The process of planning and preparation will undoubtedly change for events after coronavirus quarantine measures. Disease prevention measures will be implemented not only for the trade show attendees, but also for booth and facility staffs. Public health concerns will be top of mind for anyone attending large gatherings. Enacting socially responsible operations will set companies apart from each other in the minds of potential customers. While event organizers will develop actions for every exhibitor and attendee to take, exhibiting companies should take as many additional actions as possible to ease any fears. Here are five health and safety strategies your trade show marketing team can implement to prepare for conferences and trade shows in a post-COVID-19 environment.

Send Branded Face Masks to Attendees Prior to the Event

Face mask have taken on a dual purpose as both a recommended safety precaution and fashion statement. Sales of personalized masks have exploded on-line and trade show suppliers have started offering branded masks due to the high demand. While handing out masks at the event is a logical step, companies can go one step further in building relationships with current and potential customers by providing masks before a trade show.

A common tactic of trade show marketers is to perform outreach to event attendees and remain in contact with them leading up to the event. A great way to make a lasting impression is to send packages of branded face masks for use during the trade show. Attendees will make plans to get masks before the trade show; the free convenience will go a long way with potential and current clients.

Place Hand Sanitizer Dispenser Branded Stands in Booth Area

It goes without saying that we can expect hand sanitizer dispensers to be everywhere in public places and events after Covid-19 risks has lessened. Companies will be putting in place health regulations and policies that should extend to all events and activities outside office buildings and headquarters. While in-office sanitation stations can be branded or unbranded, any health safety supplies outside of the office should include some type of promotional branding.

A smart cost-saving strategy for businesses would be to buy branded hand sanitizer dispenser stands in bulk and distribute them throughout office floors and to events as needed. Trade show marketing teams would not need to worry about procuring them ahead of time, as the exhibiting company would already have plenty in stock and ready to go. Taking sanitation precautions will be an absolutely vital practice to ease public health concerns while doing business and keeping extra hand sanitizer dispenser stands on hand will make that task easier.

Practice Social Distancing Measures

Despite attending large events, people will still be practicing social distancing methods out of concern for their health. Companies should do their best to make the practice as easy as possible for their current and potential clients. Taking stock of attendee concerns prior to a trade show in terms of their schedules and health concerns will help teams plan their sales strategy. A tip is to offer an abundance of meeting opportunities outside of the official event activities This will keep the amount of people at your booth to a minimum.

This strategy is especially helpful when engaging with current customers; fostering goodwill by prioritizing their safety will help sales team maintain great business relationships. For new clients, trade show staff can work to schedule meetings with their booth attendees outside of the crowded exhibit floor. Teams could also plan to be in the trade show host city for an extended amount of time to allow for more meeting opportunities. The hotel industry is one of the most health safety cautious industries in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and companies can express concern for the safety of their employees while traveling by recommending prevention methods and curfews.

Utilize QR Codes

Posting QR codes for scanning at trade shows is not a new method of information sharing. The small, square printed graphics are meant to be decoded by smartphones to reveal promotional codes, contact information, and websites. However, they provide a great contactless way to pass on the contact information for a sales team member instead of passing out business cards. Companies can save both printing costs and prevent the spread of germs by bypassing the provision of business cards to their employees for events after coronavirus. QR codes can be printed on any trade show display and in any location, which offer a quick and health-conscious way for attendees to gather a company information on products, services, and team members.

Clean Event Displays and Counters Regularly

Actions speak louder than words, and one of the best ways for trade show exhibitors to take actions against the spread of coronavirus or any other illness is to ensure their booth remains sanitized. Companies should provide their staff with plenty of cleaning supplies, including disinfectant sprays and wipes. Instructions should be provided to trade show staffs to regularly clean the entire display area at designated time increments, such as every 30 minutes. This will not only demonstrate social responsibility and a value for public health but will also ease the minds of exhibit attendees.

Planning events after coronavirus will require companies to look at their entire sales strategy and work to implement public health safety measures in all activities. Both employees and attendees will benefit from sanitation efforts and the peace of mind those efforts provide. Companies need to take these tactics seriously because Covid-19 prevention and public health are everyone’s business.

Don’t Let COVID-19 Stall Your Event Marketing Goals in 2020

While the world anxiously awaits the opening up of the economy after the threat of COVID-19 lowers, it is likely those waiting for large attendee events will have to wait even longer. Experts predict a steady approach to getting people back to work, but concerts, sporting events, trade shows, along with any large gathering, will be the last to fall into place. Many companies large and small rely on trade shows year-round to pursue potential clients, engage existing customers, roll-out new products, and reinforce their brand messaging. The global workforce has shifted operations to adjust to the “new normal” and marketers have an opportunity to use the same exhibit displays in what will soon become their most valuable selling arena — their own offices. Below are some great ways marketing teams can translate the advertising power of a trade show strategy to an in-office strategy.

