We’re gearing up for a couple of fall tradeshows and thought it would be a good idea to share some of the new cool tools that we’ll be using to network with other attendees and promote our participation in upcoming tradeshows. Tradeshows/expos are excellent opportunities to integrate social media tactics and tools, from tweeting to Facebook postings your company can create opportunities to meet attendees, exhibitors, and promote your business before, during and after you attend.
The first tool we’re using for the fall tradeshow season is Bloodhound (http://getbloodhound.com/) Blo
odhound is a free app for events that lets you list your event and share your event details with other individuals. I like Bloodhound because I don’t have to download a bunch of expo/conference apps onto my phone or iPad for every event that I attend. I use my already existing facebbok or LinkedIn profile to promote myself and I can connect with attendees and exhibitors, announce which workshops I like and will be attending and share social media info with other attendees.
I can access entire schedules for events and participate in sessions and presentations from my cellphone. I can also:
- Create a custom list of sessions to attend
- Set a reminder and never miss anything on the schedule
- View and share media like a PowerPoint presentation
- Find out where to go by seeing the location on a map
- Receive recommendations for other sessions to attend
For event planners you may want to consider going beyond just listing your event and use the full power of Bloodhound to assist you with promoting your event through use of:
- An Interactive Event Schedules
- Exhibitor Lists and Exhibitor Profiles
- Maps to assist Attendees Find What They Are Looking For
- See Who is Attending and Help People Connect
- Keep the Dialogue Going through Twitter
- Event digests so nothing is Forgotten
The benefit that Bloodhound provides for exhibitors that makes this app valuable is:
- Exhibitor profiles contain logos, tailored messaging, detailed contact information and media such as presentations, catalogues, and images
- I can create a custom list of exhibitors to visit
- I can easily pass along my information to exhibitors of interest by Requesting a Follow-Up
- I can find out where to go by seeing the location on a map
- I can receive recommendations for exhibitors of interest or popular exhibitors
These features assist your exhibitors with the most important part of exhibiting at a tradeshow, a list of interested prospects with their contact information.
We’re also using Lanyrd (http://lanyrd.com/) lanyrd bills itself as the “Social Conference Directory.” Everyday registered users receive email listings of upcoming conferences/events on the topics they are interested in. Users can then choose to follow the event and see which of your Twitter followers are also following the event. Lanyrd has been great for informing me of events that I didn’t know about.
Use free bar code scanning apps for your mobile phone to scan this code.
Custom QR codes have become part of tradeshow marketing as it allow attendees with smartphones to receive special offers and tradeshow related information by using a free bar code scanner on their smartphone and scanning any of our custom built QR codes. You can learn more about QR codes by reading an earlier Blog post “QR Codes a Key Ingredient for Marketing Success.“
If you plan to use QR codes in your marketing please follow this advice.
1. Test your QR code – It really sucks when the code is so small that scanners cannot scan the code or the code directs traffic to a 404 webpage. If you have a hard time scanning the code or goes to the wrong webpage imagine how other people will feel when they attempt to scan it.
2. Inform people what the code is. QR codes have been popular for years in Asia and Europe but QR codes are just gaining popularity here in the US. Do not assume that people know what the code is and how to read it. Also there are different types of QR codes out there so let people know if they need a special reader.
3. Direct Internet traffic to your Mobile Website – If you’re using QR codes to direct Internet traffic, please have a mobile version of your website built. Traditional websites are built for larger screens and mouse clicking. Mobile website are built for smaller screens and scrolling. If you send mobile traffic to your traditional website you are not providing a good user experience and will probably turn away visitors who became frustrated with your website. I will write more on mobile websites in an upcoming Blog Post.
If you have a favorite tradeshow/expo app, tool or website please post it here for everyone to learn from.