This age group is more than 80 million strong, with an unyielding purchasing power. They have strong political influence, access to knowledge and information on an unprecedented scale and are empowered by technology. If you’re in this for the long haul, you got to figure out how to attract them and earn their loyalty.

Here are eight tips to consider when attracting Millennials to your next tradeshow:

1. Millennials distrust marketing and advertising.
Traditional show marketing techniques will not reach this audience. They have incredible filters for both technology and psychological persuasion techniques. Millennials give everything the sniff test before they give consideration. Full Article from TSNN

On the Road and a Shoestring

According to EXHIBITOR’s 2010 Economic Outlook Survey, 33 percent of exhibit managers plan to cut staff travel/lodging costs in 2010. At best, this means sacrificing comfort and convenience; at worst it means an insufficient and travel-weary booth staff.

Trade show road warriors all know that travel these days is both trying and tiring. Airlines routinely overbook flights, and most charge absurdly high fees for checked baggage, pillows, blankets, and on-plane food. People still have a right to be reasonably comfortable when they travel, but it’s getting tougher all the time, given the need to continue squeezing corporate pennies.

From Candy Adams in Exhibitor Online Update. Link.

50 Power Twitter Tips

1. Don’t read EVERY tweet. It’s perfectly okay. You have permission.
2. Follow anyone who follows you (and unfollow spammers/jerks).
3. Promote other people 12x to every 1 self-promotional tweet.
4. Build lists to watch people who matter to you more closely.
5. Retweet the good stuff from others. Sharing is caring.
6. A lot of @replies shows a lot of humanity/engagement.

More.

Exhibit Surveys and CompuSystems Join Forces to Provide Free ROI Tool Kit

ROI Tool Kit Now Part of CompuSystems Exclusive Customer Portal
RED BANK, NJ and BROADVIEW, IL – June 15, 2010 – Exhibit Surveys, Inc., the leading provider of research, measurement and consulting services exclusively for the exhibition and event industry, and CompuSystems, Inc. (CSI), a leading provider of trade show lead retrieval products and registration services, today announced that the ROI Tool Kit has been incorporated into the CompuSystems customer portal, providing a fast and convenient way for exhibitors to measure ROI against leads.

The ROI Tool Kit assists exhibitors in planning, measuring performance, and delivering Return On Investment (ROI) information. It calculates cost per lead, booth size, potential audience, number of staff needed, and exhibit space required based on attendee quality, activity, and exhibitor investment. More.

New fees, taxes tacked onto items used mostly by visitors to Chicago

At a time when Chicago is trying to shed its image as a high-cost travel destination, the state and city are layering additional fees on visitors.

Airport taxi ride fees are doubling, from $2 to $4; O'Hare International Airport car rentals will be slapped with a daily fee of about $8 later this summer; and Chicago is among a number of cities lobbying for a hike in the airline ticket-tax limit, from $4.50 per leg of a flight to as much as $7, and the city has stated its intent to raise it to the max.

The fees come just as a new state law restructures operations at Mccormick Place, with the aim of cutting costs to trade show exhibitors, some of the city's most valued visitors. More from the Chicago Tribune.

What Exactly Does An Exhibit Marketer Do?

Want a well-defined job description? Then be an accountant. Want to enjoy a variety of activities, both within exhibit marketing, other marketing, and outside of marketing? Then aspire to be an exhibit marketer.

That’s one of the insights from the new white paper, The Evolving Role of Exhibit Marketers. For part of this research study, over 170 exhibit marketers answered questions about what their job entails, including what they do themselves, delegate, or outsource. Read below for a summary of how they answered, and see how their jobs compare to your own. More.

Exhibitions See Striking Rebound from 2009 Lows

The exhibition industry is rebounding in 2010 as a majority of event organizers say their shows are growing this year compared to last, according to the Exhibition and Convention Executive Forum’s annual ECEF Pulse survey, which tracks four major metrics—number of exhibitors, net square feet of exhibit space, attendance, and sponsorship sales.

