Part I: Trade Show survey reveals current exhibitors Strategies

A recent study by Champion Services focused on the impact the economy has on the Trade Show and Events industry. 
***receive complete trade show listings here.

81% of Exhibiting Companies reduced trade show spend

The companies reduced trade show spend by:

• 56% reduced staffing
• 39% reduced the amount of shows 

With uncertainty in the economy still looming, companies, a slight majority (51%) of them, plan on increasing their trade show participation as the economy recovers.  Top tradeshow goals that companies revealed were:

• 79% collect leads
• 75% creating brand awareness or growing market share
• 33% use trade shows to launch new products

When asked how they measure or value investment, exhibiting companies responded with:

• 74% quality of leads collected 
• 59% booth traffic
• 54% quality of leads collected
• 52% sales from leads collected

Leslie Brand, VP of Marketing for Wheelhouse Solutions said that, "The trade show industry is in a period of transition", (duh- my response).  She also went on to say that, “Exhibitors report that participation in trade shows is not just about selling products or services. As stakeholders in their industries, they are looking for ways to leverage a return on the investment throughout the year and stay connected to others in their industry. Social media technologies can play a role in building community facilitated by show organizers allowing event attendees and exhibitors to engage year round.”(again duh and what?- I did not see "want to engage customers via social media as a top tradeshow goal above).

The survey then stated 57% that value promotion of their event-related activities on social media such as Facebook (34%), Twitter (28%), and LinkedIn (19%). In addition, 45% value year-round online communities populated by event attendee.  In addition, 62% of respondents report that trade show expenditures represent more than a quarter of their marketing budget, including 28% of exhibitors who indicate trade shows represent more than half their marketing budget. While a majority of trade show related budgets will remain the same in 2010 and 2011, a quarter of the companies predict increased spending on future trade shows compared to 2009. 

After reading these statistics and comments, I can clearly understand why companies leave trade shows disappointed, frustrated and wondering what they can do to increase their tradeshow marketing investment.  A good majority of trade show companies just want to sell you equipment and NOT integrated solutions and will never have the ability to move on past this point.  If your trade show budget is 25-50% of your annual marketing budget, you better make sure that you have winning solutions for your trade show investment.  And if you have NO social media strategy in place today, get one NOW!

Part II will focus on down and dirty Trade Show marketing solutions that you should Crave!

The Last Mile of Engagement is not Free

Must Watch quick vid with the Social Master Brian Solis talking about marrying influence with confluence which will ignite the interaction.  "The ROI of social media marketing is connecting with the right individuals where they are and who they are connected with", Brian Solis.

Centenarians using Mobile Devices

According to a recent study, 

8% 

of Centenarians texted in the past year 

out of 84,000 living in the US.

Just hope they were not driving.

Business Quote, Mantra, Mission

"Advertising 
                               
                                 is the Price  

        companies pay for being  
               
                               un-original",                   

Yves Behar, Designer at TED2008

Experiential Marketing creating awareness of sustainable living and green technology

Dartmouth students and recent graduates are spending the summer living on a bus in an effort to increase awareness of sustainable living and green technology described as a “science fair on wheels.”

Described as a “science fair on wheels” it’s the fifth year that students have taken part in the project.  The bus itself — a 1989 MCI coach that we swear we’ve taken to the airport — has been converted by the students to run on waste vegetable oil (WVO). Creature comforts (including air conditioning) are provided by ten 12-volt deep-cycle AGM batteries connected to a 4000 watt inverter and tied in with four solar panels. To complete the sustainable theme, cabinets and flooring are made from bamboo.

The bus tour departed from Hanover, NH on June 18th and has already made over 45 stops to educate visitors about sustainable living and refuel with WVO at greasy spoon diners across the country. Its last scheduled stop is in Cleveland, OH on August 29th.

Social Media marketing for the tour can be found at Twitter, Facebook and the team’s blog.