Trade Show TalesBlog

Posts Tagged ‘Social Media’

Social Media Planning: What You Should Do in Q1 2011

January 13th, 2011 COMMENTS

Guest post by Tim Patterson of www.tradeshowguyblog.com.

Social Media Planning

Depending on what your company’s involvement is in social media, there are a number of approaches you can take to moving forward during the first quarter of 2011. And that’s the KEY: MOVING FORWARD from wherever you are at this moment. With the forward motion of all things social media, if you sit still you’ll get further and further behind!

If Your Company is NOT Doing Anything with Social Media

If you’re at the very beginning, you’ll have to start somewhere. Starting anywhere is better than not starting at all. Ask around the office, and look for your company’s own ‘digital native.’ This is the person that’s already online with social media. They’re already on Facebook and Twitter. They may be posting fun videos on YouTube or Facebook. Perhaps they’ve got a LinkedIn account. They’re adept at discussing and moving around in the social media world.

Once you find that person, sit down with your marketing manager and the company owner (presuming you’re a small or medium-sized company and have easy access to these people) and discuss the following steps:

  • Where you are
  • Where you want to go in the next 3 – 6 months
  • What tools you’ll need
  • Who will be in charge of the company’s social media efforts
  • How much time it will realistically take to set up accounts and start to build your community
  • What are your goals
  • What are the steps required to meet those goals
  • What other internal or external help you’ll need

At this point, you’re really doing a full assessment of where the company is in social media. Find out what your strengths are, where the holes are in your knowledge and determine the best way to fill those gaps. Here is where you’ll also be appointing someone (or two or three) that have the capabilities to lead the company’s social media efforts.

From here, look to what how you can start to create a community, stay in touch with them and provide them with information, content and response to their feedback.

Then, start: get the Facebook and Twitter accounts going, check in daily, put up links on your website to direct people to the new social media outposts. At the outset, once the accounts are set-up (should take a very short amount of time), the initial involvement might be a few minutes a day. As you see more of your community finding you, you’ll have more opportunity to ask questions, look for feedback and find ways to respond to their comments and questions.

If You Feel There’s a LOT More You Could be Doing

GET CREATIVE: If you’re past the first few baby steps described above, this is where you can start to get creative with your postings. Take note of what other companies that ‘get’ social media do. Riff off of their efforts. Come up with ways to creatively produce short videos that show the human side of your company, such as this one from gDiapers that was a video birthday present where employees described what they liked about their boss Kim.

(more…)

Blogging for Beginners — Sponsored by Classic Exhibits

September 15th, 2010 COMMENTS

Free Blogging 101 Webinar

Blogging for Beginners

Blogging for Beginners

Do you ever ask yourself: “Should I start a blog?” Or wonder “Where do I start?”

Most people ask the same questions. After all, blogging is not as simple or straightforward as joining Facebook or Twitter.

Experts say your blog is probably the most important element of your social media mix. More important than Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or LinkedIn – and those platforms are the hottest in the social media puzzle.

Now you can learn what it takes to start a blog. In this FREE one-hour webinar you’ll learn how to choose a platform (WordPress, Typepad, Blogger, etc.), how to customize your blog, how to find topic ideas, and how often to blog.

Join Tim Patterson, VP of Sales and Marketing at Interpretive Exhibits and learn what it takes to become a blogger, whether on your own or for a company or organization.

After all, the more you know about blogging, the better off you’ll be in dealing with the quick-changing social media world.

Join this fun, fast-paced, informative webinar set for September 29 from 10 – 11 a.m. Pacific (1 p.m. Eastern).

Sign up today at http://budurl.com/blogstarter. Seating is very limited.

Social Media 101 Webinar Slides by Tim Patterson

September 14th, 2010 2 COMMENTS

Slides from the Social Media 101 webinar that Tim Patterson conducted in July. Tim is the VP of Sales and Marketing at Interpretive Exhibits.  The webinar was offered to Classic Exhibits Distributors.

Social Media 102 — Sponsored by Classic Exhibits

August 2nd, 2010 COMMENTS
Tim Patterson, Social Media 102

Tim Patterson, Social Media 102

Social Media 102 – Sponsored by Classic Exhibits

How can you use Social Media to drive traffic to your tradeshow booth? Did you know that location-based marketing is perfect for tradeshows, conventions, and events?

Facebook . . . Twitter . . . YouTube . . . LinkedIn — All are great platforms to engage your visitors, draw people to your booth, and get them to WANT to see what you’re offering.

Learn how in a one-hour webinar Social Media Tradeshow Marketing with Tim Patterson, VP of Sales and Marketing for Interpretive Exhibits in Salem, Oregon (a Classic Distributor).

Whether you’re brand new to Social Media or have been tweeting and blogging for years, you’ll come away with useful information, easy-to-execute techniques, and several case studies of how Social Media has improved attendance and sales at events and tradeshows.

Join Tim for this one-hour webinar on Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 10:00 am PT

To learn more and register:  http://budurl.com/socmed102. Seating is very limited!

Social Media Trade Show Marketing

Classic Exhibits Webinar Training

Sacagawea vs. Magellan vs. Perfect 10 vs. Visionary Designs

July 22nd, 2010 3 COMMENTS

Comparing Four Hybrid Display Systems from Classic Exhibits

Are you comfortable describing the differences between the Sacagawea, Magellan, Perfect 10, and Visionary Designs Hybrid Systems with your customers? If not, here’s an excellent summary of each product line.

It’s actually fairly straight-forward (and it makes a lot of sense). Please understand (which translates to me CMA) that these distinctions are broad-based, and there are always exceptions.

In order, from the lowest to the highest starting prices . . . .

