Friday, December 31, 2010

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

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

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.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

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

Sunday, December 26, 2010

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

Saturday, December 25, 2010

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.

Friday, December 24, 2010

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.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

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.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

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

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

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.

Monday, December 20, 2010

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.

Friday, December 17, 2010

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.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

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

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Video on Engaging Attendees

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

Friday, December 10, 2010

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

Thursday, December 9, 2010

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.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

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

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

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

Saturday, December 4, 2010

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.

Friday, December 3, 2010

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.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

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.