Imagine a world wherein you could just sit, relax and attend a virtual trade show and expos from the comfort of your home or office. Isn’t that fascinating? As technology is becoming more advanced, businesses are making the most out of unique methods to maximize profits and optimize their resources. To put in simple words, it has helped businesses to keep more money in their pockets!
In this particular article, we’ll be covering a complete guide of virtual trade shows and expos. Find out it’s the definition, Its amazing features, how you can make your trade show and expo stand out, and some interesting checklists before hosting the event. So without any further delay, let’s get started!
What are Virtual Trade Shows and Expos?
A virtual trade show is an event that takes place over a web-based solution. It enables exhibitors to host their shows in a dynamic 3D setup just like a physical event. Virtual trade shows and expos are no different from physical events, the only difference is you host your event through digital features. The virtual event platform carries some interactive and scalable features enabling hosts to co-create the event just like in-person events. It enables you to host an immersive show without any geographic constraints! Isn’t that something?
After the COVID-19 missap, virtual trade shows and expos became the most preferential platform. It is safe, secure and easy to use alongside it helps you minimise your expenses, bring in more participants, greater ROI, valuable data collection, and ability to analyse your overall event results, which has made it a more preferred choice among big enterprises.
Features That Your Platform Must-Have In A Virtual Trade Show & Expo
1- Customise Your Virtual Booths
Virtual trade shows and expos platforms have been a great help for exhibitors to brand their products allowing them to showcase it on a virtual booth wherein you can easily customise your designs. A platform must provide multiple design options to match the theme of your event. Let’s admit it, this customising feature has made life easier and saved a lot of time and effort which was not possible in a physical event.
2- Keep your attendees informed about your event
An event is incomplete without its audience, keeping your audiences updated about your event will not only bring in more attendance but also offer a great opportunity to improvise on your mistakes and deliver immersive content. Keep sharing posts related to your event on all the social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and so forth so that your target audience are well aware of your event.
3- Hook attendees for a longer time by offering Giveaways and Goodies
Hosting an event online is exciting but comes with a lot of hardship and challenges. One of the most common challenges is keeping your attendees engaged throughout your event! For that many platforms provide organisations with fun and engaging activities such as quizzes, contests, games like- spin the wheel, crosswords, social wall, photo booth, web-based games, and more to increase your attendees’ staying time. You can also offer unique giveaways or goodies as a token of appreciation.
4- Valuably Track Data Collection
One of the biggest advantages of hosting your event virtually is that it enables you to keep a record of every activity. To acknowledge the overall success of the event having a valuable data tracking device is a must! It will help you generate detailed insights of all the event attendees. This feature can also measure your ROI rates for delivering better results in the future and help you plan your event immersively.
5- Engaging Features to Grab Attendees Attention
After we are done with all the planning and strategizing process, it’s time to grab your attendees attention. Unlike physical events, virtual events can hold as many audiences as you want and hence keeping your participants hooked throughout is the next step to consider. Remember people will be attending your event from all the parts of the world under one virtual roof, so including various engaging tools is a must!
Features like Live polls, surveys, social wall, curative Q & A sessions, quizzes & contest, games are some of the engaging tools that you can incorporate to help you keep the audience involved throughout with any hustle and bustle.
Easy Checklist To Host A Capturing Virtual Trade Show & Expo
#1. Look Out for Security Features
Before hosting a virtual trade show make sure you look out for security features offered by your service provider that will decide your success of the event. The Internet is all about viruses, frauds and crashing so it is highly recommended to ensure that you platform has this feature.
#2. Run A Quick Test To Check Your Technology
Before you begin with your virtual trade show and expo, running a quick tech test is a must! In case there is any technical issue analysed, it can be solved right before the event. This will avoid all the hingence while helping you curate a smooth event throughout! Make sure the features you choose are user-friendly because not every attendee is well versed about the technology.
#3. Strategise Smartly
Strategise smartly to have an outstanding event of all time. Highlight your targets and goals to accomplish a powerful event. Move-in the correct direction according to your needs.
#4. Deliver Quality Content
We all know ‘content is king’ without it you just cannot organise a full-fledged event. Deliver attractive content related to your event wherein attendees could feel connected and walk out from your event with exclusive experience.
#5. Promote Your Virtual Trade Show & Expo Effectively
Any event is a waste if it is not planned and promoted well in the market. Start preparing for your event in advance by advertising your event on all the official channels and company website weeks before your event takes place. You can also use direct mails, public relations, integrated marketing to tune in more attendance.
Reasons Behind How Virtual Trade Shows Stand Out
– Virtual trade shows enable organisers to save a lot of money and time as well. You don’t have to hire staff, rent a venue, book accommodation for speakers and so forth.
– Hosting a virtual trade show yields better ROI which can further help them nurture qualified leads and strategies accordingly.
– Bonus point is you are saving mother nature by limiting your outings and peacefully attending the show from the comfort of your own space.
– Unlike physical events, hybrid events, virtual events can be highly accessible. It enables attendees to access the entire event from any part of the world, with whichever device and browser.
Over to You
Virtual trade shows offer great opportunities for organisations, communities, and individuals. It has widened their reach and enabled people to host or attend any meeting from anywhere in the world. If you are still not convinced about hosting a virtual trade show and want to know more, schedule a call with the topmost platform and get started with your virtual experience.