In all four areas, more attendees reported growth compared to the previous year’s show than reported a decline:

• Number of exhibitors: About 44 percent report growth; 27 percent report a decline.
• Net square feet of exhibit space: Roughly 35 percent see an increase; 25 percent see a decline.
• Attendance: 49 percent report growth; 16 percent report a decline.
• Sponsorship sales: 49 percent see an increase, while 18 percent see a decline. Full article from Association Meetings
  

Does Your Event, Trade Show or Convention Have A Flickr Account?

If the answer to this is no, you are missing out on a great opportunity to promote, publicize or market your event, trade show or convention. Flickr makes it possible to store your photographs online and they allow you to actually share those photos with the people that matter to you. You can share your photos on your blog, or even on the Facebook page that seems not to get enough attention from you. Flickr is also a database that can be searched for people that are perhaps looking for information related to your event. More.

Tradeshow Industry iPhone Apps

Conventions.net has compiled a comprehensive list of Trade Show Industry iPhone Apps, Meetings Industry iPhone Apps, and Event Industry iPhone Apps on the web. You no longer need to scour the web or Apple's iTunes store to find the best Applications for your next Trade Show, Conference, Meeting or Event. More.

Changing Direction – What’s the Difference between 360 and 365?

As professionals in the events industry watch other media types struggle to maintain relevancy, it is clear that big changes are happening, and more changes are coming – whether we’re ready or not. Media consumers and media buyers are increasingly finding new ways to connect, have dialog and create relationships.

Face-to-face media still plays an important role in business as buyers and sellers still want to actually meet each other. Prospects still want the experience of immersion and participation in an active marketplace of competing ideas, products and suppliers. Vendors still value tradeshows as an arena for competition, for meeting new prospects, and for contact with customers. Full Article.

Go Green – Eco-Friendly Trade Show Giveaways

The best way to get someone to use a promotional product is to give them one that is both visually appealing and functional. There are several great options when it comes to eco-friendly promotional products. Long gone are the days where recycled paper and plastic were the only options. Due to the recent consumer trend towards "going green," there is an extremely high demand for well-designed eco-friendly products. Below are just a few examples of eco-friendly promotional products that you can distribute at your next tradeshow. Continue.

Is Sponsorship Right for My Company

Trade shows are a bonanza of sponsorship opportunities. Talk with any show organizer, and they'll be more than happy to explain how you can make sure your company's name and logo are plastered all over the arena, on the program guide, over the hospitality suite, even on the tote bags everyone carries around all day.

It's just a simple matter of money - lots of money. Spend enough, and at some conferences, you can get a seat on the event planning committee.

Is all that cash worth it? How do you know that sponsorship is right for your company? Is there a way to determine if underwriting aspects of a trade show will help your bottom line?

Absolutely.

First, it's imperative to understand exactly what sponsorship is. Full Article.

2010 TSEA Exhibitors' Choice Awards Nominations - Due By June 15

Nominations are now open for TSEA's 2010 Exhibitor's Choice Awards which will once again recognize the best in the industry.

The awards identify companies and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to exhibitors’ success in the face-to-face events industry. TSEA is asking exhibitors to submit nominations for their preferred TSEA suppliers and shows in any or all categories.

The nomination process will take approximately 10-15 minutes. Categories include:

• Best Exhibit House
• Best Show City
• Best Convention Center
• Best General Contractor
• Best Installation and Dismantling Company
• Best Transportation/Freight Company
• Outstanding Show Manager
• Best AV Company
• Best Marketing/Promotion Company
• Best of the Rest
• Best New Innovation
• Best Show of 2010
• Best Show – 50,000 sq. ft and under
• Best Show – 50,000 – 100,000 sq. ft
• Best Show – 100,000+ sq. ft

To submit, complete the entry form, and send it to the TSEA by June 15, 2010. Self-nominations are accepted. Nomination forms can be found here and should be submitted to reddiamondawards@tsea.org.

