Tradeshow Marketing Expert & Dynamic Public Speaker/Trainer

January 10, 2023

The Power of Video at Your Next Tradeshow

This is a guest post by Emma Grace Brown

Are you interested in using video to enhance your trade show booth and attract more attendees? If so, you’re not alone. Increasingly, businesses are recognizing the power of video to engage trade show visitors and drive leads. If you’re considering adding video to your trade show strategy, here are a few things to keep in mind from the Tradeshow Guy Blog.

Video will help you stand out from the competition.

Video is an incredibly effective way to engage and captivate trade show visitors and can help you drive leads and conversions. In a sea of other exhibitors, a well-executed video can help your booth and product or service stand out and capture attention. Video is also an engaging medium that can help you communicate your brand story and message in a powerful way. When used correctly, video can be an incredibly effective tool for getting your message across to potential customers at a trade show.

Videos can communicate your message and tell your brand story.

When it comes to communicating your message and telling your brand story, there are few mediums more engaging than video. The right video content can be instantly memorable, helping to engage viewers and evoke a personal response. Furthermore, videos can provide context that transcends the boundaries of text-based content such as blog posts or articles. They enable you to visually demonstrate the personality of your company and showcase the truly unique aspects of what you have to offer.

Make your video visually enticing when audio isn’t an option.

Making an engaging video without sound can be a challenge. After all, audio is often the most powerful element when it comes to conveying emotion. However, videos without sound can still have an impact if they’re visually enticing. Start by creating a color palette that stands out and sets the mood for your video. Then use movement like pans, zooms, and fades to keep your viewer’s attention.

Don’t be afraid to use unconventional shots either – close-ups of small details or bird’s eye perspectives can be mesmerizing with the right lighting and composition. Animated elements like overlays, transitions, and logos can provide visual interest as well. Finally, build in enough time for post-production to make sure your video looks its best in terms of saturation, contrast balance, and other adjustments.

One way to reduce the cost of your trade show video is by using royalty-free stock footage. This approach can be a great way to save money while still getting high-quality visuals for your video. Check out these royalty-free videos that are priced affordably. When selecting stock footage, be sure to choose clips that are relevant to your product or service. You don’t want your video to feel disjointed or out of place. Also, make sure the quality of the footage is consistent with the overall tone and style of your video.

Drive traffic to your booth with the help of social media.

Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your trade show booth and driving traffic to your exhibit. When used correctly, you can reach a large number of potential customers and generate interest in your products or services. One of the best ways to use social media for trade shows is by creating a dedicated event page on Facebook. This page can be used to promote your exhibit, provide information about the event, and give people a way to connect with you online. You can also use this page as a central hub for all of your other social media activity related to the trade show.

In addition to creating a Facebook event page, be sure to post regularly about the trade show on all of your social media platforms. This will help keep your followers informed and engaged. Use images, videos, and text-based posts to create excitement around the event and drive traffic to your booth. Make sure you’re also using hashtags related to the trade show so that your posts will appear in relevant search results. And don’t forget to respond promptly to any comments or questions from followers.

Are you looking for a way to make your next trade show even more successful? If so, consider using video. This medium can help you connect with potential customers and create an engaging, interactive experience that will leave them wanting more.

Emma Grace Brown lives her life by her rules, and it works! When she’s not snuggling puppies, Emma promotes female empowerment through her website. Her mission is to help those who live with self-doubt to realize they don’t have to mold themselves to conventionality.

December 10, 2022

The Advantages of Tradeshow Marketing

Trade show marketing can be a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. By participating in trade shows, businesses have the opportunity to showcase their products or services to a large and targeted audience, build brand awareness, and make valuable connections with potential customers and industry partners.

One of the main advantages of trade show marketing is the ability to reach a large and targeted audience. Trade shows attract individuals and businesses from a specific industry or market, so businesses can be sure that they are reaching the right people. This can be especially beneficial for smaller businesses that may not have the budget for more expensive forms of marketing, such as television or print advertising.

