Because you want to expand your business and step it up a higher level you attend trade shows. No matter how small or big your company, some of your reasons to attend one are likely the same as other companies. Promoting brand, find new leads, make new connections, advertising your products or services are just some common reasons of attending exhibitions or trade shows.
This event may come in big investment so capitalize your trade show by using social media to enhance your overall presence. Here is our guide to using social media in trade shows.
1. Setting Up Your Social Media Accounts
If you're a new business or social media newbie, it's not yet too late. Setup your account profiles in twitter, facebook, google+, linkedin, instagram and other fast growing social media sites. Fill out each of your profiles with the correct business information and images of your products or services. Keep in mind that you're building a reputation in each of those social media sites. Then get to know the all the functions being offered by the site for these will serve as tools for your social media campaigns(i.e, re-tweeting, sharing, tagging, pod-casting, & more).
2. Establish your Connection
Besides your network of current clients, connect with attendees and your best prospects before, during and after the show. Remember that this is not a one time process and you will still need to add more people in your social media accounts even if you're not planning to attend a trade show very soon. Your leads can be anyone in your social media connections, build a network and establish a good reputation.
Reach out also to trade show bloggers and journalists for they attend many different trade shows. No matter how small or big your trade show displays will be, never have second thoughts to invite them to visit your booth and consider building a relationship with them that extends beyond the short-term needs of your show.
3. Make your Announcement
Begin announcing your trade show appearance well in advance. Tweet it. Post it. Share it. Let your current clients in your facebook know about your event by tagging them and other personalities most likely to be in the show. Hashtag (i.e. #tradeshow) your twitter name, important keywords and the event itself. Most known social media sites have adapted to giving importance on hashtags specially on searches. Before you podcast your announcement, don't forget to include important information in your announcement such as the event name, date, booth number and more.
4. Make Content
Content can be in the form of pictures, videos, blogs and relevant short messages. There are tons of ways in making content during pre-show. Provide a picture of your booth staffers, marketing and sales team. Make one-minute videos of introducing your company, announcing your event, blogs, or product demonstrations. Optimize your videos well then upload them in video hosting sites like youtube or vimeo and make sure to share them to your social media sites. During on-show, it's also ideal to post or tweet your exhibit booth images while getting it
installed, announce a special giveaway given at a specific time, or maybe even booth staffer selfies every close deals.
See to it that the content you produce are entertaining, useful, or newsworthy. You can also make funny or humorous content, but if you think you ain't good at it, don't push it. Plan strategically what and when to post a content.
5. Making it a Routine
You've got your social media sites already set and you have got content waiting to be posted, then start engaging and make it your routine. Don't miss a single busy day without posting or sharing a good content. Write blogs regularly even if they are short ones, like three to four blogs a week. Make this a routine even after the show for some of your leads may find your blogs useful knowing they have missed a thing at the show. As an advice, give your post a time margin like a few hours apart for you may appear spammy to your to them.
6. Keep the Momentum on the Go
Exhibition is over, your trade show booth have already been packed and ready to be shipped back home. The event itself is over but the trade show experience goes home with you. The best deal social media gives is it allows you to stay contact with the attendees you have met in the show. Either your leads can see your facebook posts, twitter tweets, or you can send them direct message. Effective use of social media can make your everyday a trade show, either you are promoting your products and services, or interacting with your clients.
1. Setting Up Your Social Media Accounts
If you're a new business or social media newbie, it's not yet too late. Setup your account profiles in twitter, facebook, google+, linkedin, instagram and other fast growing social media sites. Fill out each of your profiles with the correct business information and images of your products or services. Keep in mind that you're building a reputation in each of those social media sites. Then get to know the all the functions being offered by the site for these will serve as tools for your social media campaigns(i.e, re-tweeting, sharing, tagging, pod-casting, & more).
2. Establish your Connection
Besides your network of current clients, connect with attendees and your best prospects before, during and after the show. Remember that this is not a one time process and you will still need to add more people in your social media accounts even if you're not planning to attend a trade show very soon. Your leads can be anyone in your social media connections, build a network and establish a good reputation.
Reach out also to trade show bloggers and journalists for they attend many different trade shows. No matter how small or big your trade show displays will be, never have second thoughts to invite them to visit your booth and consider building a relationship with them that extends beyond the short-term needs of your show.
3. Make your Announcement
Begin announcing your trade show appearance well in advance. Tweet it. Post it. Share it. Let your current clients in your facebook know about your event by tagging them and other personalities most likely to be in the show. Hashtag (i.e. #tradeshow) your twitter name, important keywords and the event itself. Most known social media sites have adapted to giving importance on hashtags specially on searches. Before you podcast your announcement, don't forget to include important information in your announcement such as the event name, date, booth number and more.
4. Make Content
Content can be in the form of pictures, videos, blogs and relevant short messages. There are tons of ways in making content during pre-show. Provide a picture of your booth staffers, marketing and sales team. Make one-minute videos of introducing your company, announcing your event, blogs, or product demonstrations. Optimize your videos well then upload them in video hosting sites like youtube or vimeo and make sure to share them to your social media sites. During on-show, it's also ideal to post or tweet your exhibit booth images while getting it
installed, announce a special giveaway given at a specific time, or maybe even booth staffer selfies every close deals.
See to it that the content you produce are entertaining, useful, or newsworthy. You can also make funny or humorous content, but if you think you ain't good at it, don't push it. Plan strategically what and when to post a content.
5. Making it a Routine
You've got your social media sites already set and you have got content waiting to be posted, then start engaging and make it your routine. Don't miss a single busy day without posting or sharing a good content. Write blogs regularly even if they are short ones, like three to four blogs a week. Make this a routine even after the show for some of your leads may find your blogs useful knowing they have missed a thing at the show. As an advice, give your post a time margin like a few hours apart for you may appear spammy to your to them.
6. Keep the Momentum on the Go
Exhibition is over, your trade show booth have already been packed and ready to be shipped back home. The event itself is over but the trade show experience goes home with you. The best deal social media gives is it allows you to stay contact with the attendees you have met in the show. Either your leads can see your facebook posts, twitter tweets, or you can send them direct message. Effective use of social media can make your everyday a trade show, either you are promoting your products and services, or interacting with your clients.