For start-ups, trade shows and expos are a vital source of leads and funding. They are also a great way to speak to potential customers to learn more about them and their needs. As well as being a good way to begin to build a brand.
It costs money to attend them. But for most businesses the investment pays dividends. For example, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) found that the cost for meeting a new prospect at a trade show is around $142 per meeting. Whereas the cost of tracking down the right person and meeting them face to face is around $250.
So, it is well worth attending them and investing time and money into making the most of these opportunities. Going to the show or expo equipped with the right digital display screens and technology to make the best possible impression.
Modern digital signage features provide companies with the tools they need to be able to get noticed and tell their story. To demonstrate what they have to offer and temp people who visit their stand to take action and buy or invest.
Using digital signage to stand out and catch the attention of attendees
People notice digital screens, which means that having one or two as part of your trade stand is an excellent way to attract attention. To stand out from the hundreds of other exhibitors.
Tell your story
Startups need a great back story. It helps to get them noticed and provides a way for them to make an emotional connection with potential customers and influencers within their sector. Some of the biggest brands on earth e.g., Virgin and Apple have used storytelling to launch their brands, make an impact and keep them growing.
It is a highly effective marketing technique that every startup should be using. Something which is far easier to do than many entrepreneurs think. This in-depth article explains how any company, regardless of the market they are operating in, can create a story that will resonate with others.
Once created the brand´s story can be used in many ways, including at trade shows and expos. It can be shared using either still images or short powerful videos that are displayed on digital screens.
Demonstrate your product
Trade shows are a great way to connect with potential customers and the movers and shakers of an industry. But there are only so many hours in the day. Meaning that it is only possible for a start-up owner to speak directly to some of the people that express an interest in their stand. At times when the stand is busy showing a short video that demonstrates what a product does, and its benefits is invaluable. Doing so ensures that no opportunity to make an impact is missed.
Share promotions and tempt buyers
Video display screens are used in most retail outlets to share the details of promotions. To tempt people to buy. The same thing can be done at trade shows and expos by start-ups. It is a highly effective way to make those vital first few sales.
Learn more about what potential customers respond to
Provided the response to the promos is tracked, digital display screens can help startups to learn more about their potential customers. Most digital display software will automatically track what time a certain image or video was being shown. That means at the end of the day someone can review the sales figures for each period of time to see if one promotion or form of advertising prompted people to buy, more than the rest. This provides insight into how potential clients think, which enables the startup to tailor their product development and marketing to better suit them.
To use QR codes to achieve amazing levels of engagement
It is possible to incorporate QR codes into a digital display image. The ability to do this opens up a world of marketing possibilities. Using QR codes, startups can do the following:
- Use it as a virtual business card to share contact details which passersby can use to find out more later. When they have more time.
- To direct people to your website.
- To direct them to a pop-up screen, which asks them to share their email in return for something free, for example, access to a discount, free trial, white paper, or checklist.
When it comes to using QR codes for marketing, the above ideas are just the beginning. There are dozens of other uses which can be read about here.
The great thing about digital display screens is that once the expo or trade show is finished they can be taken back to the business and repurposed. For example, used for in-store advertising. Or, behind the scenes for culture building and staff training.