Tradeshow marketing draws a focused audience

Another advantage of trade show marketing is the opportunity to build brand awareness and establish credibility. By participating in a trade show, businesses can showcase their products or services to a large audience and demonstrate their expertise in their field. This can help businesses establish themselves as leaders in their industry and build trust with potential customers.

In addition to building brand awareness and credibility, trade show marketing can also be an effective way for businesses to make valuable connections with potential customers and industry partners. Trade shows provide a unique opportunity for businesses to network and build relationships with people who may be interested in their products or services. These connections can lead to increased sales and partnerships that can help businesses grow and succeed.

Overall, trade show marketing can be a powerful tool for businesses looking to reach a large and targeted audience, build brand awareness, and make valuable connections. While it can be costly to participate in trade shows, the potential benefits make it a worthwhile investment for many businesses.

October 20, 2022

2022 Print Media Trends in the Digital Age

This is a guest post by Farlyn Lucas.

In the digital age, the future of print media can seem uncertain. We spend so much time online that it may seem like print advertising is a dying trend. Data from the Pew Research Center highlights how in 2022, 93% of American adults used the internet, a 3% increase from 2021. Undoubtedly, the internet’s reach is growing, especially in advertising. However, despite emerging digital trends, print media is still a thriving business with a variety of innovative trends in the digital age.

Overview

Is print advertising still effective? Though many companies overlook the importance of print media in advertising their business, it’s an incredibly useful marketing strategy. Print advertising is a form of advertising that utilizes tangible media to reach potential consumers. Some popular examples of print marketing are magazines, newspaper ads, and direct mail. With so many different opinions and platforms, companies can pick and choose what method works best for them while also getting creative. When comparing digital marketing to print, there are many benefits to advertising your business via print. Entrepreneur highlights how print advertising is a sensory experience; it builds credibility, there is a high exposure rate, and it has longevity. In addition, print marketing is a great way to connect with potential customers and set yourself apart from the competition. In addition, when compared to digital media, Forbes states that paper materials are “easier to process mentally and tested better for brand recall.” Despite what you may think, print advertising is still a growing and evolving market alongside digital media. It’s an effective marketing strategy.

Print Media Trends

There are a variety of trends in digital printing that can help promote your business and drive sales. Here are a few print marketing tips to get you started or take your print advertising to the next level!

QR Codes

One way to capitalize on print advertising is to bridge the gap between the print and digital world through QR codes. Business Insider describes QR codes as “a type of barcode, or scannable pattern, that contain various forms of data, like website links, account information, phone numbers, or even coupons.” QR code popularity spiked during the pandemic when contactless communication was key to avoiding the spread of Covid-19. Now they retain popularity and are used for menus, quick links, and contact information. They’re also a great marketing strategy. When creating your print advertisement, add a QR code on your page that links to your website. Then, when people see your ad and want more information about your company or product, they can easily scan the code with their phone camera and learn more. It’s a seamless way to engage with potential customers and drive sales.

Sensory Experience

Another print media trend is to use the senses to promote your company. While both print and digital media are mobile and informative, print is tactile, meaning that consumers can connect with it in a way that goes beyond visual. Think perfume ads; when you can smell the perfume, you can connect with the product and the company in a way that isn’t possible digitally. Another idea is to make your advertisements textured to engage your consumers or use various finishing options to catch the eye, such as laminating, finishing, embossing, and debossing. Again, take advantage of the physical nature of print advertising to promote your brand.

Go Green!

Companies have been pushing to make sustainable business changes in the past several years. Whether that through recycling or minimizing plastic, green initiatives pay off. Forbes highlights how 88% of consumers “will be more loyal to a company that supports social or environmental issues,” and 87% of consumers “would buy a product with social and environmental benefit if given the opportunity.” There are many changes companies have been making to make their print marketing campaigns more sustainable. Some ideas include utilizing recycled materials, eco-friendly packaging, and partnering with environmentally conscious printing companies. These small changes not only have a positive environmental impact but attract environmentally conscious people to your company. A win-win!

About the author: Farlyn Lucas works as a freelance writer and communications manager for a media agency based in New York. She has a knack for writing on various topics, especially marketing, business, and industry news.

July 1, 2022

How Precise are Metrics, Really?

