As we strive to deliver outstanding attendee experiences, our eyes turn to sponsorship. After all, somebody has to pay for this. Yet sponsorship tends to follow the same random path: Logos are slapped on every last bit of real estate. Banner ads and app alerts multiply. As the promotional noise increases, attendee attention plummets – thus making sponsorship less appealing. While eyeballs and clicks might have mattered to some degree in years past, that era is ending. Sponsorship investors … [Read more...]
Ambush Marketing: 4 Ways to Diffuse Conference Scammers
A few practices keep chipping away at the integrity of professional events. Chief among them are outboarding, when companies bypass exhibiting or sponsoring and set up shop on the fringe of your event, and suitcasing, which refers to non-exhibiting sellers who work the aisles or hallways. Lobby rats — non-registered folks who hang out in public spaces, hosting a series of meet-ups with your badged attendees — is also a growing problem. Left unchecked, these scammers pose a major threat to … [Read more...]
Your Competitors Are Using Big Data To Improve Their Events [Infographic]
Big data has been on the lips of many business professionals for some time now. So is it a big mistake or a promising trend to apply? Expo and Global Experience Specialists (GES) developed a study that looks at how event producers and exhibitors are collecting and analyzing data to help their customers and their own organizations. Here is an infographic they produced with some highlights from the full report. How does your tradeshow data collection compare to this infographic? What … [Read more...]
The Wrong Way To Approach Conference Sponsorship
Logos hanging from the ceiling at the tradeshow. Ads covering windows, elevator doors and escalator ramps. Symbols, signs and emblems stuck to the floor, carpet and wrapping columns. Logos on lanyards, room keys and conference bags. All of these are the traditional ways conferences approach sponsorship. And the majority of them have little value or ROI. Most of them are the wrong way to approach conference sponsorship today. Sponsorship Disruption Through Experiential … [Read more...]
Too Many Exhibitor Pre-Show Emails Are Spammy And Hazardous
I attended a great trade show, but overzealous exhibitors nearly pushed me away. In the weeks leading up to the show, I received a barrage of pre-show exhibitor emails. They lacked relevance and made me wonder if this show fit my needs. In a cab from the airport with a fellow attendee I asked, "What did you think of all those exhibitor emails?" His response was clear. I wasn't the only one bothered by these emails. He was even more frustrated than I was. As I scan through the dozens … [Read more...]
Sponsorship: From Uninspiring To Really Mattering
When attendees interact with your sponsors, do they feel marginalized or like they really matter? Are you forcing your sponsors’ messages on your conference attendees or helping sponsors offer insights that attendees may actually value? Remember That Last Event You Attended Think back to an event that you attended. Quick: Do you remember any of the sponsors? Who were they and why do you remember them? Did you get something unexpected, participate in something memorable, or were you … [Read more...]
Could Old School Exhibitors Damage Your Expo Brand?
I just Googled "Trade Show Sales Tips" and retrieved 2+ million results. No big surprise, as hardly a week goes by without spotting articles like these. Unfortunately, the people who need to read these articles never do. Does Acceptance Of All Exhibitors Come At A Cost? Some expo floors are run like well-oiled machines, where every element is inspected and perfected to ensure high satisfaction for both attendees and exhibitors. Others copy last year's playbook, rinse and repeat. Often … [Read more...]
Proving Conference Emotional Marketing Sponsor Spend
Exhibit-booth footprints are shrinking across nearly every industry. The Good News There is a silver lining though: the opportunity to develop fruitful strategic partnerships. Just be ready to prove why a sponsor’s dollars are well spent on your organization. The Bad News More companies are demonstrating their products and services via digital technology rather than face-to-face events. That’s the bad news for your convention’s revenue-diversification model. Proving Sponsorship … [Read more...]