Custom Exhibit House Displays 

Exhibit house design firms that produce the large, impressive custom display booths that draw crowds at trade shows have the same capability to bring that wow factor to any location. Creativity is unlimited with experienced exhibit houses known for working with Fortune 500 brands to create completely original booth layouts can certainly transfer those skills from portable structures to permanent installations. From counters to shelving to 10ft display walls, custom interior fabrications are a perfect solution for businesses in any industry.

LED Light Box Display Installation

Backlit displays have steadily become the standard at trade shows as manufacturers continue to make better and cheaper options. The use of backlighting can draw attention to targeted areas and highlight brand messages. The LED lights used in the displays last years, making them great options for interior installations meant for long-term use. The premium dye-sublimation fabric graphics can be created for any size frames and are easily interchangeable, making switching up graphics for new products, sales initiatives, or visitor-specific messaging an easy task. A professionally installed light box sign in a corporate lobby can fill up empty wall space with modern, attractive promotional decor.

Digital Display Screen Incorporation

Along with static branding printed on graphics and display elements, monitors can easily be added to any section of the installations to add dynamic media like videos, live streams, and presentations. Digital assets are important components of a marketing strategy and incorporating them into exhibit displays is a common practice. The use of monitors and tablets translates well in an office environment, especially when placed in waiting areas. Touchscreen monitors and tablets with interactive elements that guide visitors through educational or promotional content can be set into wall displays or sturdy kiosks. Companies with excellent social media presence can cast a stream of their online engagement and encourage visitors to interact with their profiles long after they have left the office building.

Unique Trade Show Experience In-House

With permanent office installations businesses can mimic highly customized and unique trade show experiences they use in their exhibit marketing strategy. Entrances can be configured to lead visitors through a museum-like experience with history, content, and product demonstrations on their way to the reception desk. A setup like this will make striking first impression and assist a sales team by giving potential clients plenty of background information on services and products before a meeting begins. Dynamic and interactive exhibit experiences can transport trade show attendees from a crowded event to a dedicated area where they can focus their attention solely on the company’s message. Extraordinary designs, such as a landscaping company integrating a live garden into 20ft x 50ft exhibit displays or an appliance company constructing a fully decorated kitchen in their convention hall space, can always be adapted to fit into corporate offices and dazzle guests.

The continued uncertainty caused by COVID-19 should be viewed by marketing teams as an opportunity to challenge themselves and switch up their strategies. When businesses resume to regular operations it is likely that large events will still be on hold until 2021. However, missing trade shows does not mean companies should put their sales and marketing efforts on hold. The right custom exhibit house design agency can provide guidance on how a permanent office display installation can fill the void of in-person exhibitions and keep business moving in new, unexpected ways.

There are many reasons to attend a trade show in your industry. Not only does it get your brand name “out there” and in front of potential clients, but you’ll also learn from the other vendors. There is a sort of camaraderie at trade shows that you won’t find elsewhere. While your competition might also have a presence, it doesn’t mean you won’t also make valuable connections and learn how to present your business even better.

If you’re just getting your trade show marketing rolling and trying to convince your boss or client of the value of trade shows, point out that while it costs only $142 for a face-to-face meeting with a prospective client, it costs $259 for a meeting in that lead’s office. Not only do you have the opportunity to meet new potential clients at trade shows, but the cost of gaining a new client is also lower.

Once you’ve decided to leap into the trade show arena, you’ll want to ensure your booth is the absolute best it can be. There are eight distinct things you can do to brand your business at a trade show and beyond.

 

1. Grab Their Attention

The number of booths at a trade show varies. Some of the largest events may have hundreds of exhibitors, but some of the smaller ones may have under 50. No matter how many other booths there are, you have to grab attendees’ attention if you want them to stop by your booth. Bright colors, an excellent location and beautiful signage are all keys to success.

What can you do? Start by thinking about how your signs look from a distance as well as up close. You should reach people from a variety of positions.

 

2. Train Your Staff

Studies show that about 85 percent of the success of an exhibitor directly ties back to the way the staff performs. Take the time to train anyone staffing your booth thoroughly. They should be as passionate about your business as you are and able to answer any questions prospective clients have. The way you approach attendees may vary depending on the personality of your brand, but everyone on the staff should have a similar approach to customers stopping by the booth.

Conduct many training sessions before the event arrives. While it isn’t good just to have a memorized spiel — it’s potentially off-putting to people if it sounds rehearsed — it is good to have staff learn the full facts about your products, your services and your company. Ideally, booth staff should also wear the same uniforms so they are easy to identify. A uniform might be as simple as a company shirt and black slacks.

 

3. Stay in the Consumer’s Mind

One key to gaining traction from a trade show is finding ways to make your brand memorable. It’s good to stay in the consumer’s mind, but you don’t want it to be because you’re overly pushy. Hand out promotional items. About 85 percent of those who receive a free promotional item view the brand in a positive light. If you give them a product they’ll use frequently, they’re likely to think of your brand each time they use the product.

 

4. Make Your Booth Interactive

If you want to pull attendees into your booth, find a way to make it fun and interactive. They are also more likely to remember your brand if they had a great time visiting your booth. Make sure what you put in place matches your brand. For example, if you sell golf clubs, setting up a putting green and letting people try out your putters is an excellent idea. If you sell website services to businesses, the putting green doesn’t make sense for your booth.