Podcast promoters like to flaunt the number of downloads and listeners they have. The bigger the number the better, the more successful, right!

But what does the number of downloads really tell you? I have a podcast app on my phone. I subscribe to 20 or 30 or 40 podcasts. Actually, I don’t know how many I subscribe to because I rarely listen to any of them. There are two, maybe three podcasts that I listen to on a regular basis, and depending on my schedule, I may or may not get to every one of them. And if they’re longer than twenty minutes or so, my attention span wanes. Or if the discussion veers into some weird minutiae that no longer interests me, I’ll find something else to listen to. Or if I get to the end of my drive and turn off the podcast, when I get back in the car, I may no longer have any interest in hearing any more of it.

Yes, I realize that I may not be a normal podcast listener. I don’t listen at home, or in the office. Only in my car. Not when I’m working out or riding my bike. Doesn’t work for me. Might work for others.

All of which brings up the question: how accurate are those metrics, anyway?

I don’t have an answer. I have questions.

When someone visits your website, analytics can tell you a whole bunch of things how long they stayed, what pages they looked at, what page they came in on, and what page they left on. You can see trends in how many people visit the site day after day, week after week, and month after month. Trends are good, I think. Mostly.

But those analytics won’t tell you what the visitor really thinks. Maybe they bought something. Maybe they read something. Maybe they were interrupted by someone in their office and never read anything on the page even though the browser tab was left open for an hour.

On this blog and in my books, I’ve discussed important metrics to keep at tradeshows: number of visitors, leads, sales, and so on. And those are all important. But only to a point.

Metrics are just a part of the bigger picture, but I don’t think you can use them to know exactly what’s going on in your prospect’s or client’s mind.

For that, you must have a real conversation. Find out what they’re really thinking. Learn what questions are really on their mind. Ask what problems they are really facing. Find out how your products or services are really helping them – or how those solutions are coming up short.

It’s all-important stuff to improve your business and serve your customers better.

Metrics are important, but dig deeper and see what the numbers are really telling you, and what CAN they actually tell you? Like podcast downloads, the number can’t tell you how many people actually listened all the way through. And if they did tell you that, they can’t tell you how close the listener actually was paying attention.

Maybe we can start a podcast about all of that. Do you think anyone would listen?

June 2, 2022

50 Essential Tradeshow Tips in 50 Minutes or Less (video replay)

Not a bad way to kick off June! I sat down with Mel White of Classic Exhibits, along with a few dozen viewers, for a presentation on tradeshow tips for newbies and wannabes. He invited me as part of their ongoing “Fast and Furious” webinar series, and I was grateful to be asked and glad to join. We nicknamed the presentation ‘From Tradeshow Stupid to Tradeshow Smart in 50 Minutes,’ but whatever you want to call it, I jammed a lot of stuff into the presentation. Take a look – hope you get something out of it, and thanks to Classic Exhibits for inviting me!

April 30, 2022

Ken Newman LP Review: What Am I Afraid Of?

I think this is a first for this blog, which focuses (mostly) on tradeshow marketing: an album review. I’ve done book reviews, but the album review, of longtime tradeshow presenter Ken Newman’s new LP, makes perfect sense.

I’ve known Ken for over fifteen years, back when he tweeted out some kind words about me and I picked up the phone and introduced myself. Since then, we’ve been friends, albeit from a distance, but we have gotten together a few times over the years to hang out.

And we’re both big music fans, and both musicians. Ken told me about his plans to record and album of original songs several years ago, so I’ve been following his progress, which was somewhat upended by the pandemic. But it’s finally here!

“What Am I Afraid Of” is a collection of rock and ballads that is packed with great hooks, solid songwriting and performances, and is topically about as on-point as one can get here in the third decade of the 21^st century.

Ken’s shared numerous reviews of his LP on his Facebook page, including Must Have Media’s take which calls it ‘rough, raw, and revealing’; and an interview of Ken on Musical Notes Global in the lead up to the release, in which Ken digs deep in to the making of the album.

