Question

Topic: Other

Need An Idea To Get Tradeshow Leads To Our Booth

Posted by bekebo1 on 8/28/2008 at 3:06 PM ET 250 Points
We have a huge tradeshow coming up and have been given the opportunity to showcase our product (software) on the second day of the show in one of the reserved conference rooms. We would like to get the audience to visit our booth the next day for a demo and need an incentive to have them do that. We are already gving away ipods (at our booth) so we need something different. Looking for a brilliant idea that we can offer them to get them there for the demo.
Thanks!
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  • Posted by bekebo1 on 8/28/2008 at 4:32 PM Author
    Thank you for replying.
    I agree with the giveaway theory, but the boss insisted.

    We do have postcards we are about to mail out announcing our booth and the software (as well as the iPod giveaway).

    The product is a web based Crisis Information Management Software for Surface Transportation. It allows users to manage and share real-time information between organizations (among other things) to allow better communication to manage a crisis situation.

    The Trade show will have about 16,000 people there from all over the world in the transportation industry.

  • Posted by Frank Hurtte on 8/28/2008 at 5:21 PM Accepted
    I suggest you give away a million smackers...

    Yes, thats right. A million Turkish Lira.

    Guarentee everyone who attends real a Cool Million in real currency... and for a couple of lucky stiffs, give them 100 million which calculates to roughly 85 US dollars.


    I guarantee you will be the talk of the show...
  • Posted by bekebo1 on 8/28/2008 at 5:38 PM Author
    Well now that's an interesting idea, thanks.
  • Posted by Mikee on 8/28/2008 at 7:15 PM Accepted
    How about giving out a free trial of you software. The idea is to tie your giveaway into your business.

    Are you confident that once people use your software they will really want it. The software trial could be a way to get them hooked.

    If your software is subscription based (paid by the year) you could have a drawing for a free year of service. This is what I do for the tradeshow I go to. You can offer to give away a prize for each day of the conference. I found that my winners turn into paying customers the next year.

    Mike
  • Posted by bekebo1 on 8/28/2008 at 7:26 PM Author
    Mike,

    That is an excellent suggestion! I will definitely bring that one up in the next meeting. Thank you.
  • Posted on 8/29/2008 at 6:05 AM Accepted
    You have to start your planning with show research 18-24 months prior to the event. It must include how well does the trade show fit your marketing needs and how convenient are the show dates.


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  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 8/29/2008 at 9:15 AM Accepted
    Give out golden (raffle) tickets. The tickets will both have the day, location, and time of the presentation with the words "must be present to win". The ticket will be a tangible appointment reminder.

    As for why they should attend, it could be any of the following: a single high-priced gift (portable DVD player, domestic airline ticket for 2, etc), lottery tickets (either spread out amongst the attendees or just for the raffle winner), or even tickets to a local home/car lottery (some local charities offer $100+ tickets for really big prizes).
  • Posted by bekebo1 on 8/29/2008 at 9:33 AM Author
    Both are very nice suggestions. The golden raffle tickets are a terrific idea and will bring that one up as well. Thanks for all the great input!
  • Posted by melissa.paulik on 8/29/2008 at 4:37 PM Accepted
    I'd take a bit different approach. You've have a solution for managing some sort of crisis for surface transportation. I would focus on promoting your presentation using that. It's probably hard to talk about crisis management in depth on the show floor. But, if you can get them to your booth, which you are trying to do with the ipod giveaway, you can "sell" them on coming to the presentation later by focusing on it as a serious discussion of crisis management.

    I don't know what the triggers are in your space, but if there are a few "fear factor" strings you can pull, it could get them there in droves. Software vendors did this with the "Y2K issue" prior to the year 2000.

    I'm not suggesting using fear as a gimmick. Presumably, your product addresses a really serious issue for these attendees. Focus on that.

    Finally, you could also promise everyone who attends a copy of a white paper on the subject - hopefully you have one.

    All the best!

    Melissa
  • Posted by bekebo1 on 9/1/2008 at 8:22 AM Author
    Thank you Melissa, this is very helpful.
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