Find something that puts your product or service in the hands of event attendees and shows them why you’re the best in your industry.

 

5. Integrate With Technology

We live in a mobile technology world. About 95 percent of Americans own a cell phone and 77 percent own smartphones. As people pass by your booth, they are likely to have a mobile device in their hands or pockets. You can use this to your advantage and reach them on a technological level.

Use signage to tell them about an app they can download. Create a hashtag for your event and encourage photo ops in your booth. When you think of unique ways to integrate with their smartphones, you’ll reach them “in person” now, reach their online social media followers and feeds later, and generally remind them who you are and what you do.

 

6. Run a Contest

A contest allows you to give one of your cool products away to a potential customer. It also gives you an opportunity to collect contact information from people who are interested in what you have to offer.

The smartest tactic is to offer one of your products or a service package as the contest prize. If you just offer something generic like a vacation, and you aren’t a vacation planner, then you’ll get entries from everyone. Instead, you want entries from your target demographic. Make sure the prize is something people in your chosen audience would want.

 

7. Don’t Be Afraid of the Competition

Don’t be afraid of the competition at a trade show. See the event as an opportunity to scope out what your competition is doing well and what they might be missing. There may be gaps you can fill that your competition hasn’t thought of. You also have an opportunity to set yourself apart with anyone who stops by your booth.

Around 91 percent of event attendees state that trade shows influence their buying decisions by letting them comparison shop between similar companies.

 

8. Follow Up Right Away

Once the event is over, demonstrate your excellent customer outreach skills by contacting the leads you’ve connected with. A simple email, a postcard or even a phone call goes a long way toward securing your brand in the mind of the consumer and showing that you care about gaining their business. A little extra effort here results in additional customers you otherwise might not reach.

 

Trade Shows Are Worth Your Time

Trade shows are worth the time and cost if you approach them strategically. Train your staff, create an eye-catching booth and understand that the goal isn’t always to land a customer at that moment. Instead, the result you’re aiming for is to make connections that lead to lifelong customers down the line.

 

About the Author:

Lexie Lu is a web designer and UX strategist. Her work is featured on Marketo, Manta, Creative Bloq and Design Roast. Follow her on Twitter @lexieludesigner.  

 

 

 

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When you have a trade show display, you need to make every square inch count, because you don’t get that many of them. Ten feet by ten feet, that’s all you get. Possibly twenty by twenty feet, if your company is willing to shell out the big booth space rental bucks. In a sea of trade show displays, it can be a struggle to stand out and get noticed by prospects, especially when your brand is only visible inside a limited floor space.

If business professionals want to really stand out, they can’t simply adjust one or two things here and there, they need to reframe how they approach common problems. So, what if, instead of a mere hundred square feet, you had access to the whole showroom? That is exactly the kind of capability drones provide you at a trade show. When the ground is full, look to the air. Trade Show Drones provide a unique way of overcoming space limitations, as well as shattering the old way of doing things. Drones are unmanned arial gadgets that capture real-time views of conference meeting and convention hall space. 

Drone technology provide professionals with a new dynamic in treading the trade show waves. Drones provide unparalleled digital advertising opportunities, innovative access to customer data, and that special “wow” factor tech marketers are always chasing. Event drones can also help with exhibition hall logistical issues. How many times have you dealt with show services (union labor or show decorator) misplacing, losing or delaying your display booth delivery? Convention halls get extremely messy during show move-in dates. Aerial drones can be used to locate packages and trade show crates by searching aisles and storage areas. 

 

 

The uses for trade show drones at exhibitions, conferences and outdoor events are limited only by the the pilot’s imagination. The most straightforward use is creating a moving billboard advertisement. Instead of stationary free-standing signage at the booth, exhibitors are using pairs of drones to fly billboards through the convention hall, taking the advertising to their customers. Since humans are normally drawn to movement, and drones are new enough to still be a novelty, this is a great way to grab eyes. While there are prototypes for digital billboards retailing for upwards of $20,000, drones can modernize traditional printed banners for a much more reasonable cost.

Exhibition drones also provide marketers an exciting new way of garnering consumer and prospect data. Drones are already being put to use by municipal authorities for crowd monitoring and control, and marketers should take notice. Gone are the days of roaming the convention hall floor guesstimating the size of competitor crowds and intuiting what is working and what isn’t. In mere seconds, a drone can provide a real time, bird’s-eye view of a trade show audience. This innovative technology enables marketer to see exactly where the crowd is drawn and how long they linger within a particular location. Drone software provides an exceptional way to capture and analyze data about the quality of specific exhibiting campaign tactics. Using data analysis software tools, companies can turn previously qualitative, intuitive insights gleaned at trade shows into quantitative data and integrate it into their overall marketing strategy.

Perhaps the most humanistic benefit to using drones as advertising tools is the fun factor they provide. Trade show drones are a unique novelty and really quite amusing. Marketers that invest in this technology now will get the infamous “early-mover” bonus. One does not have to be a marketing guru or “growth hacker” to imagine show displays making use of the interactive nature of drones.