Cover of “What Am I Afraid Of?” by Ken Newman

The opening track, “What Am I Afraid Of?” wastes no time kicking into high gear with a rollicking rock and roll beat and finishes off with some Tom Petty-like grunginess. From there into “Nothing to See Here,” about the common response people have to hard-to-handle events in the world.

Other standouts include a rock version of an earlier song “I Can’t Breathe,” which came out of the phrase that George Floyd said over twenty times as a Minneapolis police officer held him down, knee on his throat, and “We Should Do This Again,” about what it’s like being homeless in America. It was originally featured in the Blanket the Homeless collection that was released in 2019 and is also highly recommended.

The whole album is strong from start to finish, and Ken’s voice and playing capture a wide emotional range. Yes, Ken’s a good friend, but I highly recommend the album. It’s really good.

Ken’s been featured on my vlog/podcast TradeshowGuy Monday Morning Coffee several times.

Find the album and more here: Ken Newman Music

March 29, 2022

Traditional Advertising Methods That Are Still Effective Today

This is a guest post by Emma Grace Brown.

Despite what many people think, offline advertising is not dead. Traditional marketing methods still have their place in the digital age! At the Tradeshow Guy Blog, we know that long-forgotten advertising strategies can be just as effective as their online counterparts, particularly for local businesses with a community presence. Used in combination with digital marketing strategies like email and social media, you can create a powerful marketing plan with the help of old-school advertising methods.

Phone Calls

Phone calls are great both for promoting your business and learning about your target audience. It’s important to understand what your customer wants before you spend good money on advertising and calling up members of your target audience is a great way to extract this information. Call up your customers—or cold call potential leads—and ask them what they think of your product or service. Their answers will help you determine the best approach for your marketing, including what content will resonate best and on which marketing channels you should focus your efforts.

Tradeshows and Events

Events are fantastic opportunities to promote your local business. For example, Retail Insider explains that you can use trade shows to raise brand awareness, educate your customers, and expand your sales channels. Trade shows are also great for keeping an eye on your competitors! There’s a good chance that your top competitors will attend the same trade shows as you, so take advantage of the opportunity to see what they’re doing and learn from them.

If you want to get the most out of each trade show, you must plan ahead. Reach out to industry experts and vendors who will be attending and schedule quick meetings with them during the show. Make it easy for potential customers to provide their contact information so you can get in touch after the show. You could even print a poster with a QR code linking interested guests to your website!

Flyers and Brochures

Printed flyers and brochures are another cost-effective traditional advertising strategy. Because brochures hold a lot of information, they’re great for educating people about your product or service and spreading awareness about your business. Brochures can also give your business a sense of credibility and authority. You don’t need to limit yourself to mailing lists—remember to hand out your brochures at events and trade shows as well!

Take advantage of digital tools to make your brochure design appear sharp and professional. For example, Canva is a popular tool for designing graphics for websites, social media, and print materials. And if you really want to give your brochure a professional edge, don’t hesitate to hire a graphic designer!

Billboards and Banners

According to HubSpot, billboard advertising can be a powerful way to build brand awareness. When you rent space on a billboard, you get to broadcast your business to as many people as possible. The best billboards tell a story, which can be tough with a single image and one or two lines of text. Consider hiring a professional copywriter to ensure your content is captivating and engaging!

Similar to billboards, banners are great for advertising your business at local events. Consider sponsoring an event, like a sports game, festival, or fair, and printing banners to promote your company. This is a great chance to showcase your logo and build awareness around your brand. Don’t overlook traditional advertising methods! When done right, offline advertising methods can be great for getting the word out about your business and directing interested consumers to your website. Look for ways to bridge your online and offline marketing strategies, boost your conversions, and grow your business!

March 21, 2022

TradeshowGuy Monday Morning Coffee, March 21, 2022: Dave Brown

Coming off a busy and successful week in Anaheim for the Natural Products Expo West, it’s the perfect time to get back into the podcast/vlog game.

Former TradeshowGuy Monday Morning Coffee guest Dave Brown is now with Tive, a company that tracks shipments in real-time. That technology is now being applied to tradeshow shipments, which as you can probably imagine can offer great utility to tradeshow exhibitors and logistics managers.

