More and more of us are working remotely—over 40% of the US workforce is now working from home. We’ve all gotten used to Zoom calls and working in pajamas, but what does the increase in remote work mean for conferences and trade shows?
You guessed it—they’re going virtual as well! The virtual trade show is a way for your business to network, market, and connect, without the risk of people gathering in large numbers.
If your company is attending its first virtual trade show, how can you make your booth and display stand out and get noticed? It helps to know a few tips and tricks.
To learn more, keep reading to find our top ideas on making your booth one to remember.
First, Take the Time to Understand Your Audience
Before building your virtual trade show booth, you need to think about your audience. This way, you can tailor your booth to suit their interests and needs.
Take some time to think about your target demographic and the demographics of who will be attending the virtual web trade show. How old are they, where are they based, and what are their aims of attending?
The more you understand about your attendees, the more you can cater your display to their needs.
What are virtual displays? If it’s all new to you, make sure you understand that your booth will work just as it would at a real-life conference.
Virtual displays are all created digitally, so it’s likely to be something that’s new to you. When it comes to your audience, however, this means attendees could log in and attend from anywhere in the world.
A wider audience can only be a positive when it comes to marketing!
Create Marketing Hype on Social Media
Once you’ve created your display and registered for the trade show, you’ll want to drum up as much advance attention as you can.
To give your virtual display a marketing boost, maximize your use of social media. You can use your company’s Facebook page to promote the event, encouraging your followers to register and attend.
While the event is happening, you can also post live updates, sharing your successes. You’ll also want to encourage attendees to check in to your business online when they visit, which can help boost your brand awareness.
You can also try out a paid promotional campaign for your company, targeting trade show attendees and encouraging them to stop by.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Now that the event is in full swing, how can you convert visitors to your booth into potential clients? One tip is to ask open-ended questions.
This encourages attendees to stick around and chat, giving you valuable insight into who they are and what they’re looking for. As you’re chatting, you can then tailor your marketing pitch to match their needs, helping to convince them why your company is right for them.
Sales can always be tricky, but by asking the right questions, you can increase your conversion rate.
Offer Translation Services
Keep in mind that virtual trade shows are online, so it’s easy for anyone to attend. If your company has a focus on the international market, what will you do if someone visits your display but doesn’t speak English?
Another top way to stand out is by offering translation services—and advertising that fact. With live translations, you can converse with anyone, no matter their language.
This also demonstrates that your business is worldly, tech-savvy, and diverse. It can also help attract a new, international clientele.
Or, if you have staff members who speak multiple languages, be sure to include that detail on your trade show advertising.
Upload Plenty of Resources
Another great idea is to offer your attendees plenty of resources. Imagine you were at a real-life trade show—you approach a display and see that they have plenty of booklets, leaflets, and informative giveaways to help you learn more about the company.
The good news is that you can still do this online. Instead of printed handouts on the table, you’ll offer this information via a free digital download.
In advance of the trade show, make sure you have PDF versions of your key resources and information that attendees can take home with them. All resources should also include your name and contact details, making it easy to reach out with any follow-up questions.
Use Email Marketing to Follow Up
After the event, it’s essential to keep in touch with the attendees you met. You’ll want to capture an email address from everyone who visits your display, making it easy to add them to your mailing list.
Use email marketing to design an informative and eye-catching email to be sent out to everyone you met. It should summarize your company’s services, special offers, and unique selling points of your company.
Also include a call to action, making it clear what the next steps are after the trade show.
Use These Tips to Make the Most of Your Next Virtual Trade Show
If your company is attending a virtual trade show, use the ideas above to help your display stand out. With a bit of creativity and innovation, you’re sure to build an amazing display that attendees won’t be able to stop talking about.
Get started by brainstorming ideas. Also, think about previous trade shows you’ve attended-what made them successful and how can you incorporate those features into your virtual display?
It requires a lot of effort and thought, but you’re sure to come up with an amazing virtual display!
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