Social media has transformed the way we connect with customers, prospects, and other industry professionals. Social media has become such an effective way of growing businesses and increasing brand awareness that, according to a survey conducted by LinkedIn, 8 out of 10 small and medium-sized businesses you it to drive growth. While using networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ can help build an online presence, trade shows can help drive traffic to your business through face-to-face interactions with your target audience.
Combining both social media marketing and trade show exhibiting can make a huge impact if you are looking to get more customers and grow your networking circle. Below are some ideas to bring more attendees to your booth by getting the word out online.
Before the Show
- Promote your trade show display by creating a video and posting it to YouTube, Facebook, your website, etc. This video should tell your audience who you are and what they can expect from your company at the event. Teasing your viewers with a little preview of what to expect will peak their interest.
- Hash tags are very useful in reaching a very specific audience. Find out what hashtags your event is using in order to connect with other attendees and exhibitors. Also, use hashtags that are related to your industry to reach out to other people who may not be aware of the show.
- Write blogs that will let readers know how you are preparing for the show, why they should stop by your booth, and any additional details of the event.
During the Show
- A picture is worth a thousand words, so make sure to take plenty of them and post them to all of your social media accounts, blog, and website. Show your audience why they need to be at your booth.
- Post videos interviewing the booth staff and attendees. If your company is demonstrating a new product, posting a video of it can also be very effective.
- Use QR codes throughout your booth that will take visitors to a downloadable brochure, your company website, or anything else you might want your visitors to see by simply scanning it with their smart phone.
After the Show
- Go through your lead forms or business cards collected at the trade show and send out invitations on LinkedIn in order to stay connected with them after the event is over.
- Write a blog post that will sum up everything that happened at the event, which will hopefully get your audience excited about attending the trade show next year.
Both social media and trade show exhibiting continue growing in popularity, so learning how to combine the two with these steps will help you get the results you want.
How would you incorporate social media into your trade show booth?