Our Cut on Tradeshows

What a year it has been for tradeshows. Often a great time to network and solidify business deals, our industry has seen a heap of in-person events turned virtual in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. While in-person events are valuable, the health and safety of the people who make this industry possible are invaluable. Fear not, there are still ways to make the most of virtual tradeshows this year.

Participate.

Sure, it would be easy to brush off a show-gone-virtual as a cost-savings move. You will no longer be incurring travel expenses and time away from your daily duties, but don’t go so far as to disregard the show completely. In order to get anything out of a virtual show, you must first participate. The challenges of 2020 have prompted a creative change in the way companies market their brands and engage with the twenty-first century customer which is now the highly digital-focused. Virtual trade shows attract more diverse exhibitors and attendees as there are lower barriers to entry, forming a large online audience. Don’t be the one to miss out on these new opportunities to build connections and engage within your industry!

Cash in on deals.

Although a tradeshow may have gone virtual, you can likely still cash in on a deal. Tradeshows are all about promoting brands and educating the industry and virtual shows are typically following suit. Ask your Sales Reps about deals before and during the show to make sure you can plan your buying accordingly. By gauging offerings and scheduling meetings in advance with vendors of interest you can make the most out of your trade show attendance and get the most bang out of your buck. Virtual trade shows also have the added advantage of incorporating an e-commerce platform, eliminating purchasing delays and allowing buyers to make transactions in real-time. This not only saves you time, it makes the buying process quick and simple.

Create your own timeline.

With what you’ll save in travel time, put that extra effort into exploring all of the items available to you. Learn about new products, special offers and everything your manufacturer or distributor has to offer. With a little looser timeline, you can make the virtual show work with your busy schedule. An additional benefit to going online is that it grants unlimited access for attendees – aka no minimum space requirement. Attend that webinar you want to see or meet with that vendor you’ve been wanting to connect with. Virtual shows allow for much greater exposure and interaction between attendees and exhibitors.

Expand your network.

Trade shows have always been great places to network and virtual shows are no different. Though face-to-face interaction is no longer an option, virtual platforms enable attendees to easily exchange information and message amongst one another. Attending a virtual show could be the first step to developing business relationships and opening a new door of deeper communication.