Whether it is as simple as hovering it a few inches off the ground, or as monumental as virtually allowing participants to soar through the host city while standing within a ten by ten foot booth space, drones foster attendee engagement. All of this interaction and attention, influences more visitors to engage with sales representatives.

There has never been a better time to bring trade show drones and other exhibition booth technology into your overall marketing plan. If properly integrated, trade shows are a great way to show customers, employees, and stakeholders how much energy and goodwill your company offers. When an innovative company makes strides to rise above the competition, it can create a valuable positive impression. Drone technology isn’t the end-all-be-all but with the right people and strategy in place, drones can take advertising campaigns to the next level. 

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One of the best ways to create a positive and memorable experience for attendees at your corporate events is to serve free freshly brewed quality coffee. In addition to giving attendees a welcome boost of energy in a mug, by properly brewing and serving the highest quality coffee, your guests feel value that creates a positive association with your event. Below are 10 reasons why you should forego the standard convention center snack fare and make free, Starbucks level premium coffee options part of your corporate catering plan.

 

#1 – Coffee Wakes Everyone Up

What better way to ensure an alert audience than a dose of morning caffeine? A five-star cup of coffee is something participants can enjoy, that will also help event attendees stay alert and energized on your agenda. 

 

#2 – Participants Don’t Need to Search for Coffee 

Tracking down refreshments in a massive exhibit hall can be a daunting task for weary conference attendees that have been on their feet for hours. Save event participants time and energy by hiring an external local vendor who uses a mobile cart to serve coffee to guests. Promote your vendor’s location with floor stand signs and announcements to make everyone aware of the free barista location!

 

#3 – Customized Service from a Barista 

There is a big difference between basic convention hall self-serve stations and a made-to-order cup of tasty transcendent coffee from a locally brewed supplier. Make your guests feel valued by hiring an experienced barista to serve your guests as if they were at your city’s top local coffeehouse. Creating ways to enhance your guest experience will help solidify a positive vibe association with your event, conference or trade show. 

 

#4 – Control Service Schedule 

When serving the standard “prison coffee” commonly provided for free by convention halls and most conference centers, you are often at the mercy of their staff’s service schedule, and may not be able to provide coffee at all times. By hiring an external coffee vendor, you can dictate when and where all coffee is served.

 

#5 – Attendees Can Tell the Difference 

Seasoned coffee drinkers are familiar with enduring the low-grade coffee typically stocked by exhibit halls and convention centers. Not only will they be pleasantly surprised, but they will appreciate your efforts to accommodate their preferences.

 

#6 – Promote Your Brand 

A key benefit of enlisting the service of an external premium quality coffee vendor is the ability to use customized cups and promotional mugs to advertise your brand. In most cases, you can simply send a high-resolution copy of your logo to your preferred catering vendor, and they’ll manage the digital screen printing process. 

 

#7 – Create a Positive Impression of Your Events 

When you serve premium select coffee, your event will be remembered and reflected on by your guests, unlike typical corporate events that provide nothing of value to their guests year after year. Simple event planning innovations like professional top-shelf quality coffee services and other hospitality improvements, will create more positive experience’s for your guests and higher guest retention rates. Showing guests that your event hospitality team goes the extra mile, means attendees are likely to leave with a favorable opinion of your event.

 

#8 – Options for Non-Coffee Drinkers 

In contrast to standard options provided by exhibit halls and other corporate venues, mobile coffee baristas often also include hot chocolate and a handful of healthy tea options, in addition to their five star coffee selection. This is a welcome change for non-coffee drinking attendees who long for a fresh, hot beverage.

 

#9 – Better Dairy Selection 

The dairy (or non-dairy) selection that is served to accompany coffee is a critical part of the refreshment experience. By seeking the services of a professional local coffee vendor, you can typically choose from a wide variety of coffee additions, such as skim milk, half-and-half or soy milk.

 

#10 – Eliminate Hidden Costs 

The absence of any hidden costs is a key advantage of enlisting the services of an external coffee vendor. Top-notch external coffee vendors do not charge additional fees for extras, like flavored syrups or double shots, and offer an all-inclusive type of service.

 

Clearly, there are many reasons to bypass the low-quality exhibit hall fare in favor of premium coffee options. If you are an individual exhibitor and show coordinators are not offering better coffee, the above benefits still apply to show-site trade show marketing. Serving quality coffee will boost traffic to your own 10×10 trade show booth! Whether you are searching for a way to keep attendees focused on your presentation or simply want to create a positive experience for your guests to remember, utilizing great coffee is a superb solution. 

 

 

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The marketing value of exhibiting at trade shows relies heavily exhibit booth attendance. Event marketing teams can still rely on design trends like brand illumination using backlit displays, effective promotional items, and proper pre-show email marketing campaigns to increase exhibition hall traffic. However, implementing these 4 new strategies before your next show could pay off by dramatically increasing foot traffic to your company’s exhibitor booth!

