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. 

Image sourced from TheDrive.Com

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.

Indoor Flying Trade Show Drone

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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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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