Trade Show TalesBlog

Archive for April, 2012

Trade Show Marketing Insights from Marlys Arnold, the ImageSpecialist

April 8th, 2012 COMMENTS

Download a Free Book on Trade Show Marketing

If you visited our booth at EXHIBITOR 2012, you probably met Marlys Arnold. Known as the ImageSpecialist, Marlys travels the country consulting and training both exhibitors and show managers, and is the author of Build a Better Trade Show Image (2002), host of the Trade Show Insights blog-cast, and creator of the ExhibitorEd Success System.

We’ve teamed up with Marlys to offer her book, Build a Better Trade Show Image, to Classic Exhibits customers. Through the end of May, we’re including an “Our Gift to You” promotional postcard with most inline and island hybrid displays, such as Sacagawea, Magellan, Perfect 10, Visionary Designs, and SEGUE. The postcard has a unique code where exhibitors can download the 280+ page e-book on how to launch, improve, finesse, or fix their trade show marketing program. It’s an excellent book, valued at $25, which every trade show expert or novice should own.

If you are unfamiliar with Marlys, here are three sample posts from her excellent blog.

What Exhibitors Can Learn from Birds

“Have you ever spent any time birdwatching? It’s fun to see how birds behave and interact with one another. In fact, there’s a lot we can learn by watching them, including some very valuable lessons for your upcoming trade shows!

Birds know how to find food.
In order to survive, birds must learn where the food is most likely to be found and then hang out there.

Exhibitor Lesson:
Go to the shows whose audience best matches your target demographic.

You’ve got to show off!
Birds aren’t shy. Peacocks display a fan of their colorful plumage, cranes dance, and many birds have loud calls to gain attention.

Exhibitor Lesson:
Don’t count on being noticed on the crowded show floor — DO something to attract attention.” [continue]

The Challenge of Using Salespeople as Booth Staff

“Following a recent exhibitor workshop, several attendees came up to me with a similar story: their sales team comes to the show, hangs out in the booth, and becomes more of a handicap than an asset. They wanted to know how they can turn that situation around.

Unfortunately, this is a common problem because the very things that make a sales person great at what they do often create a challenge in the trade show environment:” [continue]

Banish the “Little Voice”

“A fairly new exhibitor recently shared that what holds her back in the booth is the “little voice” on her shoulder who keeps telling her, “No one wants to talk to you … you’re just another salesperson.” I think every exhibitor could admit to battling that little voice at one time or another, but how can you banish it?” [continue]

To learn more about the book, visit www.imagespecialist.com/build.html or check out Marlys’ blog-cast at www.tradeshowinsights.com.

–Mel White
http://www.linkedin.com/in/melmwhite
mel@classicexhibits.com

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Based in Portland, Oregon, Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions. Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100 or www.classicexhibits.com.

Excellent Posts on www.tradeshowguyblog.com

April 5th, 2012 COMMENTS

Classic Exhibits at EXHIBITORSocial Media and Trade Show Marketing

Our friend Tim Patterson at www.tradeshowguyblog.com continues to amaze me. If you are fascinated about the intersection of Social Media and Trade Show Marketing, there’s no better source than his site. Here are some recent posts including one where he reviews his work with Classic Exhibits and EXHIBITOR 2012.

Case Study: Classic Exhibits and Social Media at EXHIBITOR 2012

“Starting three weeks before the show, we started posting short teaser videos. The videos slowly revealed the “Be Better” concept using a lighthearted investigative reporter approach.  Getting the inside scoop from Classic was the main theme.  They appeared on the Tradeshowmarketing YouTube channel, here on Tradeshowguy Blog, and on Classic Exhibits’ blog, Trade Show Tales. In addition, we posted these on Classic’s LinkedIn group and Facebook page. Almost immediately, traffic to Classic’s blog tripled.” [continue]

Social Networking and your Tradeshow

9 things I Learned from #EXHIBITOR and #ExpoWest

“Reflecting on the week I spent in Las Vegas and Anaheim in early March . . .

  1. People are learning how to use QR Codes. Finally.
  2. Video gets people’s attention. The various videos I posted on the YouTube Tradeshowmarketing channel got me recognized time and time again.
  3. NetworKing is king. By hanging out with people I knew, I kept meeting more people that I may work with in the future.” [continue]

Why Don’t Exhibitors Return?

“After walking the floor at the Natural Products Expo West for a full day, it occurred to me that a number of exhibitors I had met and talked to the past couple of years were not here. Even though it’s huge show with thousands of exhibitors, and it might be easy to overlook them, that’s not the case: I looked them up on the show app and couldn’t find them.

They had vanished. Why? I wondered.” [continue]

–Mel White
http://www.linkedin.com/in/melmwhite
mel@classicexhibits.com

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Based in Portland, Oregon, Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions. Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100 or www.classicexhibits.com.