Provide Free Transportation With UberEvents

 

UberEvents allows event organizers and exhibitors to purchase prepaid rides for show attendees. Incentivize your clients and interested prospects that are making an effort to visit your trade show booth space by helping them save on transportation. UberEvents makes it easy to create reserved rides for event guests by generating a free ride code. Exhibitors can set-up one code for all selected guests, or individual ride codes that are specific to individual exhibition attendees. The codes can be programmed to only allow free transportation to and from the event or trade show. Providing your visiting clients and attendee prospects with free scheduled transportation, is a unique and modern event marketing strategy available to exhibiting companies. Prepaid scheduled transportation will help increase exhibit booth attendance, as well as improve your client’s overall show experience and brand loyalty.

Utilize Virtual Reality Technology

 

Virtual reality is constantly improving, and the technology is new enough to draw a crowd of curious trade show guests. However, it offers more than just entertainment value. VR can save a company thousands of dollars on prototype production, instead programming their VR headsets to allow consumers to experience new products virtually. Virtual reality gives event marketers an opportunity never before available; the ability to take booth attendees out of the convention hall and transport them into another location. The possibilities are, quite literally, endless. Trade show guests can examine the handiwork of homebuilders, see a medical device at work inside a human body, or travel to exotic vacation destinations, all within a company’s trade show space.

Create a Unique Experience

 

With so many innovative trade show products on the market, 2018 is the year to think outside the box for exhibit booth design. Trade show furniture of the past was either heavy and expensive, or cheaply built and uncomfortable. But now, exhibitors have the option of foam furniture with printable zip covers that are easy to transport and set-up! Design a comfortable lounge area that show visitors will want to hang out in, with couches and phone-charging coffee tables. A set-up like that is more inviting than the standard display backdrop and counter combo. Add unexpected small details, like plants or table lamps, to make your trade show booth memorable. Give your show guests a good reason to stay, and your exhibit booth attendance will naturally increase. In addition, exhibitors that take the time to create an inviting trade show display that features and “escape” layout, will motivate their guests to learn and retain more information about that exhibitor’s products and services.

Social Media Engagement Campaigns

 

Leading up to your trade show, begin interacting with your company’s social media followers on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Many marketing teams make the mistake of only posting self-serving content. They should also be responding to and communicating with real consumers. Introduce a unique hashtag specific to your event for attendees. They can easily follow updates and conversations about what to expect from your exhibition booth from the hashtag. If used the right way, social media can be an inexpensive way to stir up interest for your next event. The more approachable a company’s brand online, the more approachable their booth staff! You can also encourage attendees to post about the event before, during, and after the trade show by introducing a social media contest or giveaway.

It’s important for trade show marketing teams to continually revamp their tactics, keeping existing and potential clients both interested, and invested, in their brand. What new concepts will you be integrating into your exhibit booth layout plans this year?

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It’s that time of year when exhibit marketing teams are starting to plan and budget for 2018.  Whether this means a complete overhaul of display inventory or updating elements, event teams should consider eye-catching innovative products that will grab attendees’ attention. Below are some of the best ways that companies can update their trade show booth in 2018!

Digital Signage

Digital signage offers companies the ability to create an interactive experience at trade shows. Not only will brand messaging come to life, but digital signage allows customization, such as touch screen displays, video capabilities and the ability to utilize QR codes. These capabilities provide an opportunity for marketing teams to seamlessly integrate data collection into a trade show booth design. The information gathered from attendees helps to better qualify warm leads for post-show follow-up. Companies can include videos showcasing how new products or prototypes work, making it easier for the audience to conceptualize innovations. Digital signage can also be utilized for in-office sales presentations between trade shows.

Backlit Displays and Accessories

Backlit displays and LED light accessories are proving to be a continuing exhibit design trend. LED illuminated portable displays provide a bright and inviting experience for attendees, compared to dark, drab non-backlit displays. Backlit accessories, such as light box counters and center towers, pair perfectly with backlit trade show displays for a cohesive exhibit style. With the correct usage of light, a company can illuminate certain aspects of their sign structure that will attract their target audiences. Not only does backlighting take display graphics to the next level, it also makes the brand’s imagery brighter and more recognizable. An excellent way of utilizing backlit displays is to highlight high resolution creative campaign images on a large scale. Large LED backlit sign walls create brand visibility from afar, attracting attention from every angle on the exhibition floor.

 

Charging Stations

Charging stations are strategic trade show accessories that will attract traffic, while also keeping potential clients at a booth space for an extended period of time. They offer the audience a service that is in high demand at trade shows. While attendees wait for their phones to charge, the sales staff has the opportunity to engage in meaningful selling conversations. A short attention span is common at trade shows. Therefore, charging stations are paramount to retaining the interest of booth visitors. This provides a mutually beneficial relationship for both the company and the audience. Advertising event charging capability for iPhone users would perform well for a company that specializes in iPhone compatible technology and apps.

Furniture and Flooring

A great way to create a real-life experience for the audience is to implement lounge furniture and attractive expo flooring into a trade show booth.  If space allows, this can turn selling a product into creating relationships with customers that impact buying decisions. Creating a fun and welcoming environment for attendees also allows them to escape the madness of a trade show. Spaces can be created to align with the company’s brand and mood.  For example, a start-up technology company could create a mood of inspiration and innovation by including modern furniture in a clean and open space.  In contrast, a company specializing in outdoor technology equipment would provide a space that is warm and inviting by including wooden furniture and darker colors.