Take a look:

Check out Tive.com.

This week’s ONE GOOD THING: Station Eleven, both the book and the TV series. Good stuff.

March 17, 2022

Natural Products Expo West 2022 Re-Cap

The thing I was most curious about while walking the floors and halls of Natural Products Expo West 2022 earlier this month in March was this: how many exhibitors and attendees showed up?

It was a question that kept coming up as I would turn the corner at the rear of one of the halls and instead of seeing rows and rows of small exhibits against the wall, I saw lots of empty space. Throughout the hall, instead of large island exhibits everywhere, you’d occasionally see a gathering spot with tables and chairs instead of a large island.

Which got me thinking about the final totals. On day one, I figured attendance for both exhibitors and attendees would be around 85%. On day two, after seeing more empty space, I revised that downward to about 80%.

On Monday, New Hope Network released numbers: over 57,000 registered attendees and over 2,700 exhibitors. Based on numbers in 2019 (which I’m dredging up from memory, but still, they’re close), which showed attendees at about 80,000 and exhibitors at about 3,400, the numbers this year showed a significant decline. Attendees were about 71% of 2019, and exhibitors came in at about the 79% level.

So, yeah, respectable. And people I spoke with, both exhibitors and attendees, found it a worthwhile show. Days One and Two were the best (no surprise), with all of the exhibitors I spoke with saying they’d had good conversations with a LOT of people. Day Three, of course, is more of a rush not only through the shortened day, but once two or three o’clock rolls around, a rush to the door.

A few observations:

There was a masking requirement in effect. Almost no one observed it. Maybe one in twenty. Given the pre-show health check confirming vaccinations or proof of negative tests, and the declining cases throughout the country, and of course, COVID fatigue, it didn’t surprise me that masks were mostly a no-show. Besides, with nearly 60,000 attendees, how do you actually enforce something like that?

But: QR Codes are back! If you search this blog for QR Codes, you’ll find an assortment of posts, ranging from how to use QR Codes at tradeshows, to posts questioning their validity anymore. But this year, QR Codes were back in full force. By the hundreds. I spoke with a number of people about it, and most either suggested, or agreed with the notion that one reason they’re so prevalent is that phones no longer need code-scanning apps. The ability to scan codes is built-in to the camera software. I lost count at over a hundred QR Codes.

Big Names Missing. Again, no real surprise that some brands chose to skip this year’s show. I tweeted about a handful of them that were missing: Kashi, Kettle Foods, Enjoy Life, Clif Bar, and Silk, all of which have previously appeared numerous times with large island booths. Not this year. I’m sure a few slipped my mind.

TradeshowGuy Exhibits’ client list also was reduced, but it was the busiest year I’ve ever had at the show. I spent a total of 9+ days at the show, supervising the installation and dismantling of two long-time clients, Bob’s Red Mill (30×40) and Mountain Rose Herbs (20×30). The Bob’s Red Mill exhibit is the iconic mill-like structure that captures their brand to a T. It’s been around since 2013. Mountain Rose Herbs, which hasn’t been at the show for nearly a decade, returned with a 20×30 new design focused on promoting new lines of essential oils and teas, and much more. The two main pieces of the exhibit are a 13’ tower/conference room and a 10’ tall display unit that was filled with herbs in a stratified style onsite prior to the show. It wowed. Great to work with both clients. We also had other clients at the show, including Greater Knead and Wildbrine, but like many exhibitors, some of our clients chose to sit this one out.

A few final words. I always approach Natural Products Expo West with both anticipation and a little dread. It’s a big show and can be stressful. But it’s always worth it. It was great to get back to seeing people in person, saying hello to people I’ve met over the years, and meeting new people.

And hey, there was even that celebrity siting! Jason Momoa popped in the North Halls for a short time and I managed to get his picture. He’s tall.

February 28, 2022

2022 Event Planning: How to Make Your Trade Show Booth Feel Safe

Safety is about more than protecting attendees from COVID-19. Visitors to your booth should feel comfortable being in the space you set up to showcase your business—and you should be able to focus on the task at hand without worry Read more

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All posts by: Tim Patterson