Trade Show Insights

Inspiration for this episode came from a recent ExpoChat, the weekly Twitter chat sponsored by TSNN. (You’ll find a transcript of that chat here.) The discussion revolved around how trade shows and events can help attendees continue their wellness routines (or discover new ones) while at events. Lots of great ideas surfaced, and so I […]

One of the primary reasons that people continue to attend trade shows in the digital age is because as humans, we crave the feeling of community and connection. We enjoy sharing experiences and solutions with other like-minded individuals. Whether you’re an exhibitor or show organizer, if you can faciliate a way for attendees to connect […]

If you’ve been in the trade show world for very long, you’ve likely seen examples of giveaways gone horribly wrong. On today’s podcast with guest expert Rama Beerfas, we share stories of low-tech items that went straight to the nearest trash can (or to the hotel maid) and high-tech items that created big safety hazards. […]

Exhibitors often believe it’s the trade show organizer’s job to generate traffic, but that’s not true. The show organizer’s focus is on bringing attendees to the event, but it’s up to you to draw them into your own booth space. One great way to do that is by designing an engaging booth attraction. Today’s attendees […]

There’s no doubt we live in a noisy world with thousands of messages constantly flying at us from all directions, both online and off. That assault of information definitely holds true for a trade show floor as well – perhaps even more so because of the concentration of messages in a limited space and timeframe. […]

If you’ve ever been in charge of a booth staff team, you may have discovered that not everyone is cut out for booth duty. Granted, there may be times when you’re told who will be working the booth and you don’t have any say in the decision. But whenever you do have the opportunity to […]

For this final post of 2018, I want to share some behind-the-scenes insights with you. But first, a huge thank-you for being a reader/listener/fan of Trade Show Insights! You are the reason I do what I do, and I don’t ever want to take you for granted. If you’ve followed me for a while, you […]

I love helping exhibitors discover the amazing power of trade show marketing! It’s fun to be a part of the brainstorming and strategizing for all aspects of their exhibits. It’s even more fun when I hear reports back from them about how they smashed all goals they had going into the show, and how response […]

I grew up on a farm outside a small-ish town (less than 20,000), and I can remember thinking my dad knew everyone. But that’s how it is in small towns – people take the time to get to know their neighbors and pay attention to what happens in their community and how they can support […]

It’s an ongoing problem among exhibitors: too many carefully-gathered leads end up leading nowhere! But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple steps you can implement to set your leads on the path to a long-term relationship with your company – and several of them can take place earlier than you may […]

If you pay attention to the news, you can't miss what should be warning signs: hurricanes, wildfires, mass shootings such as the one in Las Vegas, and other tragedies like the recent Branson Duck Boat incident. But when was the last time you paid attention to the news to discern what lessons you can learn and apply at your events? Today's guest expert is Joan Eisenstodt, who guides us through the "what-if's" of risk planning. Disclaimer: Neither Joan or I are attorneys, nor are we providing...

Gamification. It’s a word you’ve probably been hearing a lot in the business world lately. But have you taken steps to implement it into your exhibit marketing? Today’s guest expert is Samuel J. Smith from Interactive Meeting Technology, LLC. Scroll down to listen as he not only explains what gamification is, but also gives you […]

Successful exhibit marketing isn’t the result of one “magic wand” thing you do. It happens because you take the time to think through the entire process and make adjustments as needed. So along those lines, here are six tweaks you can make that probably won’t cost all that much (some are entirely free), but will […]

Chances are you’re still recovering from all the mad rush to comply with the GDPR deadline last month. But just because that date has passed doesn’t mean you can relax just yet. Today’s guest expert is Jay Tokosch, CEO of Core-apps. Scroll down to listen as he offers some post-GDPR tips and a bit of […]

If you think direct mail is an “old-school tool,” you don’t understand the power of today’s technology. Today’s guest expert is Gina Danner, CEO of NextPage in Kansas City. Scroll down to listen as she shares how direct mail has evolved with options such as: Blended online/offline marketing campaigns Personalized mailings that go far beyond […]

How focused are you on what happens to the leads you gathered once the trade show is over? Perhaps you answered that “It’s not my problem – I simply hand them off to the sales department (or someone else).” But you know what? Even if that’s the case, you want to take steps to ensure […]

It’s a challenge I hear from exhibitors all the time: How can we possibly stand out with only a 10-by-10-foot booth in a sea of (much larger) exhibits? And while that scenario may feel impossible to overcome, it really isn’t. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how big or small your company is, how well known you […]

No matter whether you’re an exhibitor or a show organizer, there are often times when you may also be walking the show floor as an attendee. Do you know how to make the most of that role? Here are a few strategic tips for before, during, and after the show that will make you more […]

Making a huge splash at a trade show isn’t limited to the biggest exhibits or the biggest budgets. International Paper (IP) proved that when they became the talk of the Adobe MAX show by creating a family of Print Guys who came to life with the help of augmented reality. Today’s guest expert is Emilee […]

If you’re a follower of Trade Show Insights – or you’ve attended any of my workshops – you’ve probably heard me talk about the importance of rewarding your team. Celebrating your wins not only results in happier teammates and reduced stress, but it also helps to build a feeling of community and camaraderie among your […]