Nominations will be tabulated by a panel and voting for your favorite among the finalists will continue on the TSEA website. Voting will take place between June 16 and July 10, and winners will be announced at TSEA’s Red Diamond Gala on July 14, 2010 in Boston in conjunction with TS².

To be honored for this award, nominees should demonstrate the following:
1) A significant contribution to exhibitors' success.
2) A degree of innovation through products, programs, new ideas, etc.
3) A shared vision for attaining exhibitors' goals.
4) Someone that sets the bar high.
5) Has a reputation for the highest ethical standards and respect from peers
and clients.

Fax your nomination form to TSEA Headquarters at 312.842.8732 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 312.842.8732 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email to reddiamondawards@tsea.org until June 15, 2010. If you have any questions, please contact Dave Brull at 312.949.5795 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 312.949.5795 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or dbrull@tsea.org.

*Nominees must be TSEA members with the exception of Outstanding Show Manager and Favorite Show of the Year. To view the full list of TSEA allied members, please visit TSEA’s Buyer’s Guide.

About the TSEA Foundation

TSEA’s Exhibit Industry Education Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, is the research, information and fund-raising foundation for the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA) benefiting the members of the $124 billion exhibit and event industry comprised of businesses, non-profit associations and for-profit entities that participate in, exhibit at and produce trade shows. It funds specialized research on the exhibit and event industry, provides a variety of workshops, seminars and professional development opportunities and access to specialized research and reference assistance. The Foundation plays a key leadership and advocacy role for the exhibit and event industry and acts as a voice for the sector, articulating the data, reach, impact and contributions made possible through exhibit and event marketing.

Nomination form

NEW WHITE PAPER: The Evolving Role Of Exhibit Marketers

To capture the changing spirit of the early 1960s, Bob Dylan sang, “The times, they are a-changin.’” Today, the times are rapidly changing for exhibit marketers.

Exhibit marketers now face a slew of fresh challenges, including increased responsibilities, new technologies, difficult internal communications, fluctuating budgets, and limited support. And of course exhibit marketers still have their day job: creating memorable events with measurable return on investment. Full article.

Chicago's McCormick Place Labor Reform Law Passed

Last week, the Illinois General Assembly overrode a veto by Governor Pat Quinn and passed a law designed to reduce labor costs and make Chicago more competitive as a convention destination. Read about the major changes in store for exhibitors and show organizers.

EXHIBITOR Magazine's All-Star Awards Now Accepting Entries

6/1/2010 - EXHIBITOR Magazine is now accepting entries for the 13th Annual All-Star Awards, honoring the individual accomplishments of exhibit and event marketers.

This free-to-enter competition honors marketers who have faced a specific problem or challenge, implemented an innovative solution, and achieved measurable, numeric results. While the competition has traditionally honored exhibit marketers, this year's competition is open to both B2B and B2C event marketers as well. More.

Real-time social media engagement the next big thing at tradeshows

Let’s not kid ourselves. Your industry tradeshow might still be the surest way to gather a large amount of sales leads, but your tradeshow presence is a very expensive proposition that shows up as a major line item in your marketing budget. Considering today’s economic climate you must do everything to get the most out of your participation. How? Compared to tradeshow sponsorships an advertising social media engagement is still relatively inexpensive and might be the silver bullet that will distinguish you from all the other exhibitors at your next event.

Here are some pointers to help you get started. Full article.

A Tradeshow Checklist, Born of Experience

It’s easy to waste time and money at tradeshows. It’s not just the booth ($2k-$20k) and travel expenses ($1000/day including airline, hotel, rent car, shipping, and buying an extension cable at an outrageously overpriced convention center office supply center), it’s the week of time spent at the show (including travel days) plus weeks of time spent preparing your strategy, crafting your sales pitches, organizing the booth crap, and chewing out the stoned guy at the print shop counter who claims to not see that the “red” in the color swatch is not the same as the “red” in your 6′ x 6′ banner.

Tradeshows are a combination of high-level strategy and low-level minutiae, so a checklist comes in handy. Full article.