 

Interactive Technology

Interactive technology can be extremely helpful in a trade show setting.  Not only can it keep the audience occupied if the staff is busy, but it also helps facilitate traffic flow to avoid a chance of awkwardness. Virtual reality is one great way of utilizing cutting-edge technology.  Virtual reality, whether presented as games or product demos, can virtually demonstrate a company’s product and allow the audience to walk away with a memorable experience. Plus, they add a fun element to an exhibit booth that will delight the audience. By including a virtual reality headset or game, a company can increase their booth traffic and become a more memorable.

 

Social Media

While some of these trade show display ideas are trending in the industry, they will not be fleeting. In recent years, social media integration has been trending. But, it’s important to focus on the human aspect that trade shows and events offer. Social media fosters engagement with consumers when face-to-face communication isn’t possible, but exhibitions are the time to prioritize offline engagement. A good way to utilize social media is to create posts that drive the audience to your booth. For example, including location, photos, and even the possibility of awards for visiting your trade show space. These posts will entice the audience at the venue to come to the booth and check out the company.

Trade shows are about creating an experience for the audience and getting exposure for the company.  The audience should walk out of the trade show with a new vision and excitement for the companies they experienced. Whether the eye-catching element be a trendy SEG light box wall design, modern event booth furniture, or integrating trade show drone technology, these booth boosters for 2018 will attract the audience to the booth and create a successful trade show experience.

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As the famous saying goes, “first impressions last”, and trade show marketing strategies focus on creating a significant first impression. Each year, evolving technology influences event display trends. In recent years, exhibitors have begun replacing traditional billboard-style advertising with digital products like touchscreens and virtual reality. However, backlit signage product innovations are influencing the majority of improvements exhibitors are making to their outdated booth designs. In 2017, backlit trade show displays are more accessible and affordable than ever before!

 

 

Affordable LED  Light Box Displays

 

The most popular backlit signage products in exhibition booth design are LED light box display kits. LED edge-lighting provides ample graphic panel illumination for powerful, vibrant brand marketing. Trade show industry manufacturers are continuously releasing new LED products that are affordable for all trade show marketing budgets. Many portable displays featuring backlit light strip systems are made ready-to-ship, with all LED lights pre-installed along the inside of the aluminum display frames. Modular Edge-Lit Light Box Displays can be purchased as hardware only kits, or as complete “ready-to-exhibit” backlit signage display kits. These kits include custom-printed SEG fabric mural graphics and often qualify for FREE standard domestic UPS delivery. One of our best-selling LED modular products are frameless modular light box walls.

 

 

The sleek hardware, combined with seamless fabric SEG graphic murals, creates a frameless backlit wall that provides optimal graphic surface area. Modular display frames also have many user-friendly advantages compared to complicated, heavy, and outdated exhibit truss frames. Although truss structures are an effective solution in large arenas and at concerts to hold heavy stage equipment, they are not efficient for frequent transportation. Luckily for exhibitors with packed trade show schedules, modular backlit signage is much more manageable. It’s unlikely a trade show team needs to waste marketing dollars on heavy framework and out-of-style laminate panels.

 

 

In addition to affordability, environmentally conscious companies have a variety of eco-friendly options with modern backlit signage. LED light box products require minimal energy to power and are made with recycled materials. The lightweight aluminum frames, will dramatically lower freight fuel consumption, as well as costs. Low-voltage LED lighting requires less electrical wattage than traditional lighting systems, such as fluorescent or halogen spot lighting. Backlit SEG fabric graphics are a green printing alternative to traditional printing on heavy substrates, such as sintra and styrene.

 

 

 

 

SEG Backlit Fabric Pop-Up Displays

 

Pop-up trade show displays are ideal for exhibitors that desire a quick and easy set-up process. However, it wasn’t until recently that internal illumination and SEG fabrics were an option for the popular display style. In 2017, Indy Displays added the new display enhancement feature, LED ladder light panels. The ladder LED lighting system hangs in the center of pop-up displays, illuminating the display wall just like the modular LED systems with edge-lit frames. Channel frames are attached to the perimeter of the pop-up display and seamless SEG fabric mural can be installed.

 

Ladder panels eliminate any possible graphic shadowing problems, or “hot spotting”, by providing an ample amount of LED hanging strips that are enclosed by SEG fabric panels, leaving exhibitors with even better, brighter and more vibrant graphic color illumination than the industry has ever seen before! View our new Indy Displays exclusive SEG Hybrid LED Backlit Pop Up Display product line, currently the only backlit pop up display system in North America that features the ultra-premium LED ladder light panel graphic illumination! The user-friendly SEG fabric murals fold easily and pack into portable trade show cases with the frames. What makes our SEG Backlit Pop Up Booth so unique and exciting, is the affordable online pricing. Marketing teams with both large and small budgets now have the option to enhance their ordinary booth space with a our next generation backlit trade show booth!

