Tip, Tricks and Networking for the Mega Business Expo

Presented by Jen Vondenbrinkof Life Simplified

What’s Your Tradeshow Experience

Program Goals

Provide tips and tools to help you be successful at the Mega Business Expo.

Give you ideas on social media marketing. Help you think like your visitors

Fun Facts

64% of attendees tell at least 6 people about the event. (so you want to be memorable)

72% of show visitors say the show influenced their decision to buy (so build quality

relationships)87% of attendees will share some information

obtained at the show

Statistics from the Center for Exhibitor Industry Research

Before the show: Set Goals

New orders – Donna Anderson of Lia Sophia did this her first show and booked 3 parties that jumpstarted her business.

Research competition Generate leads Grow your mailing list Get press Introduce a new product Increase visibility

Before the show: Messages

Pick 2-3 messages to share with visitors. Make sure you relate them to your goal.

Create a useful offer related to your message such as:

– Free service/consultation– Free product– Free e-book/paper– Giftcard– iPad– Free app

Before the show: Plan the Experience

Get into your Visitor’s Shoes Robin Clapp of

Website Design by Robin brought her computer to display her latest websites.

Joe Tavares of FastSigns set up a game

A landscape company set up a firepit

A CPA joined forces with a massage therapist.

Before the event: Drive Participation

Tell your top customers Set up appointments with your prospective

customers. Dave Kantelis at Officeland does this to introduce some of his new products like his Kuerig Coffee Makers

Connect with other exhibitors Send out a press release Use social media…see more coming next

Before the event: Social Media

Social media is a great place to spread the word but what do you write about?

– Send people the online invitations on Facebook and LinkedIn

– Talk about prepping for the Expo– Write a couple blogs about the Expo– Tag other businesses– Engage with others about the Expo– Plan some tweets and posts now to save time later

Before the event: Other considerations

Have a plan of who’s working the booth

Train your employees on important messages

Make sure you have all the materials you need

Networking at the event: Walking the Floor

Have a plan Rank the people you want to talk

to (1,2,3)– 1’s = most important– 2’s = should talk to – 3’s = friends and could talk to

Get to know your neighbors…all of them.

Meet other chamber members

Engaging people at the event

Retail trick – engage with something personal not business first.

Introduce people Keep to your 2-3

messages Get out from behind the

table Don’t be a long talker

Logistics for day of the event

Come early to set up – great time to network Bring comfortable shoes Bring a change of clothes if setting up and exhibiting Know the booth schedule (who’s at the booth and

who’s walking the floor) Stay all the way until 7:00pm. Some of your best

connections can be made toward the end of the night

After the event: FOLLOW UP

80% of leads aren’t followed up after the show.

Most are inappropriately followed up by adding all the names in the fishbowl to the mailing list…don’t do this!

After the event: FOLLOW UP

Rank leads for follow up Divide the responsibilities Add people only to the list they

subscribed to Complete any

obligations/promises Send thank you’s to customers

and potential customers for stopping by

The Success of Your Expo?

You !

Jen Vondenbrink

If you’re interested in having Jen speak to your organization, please contact us.

You can find out more about Jen and her company Life Simplified at www.yourlifesimplified.com

Jen will be at the Mega Business Expo at the Marketing Unzipped Booth, October 30th. Stop by for a visit!

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