Anyone who gets Exhibitor Magazine, has seen the retro photo that is in the back of each issue, showing a tradeshow image from what seems like a century ago (and sometimes is!). Tradeshow marketing to me is classic. Unlike print advertising that has taken a hit with the rise of social media, tradeshow marketing will continue to live on because of the face-to-face relationship building, and the ability to meet so many customers and prospects in just a few days.
But now, in today’s digital age, we are faced with new opportunities to use social media at tradeshows to make our marketing efforts and relationship building go even further.
Easy Ways to Use Social Media in your Tradeshow Marketing
Here are a few basic ideas for utilizing the two marketing mediums together to make for a more memorable tradeshow experience overall:
- Write a blog post about the event either pre-show, at-show or post-show to share your experiences and knowledge.
- Prior to the show, monitor Twitter to see if there are any trending topics related to the event. If special event #hashtags are being used, make sure to put them in all your show-related tweets.
- Take action photos of visitors in your booth (with their permission) and post to your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Linkedin.
- Tweet about customers you met at the show, testimonials they provided, or insight they shared. Be sure to mention their Twitter Handle or Facebook page in the post for a proper shout out!
- Team up with other people who are tweeting about the show. Retweet topics when they are relevant to your audience. At the end of the show, thank them via Twitter.
- Consider a contest or giveaway that ties your tradeshow into social media, such as a drawing for a gift, e-book, or other incentive for people who mention @yourcompany or use your #hashtag. If you can, have them come to your booth to get it.
- Use your Smart Phone to gather in-booth video testimonials or commentary to use on YouTube, Facebook, or your company blog. Ask customers or colleagues who are featured in the video to share it with their colleagues or friends. This could also work well with other businesses who are complimentary to yours.
- Use your tradeshow contacts as a way to grow your Linkedin network. Always customize your message when inviting people to connect on Linkedin, especially if you just met recently.
Looking for even more ideas for using social media at trade shows? Read this post for 19 more ways to Integrate Social Media into your next Tradeshow or Event.
What other ideas have you tried or are playing with? How would you expand on these basic ideas? How are you using social media at your next tradeshow? Tell us about it or ask us questions on our Facebook page.