 

 

 

Unique & Custom Light Box Structures

 

Most modern aluminum modular booth designs include as much open walkable space as possible. However, recent larger booth space design trends include fully enclosed printed backlit ceiling panels that maximize branding space. Large, custom-built LED backlit structures produce vibrant imagery that’s  visible from hundreds of feet away. Indy Displays can fully customize large exhibit structures and semi customize our large modular trade show rental booth packages. modern exhibit layout design consisting of  can be found in even your standard 10′ x 10′ trade show booth.

 

 

 

For an exhibition floor “wow factor”, integrate our modular LED hanging signs into booth layouts. Most common light box hanging sign aluminum frame shapes include fully enclosed square cubes, circular frames and rectangular. LED illuminated graphics suspended fifteen feet in the air have become a unique niche branding strategy.

LED backlit sign banners are commonly placed in the front of an inline booth layout or near the island exhibit corner booth areas. Bright, eye-catching graphics placed near high traffic areas help attract attention from show attendees. Trade show traffic flow changes throughout the day and  marketing teams must understand attendee behavior to optimize ROI. For simple quick layout tweaks and display stand relocation, check out our cord free Lumos Wireless LED Rechargeable Light Towers! Lumos is a truly unique backlit stand that provides illumination without the headache of wire management. 

 

 

Trade Show Backlit Signage Displays

 

This industry wide backlit signage trend has inspired many new branding strategies. For example, LED lighting has earned its place as a growing contemporary interior design trend. Designers incorporate custom modular graphic panels into front lobbies, conference rooms and hallways by using interior wall mounted LED light box display frames. 

Backlit Displays will continue to be one of the largest display booth design trends and an effective product branding strategy for both large and small expo marketing teams. With more innovative and affordable backlit trade show display options hitting the exhibition market each month, backlit trade show displays will soon move from being a marketing trend, to being a marketing staple.

 

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Designed specifically for retail,  exhibition environments and showroom floors, the wireless Lumos light towers are an original concept in illuminated portable signage, providing the ability to attract attention combined with user friendly assembly and portability. With the ability to be completely wireless while illuminating interchangeable graphics, makes lumos light tower displays attractive to not only trade show exhibitors, but all marketers that appreciate convenience. Using the latest LED technology, including RGB color enhancements; the Lumos Light Tower Display offers true flexibility.

Lumos Wireless Capability Solves Common Electrical Booth Issues

An often neglected key to success in exhibiting, is to garner more visitors by drawing them in to your booth space, and then proceeding to mesmerize them with stellar promotional efforts. The only problem is it can take a great deal of time and resources to create displays and signage that mesmerize, without sacrificing simplicity and practicality. The Lumos Wireless Feature solves this issue. For this first time, exhibitors can utilize the power of LED backlit displays, without the headache of accessing and paying for power supply.

Lumos Light LED Graphics Illuminate Booth Spaces

The Lumos is essentially a round pillar-like structure with one long LED strip of vibrant light attached to an inner pole, lending their lighting capacities to create a bright and luminous effect. The Lumos Light Towers come in a fixed 12.4inch width and have heights ranging from 37.5” to 85.7”. A mini counter and midi double-tower are also available. Use a combination of light tower heights as shown below to create an illuminated booth display unmatched by your competition.

These recharging LED portable sign stands feature portable low-profile circular hardware and internal LED “edge-lit” light strip graphic illumination. Wireless technology allows effortless backlit banner relocation within a booth floor space, retail store or anywhere that instant backlit brand promotion is desired. User-friendly hardware and eco-friendly LED lighting, are two reasons the sign and expo industry continue to see backlit signage trends growing at a rapid rate! LED brand illumination simply attracts more eyes and enhances the consumer experience.

As mentioned before, Lumos offers simple 1-person setup. First, place the inner pole in position by snapping the joints together. The second step involves graphic installation. The full color printed graphic film cover needs to be simply placed around the tower’s bottom base. Once the graphic panel is in place, easily secure it with the provided magnets. Then, enclose the light tower using the circular disc top cover and simply turn on the unit by either using the standard power cord connection or illuminate your Lumos LED tower wirelessly by turning on the pre-installed rechargeable battery! Once the low-voltage LED light strip illuminates, watch the tower instantly display vibrant and very bright illuminated graphics. An additional accessory that’s included with your LED tower display is the an RGB color-changing remote. The Lumos RGB remote provides a multicolor effect. See our RGB graphic cover illumination example below!

Lumos Light Tower Displays Integration

The classic yet contemporary design of the wireless LED sign towers mean that they are easy to blend into any style or theme for your trade show booth design or retail environment. Currently available in a matte white, the trade show tower display can be customized with creative artwork that is printed on a translucent glossy film that is held together by magnetic tape. Take advantage of the translucency of the artwork film and design graphics which have a play on the seeping light for an interesting effect. The addition of a heavy white base ensures that the tower is stable and anchored to the ground. Power wise, the Lumos has an AC adapter that comes with the set, but also has a built in 14-hour cycle rechargeable battery, making Lumos the only wireless graphic light tower on the market today. Within the wireless rechargeable Lumos tower hardware is a long LED center light strip that is strong enough to brighten the entire structure, producing 100% equal light distribution throughout the entire light box. Lumos light tower displays are geared mostly for indoor usage, and works best in after-dark events or venues with dim lighting.

