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14/02/2013 by
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How Social Marketing Can Fuel Your Trade Show (Infographic)

Have you thought about it? How social and mobile marketing can fuel your trade show? This infographic and story will show you the way.

How Social Marketing Can Fuel Your Trade Show (Infographic)

Many brands exhibit at trade shows. They are spending their money to drive traffic to their booth, break through the clutter to get noticed, improve brand recognition and increase networking opportunities.

But do they include social in their strategy?

Here are some examples of methods that are being used by the Web Success Team. See their infographic:

How Social Marketing Can Fuel Your Trade Show (Infographic)

The tips from Web Success Team per social channel:

Twitter

In today’s digital environment, a solid percentage of almost any trade show’s audience will be Twitter users. Trade Show Tweeting Tips:

– Use trade show hashtag (#) to connect with show attendees and keep up with show news and events.
– Join Tweet Chats relating to the show.
– Publicize your Booth # and invite people to RT in exchange for a free sample, or tweet info about your brand and offer a sample to those that come to the booth.
– Follow other exhibitors and start conversations. Offer to support their products in exchange for them supporting yours. If they are not competing directly with you they can be your best advocates at the show.
– Follow the show’s organizer and RT their show posts. Organizers love it when you recognize them and support them, they will gladly RT your comments and you will get more visibility.

Facebook

– Promote the tradeshow, your exhibitor booth and the tradeshow events on your branded page. Pin a free sample to those wanting to visit the booth.
– Follow the tradeshow Facebook page.
– Post questions regarding the show, show events and other relevant information that could help you get more engagement.
– “Friend” show attendees and connect via Facebook groups relating to the show or the industry.

LinkedIn
– Follow and engage in trade groups relating to the show and share your blogs and thoughts establishing yourself as an authority in your industry.
– Connect with people going to the show and tell them why and how to find you at the show.
– Look for shared business connections you have in common with other attendees and use that common interest as a reason to have a conversation at the show.

Pinterest

– Create a tradeshow board on Pinterest.
– The best way to attract more eyes to your Pinterest page is to engage with other Pinners. Follow boards and users with similar interests, and then like, comment on or re-pin images you find inspiring.
– Pin your products and stand.

Blogs
– Write a preshow blog and circulate it on all social media platforms.
– Blog from the show (and be sure to Tweet it!).
– Ask bloggers attending the show to review your product and circulate their blog

Summary
Social media marketing can fuel your trade show. In many kinds of ways. From increasing brand preference to creating buzz, from promoting your stand to giving away special offers.

My Opinion?
I liked the thinking and approach of the Web Success Team. Also their infographic could be a useful checklist or “balance score card” for brands that invest their money in trade shows.

I would like to blend in Mobile as weel. What are the benefits of events and mobile?

At each B2B trade show or consumer show, 100% of the attendees will have their mobile or smartphone in their pockets.

The mobile phone could be used for ticketing and barcodes: easy access with a ticket or coupon. Scan it, and in you are. Like airlines do it.

Next you can be sure that trade show visitors will takes photos of your booth to next share them via Instagram or Facebook. Take advantage of that and create a stunning piece of on-site entertainment so people will take photos and share your stand + brand.

Use augmented reality or QR-codes to deliver the best possible on-site experience. Or use mobile for educational purposes like a quiz or test around your stand.

Create a mobile App with which users can get more info about your brand and products. Very handy if your stand is crowded. Or use your mobile App to guide trade show visitors through the building and offer them a content schedule with events.

One thing is sure, once on the trade show, mobile will be your connection point and SoLoMo power tool.

What About You?

How would you integrate social and mobile marketing around your trade show? I’d love to read your ideas in the comments below.

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Want more stories on breaking with the status quo? Browse our category Remarkable & Gossip, follow Igor Beuker on Twitter, grab our RSS Feed, join our Facebook movement or subscribe to our weekly e-mail newsletter.

About the Author
Igor Beuker was CMO at 3 listed companies, chairman at the IAB, jury member at Webby, AMMA and Esprix awards, founder of 3 digital agencies (sold to WPP) and global chief social officer at Mindshare. Now he is ‘freejack’ consultant and a sought after keynote speaker.

Source: Web Success Team Blog.

 

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