Sacagawea VK-1222

Sacagawea Portable Hybrid Displays

Starting Prices:  $3100 (10×10) | $6225 (10×20)

Sacagawea is the entry level portable hybrid line for Classic Exhibits. Introduced about a year ago, it is our most successful product launch ever. The reasons are obvious:  three attractive design series, compact and versatile displays, and terrific price points.

  • Sizes: Table Tops, 10 x 10, 10 x 20, Pedestals, and Workstations.
  • Kits: 65 standard kits.
  • Straight Extrusions:  Mostly straight extrusions with MODUL S40 uprights and Z45 horizontals.
  • Graphics:  Primarily one large tension fabric graphic @ 7.5 ft x 6.75 ft with a smaller tension fabric graphic and/or direct print graphics. Velcro tension fabric.
  • Assembly:  MOSTLY attached knobs with some hex key connections. Individual numbered parts with setup instructions.
  • Colors:  (9) Sintra/Plex Wing colors. (1) Standard extrusion color:  Silver (clear satin anodized).
  • Packaging:  LT-550 Portable roto-molded case(s) with die-cut foam inserts.

Bottom Line:  Least expensive, mostly straight extrusions, primarily knob assembly, medium-large graphics. Ideal for anyone considering a pop up display.

Magellan MOR VK-1077

Magellan Portable Hybrid Displays

Starting Prices:  $4500 (10×10) | $8745 (10×20)

Magellan Hybrid designs vary from straight-forward to complex. Anyone who loves curves, loves Magellan because the kits are all about curved metal and large tension fabric graphics. The most popular have been the Miracle and MOR, which not surprisingly are also the most affordable.

  • Sizes: 10 x 10, 10 x 20, Pedestals, and Workstations.
  • Kits: 62 standard kits.
  • Curved and Straight Extrusions:  Curved and straight extrusions using MODUL Z45 and S40 for horizontals and verticals.
  • Graphics:  One, two, or multiple large tension fabric graphics. Example: 7.4 ft x 7.8 ft and 2 ft x 7.8 ft (Magellan Miracle) with possible direct print graphics. Velcro tension fabric.
  • Assembly:  MOSTLY attached knobs with some hex key connections. Individual numbered parts with setup instructions.
  • Colors:  (9) Sintra/Plex wing colors. (1) Standard extrusion color:  Silver (clear satin anodized).
  • Packaging:  LT-550 Portable roto-molded case(s) with die-cut foam inserts.

Bottom Line:  Inexpensive, mostly curved extrusions, primarily knob assembly, large graphics. Ideal for anyone upgrading from a basic display system such as banner stands, pop ups, or curved pillowcase graphics.

Perfect 10 VK-1507

Perfect 10 Portable Hybrid Displays

Starting Prices:  $5200 (10×10) | $12,840 (10×20)

There is nothing on the market remotely close to the Perfect 10 and Perfect 20. It defines sexy for a portable hybrid display. It assembles without tools and comes in a mind-boggling assortment of color and shape options, all included in the standard price. The P10 is protected by multiple design and utility patents.

  • Sizes: Table Tops, 10 x 10, 10 x 20, Banner Stands, Pedestals, and Workstations.
  • Kits: 38 standard kits.
  • Curved Extrusions:  Mostly curved extrusions using MODUL S40 for verticals and custom Z33 horizontals.
  • Graphics:  One or two large tension fabric graphics. Example: 8 ft x 5.8 ft and 8 ft x 2 ft (VK-1507) with possible direct print graphics. Velcro tension fabric.
  • Assembly:  ALL attached knob assembly and hinged components. Individual numbered parts with setup instructions.
  • Colors:  (9) Sintra/Plex wing colors. (7) Powder-coat extrusion colors.
  • Packaging:  LT-550 Portable roto-molded case(s) with die-cut foam inserts.

Bottom Line:  Competitively priced, mostly curved extrusions, all knob assembly, large graphics, more options. The Perfect 10 System epitomizes high design and offers the most standard options of any portable hybrid in the world.

Visionary Designs VK-1900 SEGUE

Visionary Designs Hybrid Exhibits

Starting Prices:  $7788 (10×10) | $14,826 (10×20)

With Visionary Designs, anything is possible – portable, modular, custom, and custom-hybrid designs. As the saying goes, “form follows function,” and the amorphous design capabilities of Visionary Designs allows you to create simple, complex, large, or small displays.

  • Sizes: Table Tops, Inlines, Islands, Counters, Pedestals, and Workstations
  • Kits: Over 300 standard kits
  • Extrusions:  Hundreds: Depends on the design and the function.
  • Graphics:  From one to multiple tension fabric and direct print graphics.  Velcro and silicone edge tension fabric.
  • Assembly:  Hex key assembly. Individual numbered parts with setup instructions.
  • Colors:  Standard Sintra/Plex colors. (1) Standard extrusion color:  Silver (clear satin anodized). Powder coat and anodizing options available for an addition cost.
  • Packaging:  Roto-molded cases, tubs, and jigged wood crates.

Bottom Line:  Extensive extrusion options, hex key assembly, small, medium, and large graphics (including SEG), unlimited designs, inlines, islands, and table tops. Visionary Designs includes the new SEGUE line of Silicone Edge Graphic displays, which maximizes graphics and minimizes visible extrusion.

Let me know if you have any questions or would like an in depth review of these systems. I would ask that you forward this link to anyone in your organization who would benefit from this comparison.

Also, please let me know if you would like to participate in the webinar Exhibit Design Search:  Tips, Tricks, and Techniques in September, along with a webinar about the basics of blogging.

–Mel White

http://www.linkedin.com/in/melmwhite
mel@classicexhibits.com
Classic Exhibits Network (LinkedIn)