In all aspects, the Lumos tower is a simple, fun and cost-effective way to add a little more sparkle to the overall look of a tradeshow space. If you are still in the planning stages or already have a booth set-up, why not try these lighting features are sure to grab the attention of people today?

Visit IndyDisplays.com for more information on Lumos Light Towers along with a full catalog of the latest backlit trade show display designs and more. CHAT LIVE now or call 317-565-2255 to speak with an exhibit consultant today.

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The digital movement continues to have an enormous impact on outbound marketing strategies, including trade shows, events and conventions. Previously, expo marketing teams used to only concern themselves with strategies for face-to-face interaction. Technology has now given marketing professionals the ability to reach their target audience simultaneously, manage their sales or marketing pitch throughout the show effectively, and measure the overall effectiveness of their trade show marketing campaign more accurately. Get in sync and modernize your trade show displays with these 5 digital trends for trade shows:

Build Hype Online

Yes, the actual trade show booth design is the main draw, and there is no denying that building strong hype leading up to the event will create awareness and elevate the experience for attendees. Exhibitors never fail to inform their target audience of their own participation through personalized email marketing, appropriate website banner advertising, traditional press releases and definitely through social media outlets. For B2B social media marketing, your top performing channels will usually be Linkedin and Twitter. However, Facebook and Instagram are much more than just trends these days. Social media marketing has grown tremendously in just the past couple years, making online social marketing campaigns more often than not, very lucrative for the B2B marketing outlets with image and video marketing quickly becoming as equally important as blogging and other forms of traditional digital marketing. B2B promotional video marketing (as long as the content makes sense for your audience) has become very popular in the past 2 years. For a more extensive approach, event team managers can tap into many vendor resources who specialize in traditional (old school) face-to-face marketing. However, many event managers and expo marketers are embracing the power of collecting “Big Data” on each customer and prospect, through social media marketing campaigns that deliver tailored personalized experiences. Companies now analyze social media data in order to collect valuable user insights, allowing them to fine-tune their targeting to create engaging content that resonates deeply with their target audience, gaining the engagement and ROI boost they’re looking for.

Tech Accessories as Promotional Products

Door gifts for attendees are a staple in trade show marketing trends. The power of leaving attendees with functional mementos is widely recognised and utilised, and tech accessories seem like the perfect choice. It could be something as simple as a plastic cable winder or a power bank. The trick lies in finding the right product that fits the brand and message you want to bring across to the recipient. On the whole though, well-made modern tech products are seen as inherently valuable and useful by most, thus making them a viable choice.

Cell Phone Charging Stations/Kiosks

With cell phones come the constant need to keep them full of power at all times. Portable cell phone charging trade show kiosks have thus made a much needed emergence in the trade show repertoire. Attendees will heave a sigh of relief when a charging kiosk comes to the rescue just as their phone’s or tablet’s battery is running out. If your branding is all over the display booth kiosk, the attendee could positively associate your brand as a helpful and ever-ready one. They might even refer their friends or colleagues to your life-saving charging station, which in turn means more visitors to your exhibit. Cell phone charging stations are now available as portable kiosks, meeting tables and branded coffee tables.

Some aluminum and laminate modular kiosks can be utilized even in small booth spaces as an accessory combination to 10′ x 10′ Displays. Smart event marketers understand the value of purchasing a portable display system that’s versatile and can seamlessly integrate into a standard display booth layout or can reconfigure or resize to create a fresh look for each exhibition. Modern versatility that modular expo hardware features, allows the guest attendee to easily setup a unique and engaging exhibit layout no matter the floor space size given to them.

Custom Mobile Apps for Attendees

Another burgeoning trend brought about by cell phones are mobile apps built specifically for trade shows, expos and conventions, such as GuideBook. This handy event management tool allows users to easily create apps for events, conferences, trade shows and meetings. Marketers like using Guidebook because of it’s user-first app building platform. Exhibitors can provide event agendas, send push messages to and even gather live feedback from attendees on the trade show event. The versatility of mobile application programming means that the app can help you achieve specific targets and obtain the right information about your exhibit attendees. Apps are stilfl considered a novelty, but can be an excellent way to engage and entertain your convention attendees.

Trade Show Management Systems

Increasingly, event planning managers have been searching for suitable I.T. systems that provide seamless exhibition management experiences. Currently, a host of event marketing, event management and lead retrieval solutions have emerged. Some notable providers of these Systems include CompuSystems, iLead and Pathable. These range from specialized one-function apps to multi-faceted systems that can raise efficiency and give helicopter views and information about the event, often in real-time.

Used the right way, these 5 tech trends can be powerful tools to interact and engage with attendees, sponsors and other stakeholders on a much deeper level. Give any one of these options a try for your next event or trade show and be prepared to see positive results!

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