A great way to get your product out there that is unique is through a virtual trade show. Virtual trade shows are gaining popularity and are a fantastic way to get other people with similar products involved in your business. You can serve yourself and others by starting one up to get your products/services out there. To help you to develop your virtual trade show, here are a few ideas.
1. Supply a map of the trade show floor that imitates the real trade show. Have links on the map to each vendor’s virtual booth.
2. Have every online visitor register on your site. Providing them with an ID number makes it simple for them to get information from every vendor online, instead of filling out information at every virtual booth.
3. Visitors should be able to search by company name, booth number, or type of service/products.
4. The unveiling of your virtual trade show should be a couple of weeks before the conference.
5. Try to get each booth to offer a special that will be featured on the trade show web page.
6. Have coupons that online guests can print up and take to the live show. The organizer should plan their own coupons online. Consider a free drink coupon or a special souvenir of the conference, only available with the coupon.
7. Set up online stations in the exhibition area so live guests can go to the online trade show. A printer should be there so coupons or discounts can be printed off.
8. Get a digital camera and take photos of every booth at the live trade show. Put the pictures on the online pages to help people identify the vendors.
9. Keep the show online for a few months after the real show in case people want to follow up.
10. If vendors can’t be at the live show, still let them be in the online one but charge a fee.
11. Allow vendors to create their own booth at your website. Offer different set ups for different fees; just like an online advertisement.
12. Make sure links to vendors’ company’s can be opened in a new window so you don’t lose traffic. Your site should be in the background waiting to be seen.
