The dynamics of trade show trends evolve every year. What used to be the gold standard of printed brochures and collecting business cards has been stepped up to video, digital demos, touch screens, lead retrieval apps and virtual reality technology. Today’s trade show managers are learning to be more open to change to implement the best strategies for keeping up with the needs of tech-savvy attendees.

Nail social media

It’s no surprise that your social media game must be completely on point to effectively communicate to your audience – before, during, and after the trade show. I’m sure you’ve noticed that every show, large and small, now provides a social media hashtag that you can use to communicate with your followers. If you use that hashtag in your show posts, you’ll see double or triple the engagement and views. It’s also extremely useful to use social media to promote fun giveaways, exclusive promotions or cool features at your booth. Hyping up your booth to the right audience will help drive more qualified leads. Which brings us to our next trend…

Get the most qualified leads

Collecting someone’s business card is still proper and effective for your personal follow-up – especially for hot leads that benefit from individual and immediate attention. But if you’re planning on a larger post-show follow-up campaign that is targeted to all the people who stopped at your booth, the benefit of scanning leads digitally is crucial in saving time and preserving the energy of your sales team. Most shows provide a lead retrieval unit; or, the latest trend are apps to capture lead data such as QuickTapSurvey, iCapture, and CamCard.

Is a printed brochure moot?

Yes and no. It really depends on your audience. While some people prefer to pass on the printouts and instead quickly scan a QR code, there are many attendees that still love their glossy, informative printed takeaways. The key to offering a printout at today’s trade shows is to keep the design super eye-catching. Try square or half-page flyers so that your printout stands out by its shape alone, while looking fresh and up-to-date. Add bright images and keep the details to a minimum. And always, always point to your website or a landing page to collect lead information.

If you don’t think your audience will be interested in a printout of any sort, relying solely on touch screens and monitors is a great alternative. Not only does this attract leads, but it also lets you display products and services right on your monitor, allowing attendees to interact and engage with what you are offering.

Virtual Reality

Incorporating virtual reality into your booth allows you to tell your story in an innovative way. And it’s not as hard as you think. Many trade show solution partners are well-versed in creating a virtual reality experience that will draw people to your booth, and keep them there. Use virtual reality to show people the process of how your product is created or how your service pans out over the life cycle of a typical customer.

New technology and social media trade show trends are ever-changing and create a different experience every year. As a trade show manager, you must keep up with all the growing trends. Be prepared to strategize about what works best with your audience. It’s a guaranteed way to capture the attention of the right people and get qualified leads.

Need help strategizing and effectively implementing trade show trends into your strategy and design? Contact us today!