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Build Your Trade Show - Virtually
by
Jeanette S. Cates, Ph.D.
The Technology Tamer™
Virtual trade shows are gaining momentum as a way to encourage participation in the trade
show - both live and online. Here are a few ideas to help you expand your trade show - virtually.
1. Provide a map of the show floor that matches the live show. Link each booth on the map
to the vendor's virtual booth.
2. Have each online show visitor register. Give them an ID number to make it easy to
request more information from the vendors online, rather than having to fill out forms
at each virtual booth.
3. Let visitors search at least three ways: company name, booth number, or type of
products.
4. Have the grand opening of your virtual trade show at least 2 weeks before the
conference.
5. Encourage each vendor to offer a "show special" that is featured on their trade
show page.
6. Offer coupons booth that online visitors can print and bring to the live show.
As the organizer, you should plan to offer special coupons online as well. Consider
a free drink coupon or a special souvenir of the conference, only available with the coupon.
7. Provide online stations in the exhibit area so that live visitors can visit the
online trade show. Provide a printer to print coupons or number the coupons so that
they can bring the number to the booth for the "special" discount.
8. Use a digital camera at the live show to take a picture of each booth. Add the
photos to the vendors' pages for after-the-show identification.
9. Leave the show online for at least three months after the live show so that
attendees can follow up. Consider a year-round show with vendors who sign up for
next year's live show participating all year long for a reduced fee.
10. Offer a virtual booth only fee to vendors who cannot be at the live show.
Price it accordingly.
11. Include a means for vendors to create their virtual booth at your site. A full
booth might include a Front Page, a Back Wall, Right and Left Sides, plus a page for
specials. As an alternative, a lesser fee could provide just a Front Page with a link
to their site.
12. Open links to vendors' company sites in a new window. That way you don't lose the
traffic. Once they close the other window your site is still in the background waiting
to be seen again.
-----------------------
Dr. Jeanette Cates, creator of the Framework for Online Business Success, provides
consulting and training to organizations who want to innovate and prosper online.
Contact Jeanette at cates@TechTamers.com.
Originally printed in IAEM Newsletter, Austin Chapter, June 2000.
© 2000 Permission is granted to reprint this article in print
or on your web site so long as the paragraph above is included and
contact information is provided to www.TechTamers.com.
To print this article, click here to
go to a printer-friendly version of this page. Then, select "Print" from your
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