"Don't Miss a Beat: Utilize Your Time At Convention to Gather Future Promos and Content!"
So, you're planning a convention or trade show, huh? Congratulations on diving into the world of logistics, décor, and a thousand tiny details you never thought you'd need to worry about. You’ve got the speakers, the booths, the swag bags—wait... do you have enough coffee? What about the Wi-Fi? The power outlets? Have you triple-checked the location of the bathrooms? If you’re not wondering about at least five things you’ve forgotten, are you even really planning a convention? Let's see if we can catch the one or two things that may slip through the cracks, shall we?
During my years of managing Trade Shows and Conventions, it was imperative to create a standard checklist that included every little thing that I could possibly forget…weird little things like safety pins (for clothing emergencies), extra batteries, and a small first-aid kit. (I don’t think I EVER attended a trade show or convention where I didn’t require a band-aid during set-up or tear-down of a booth!)
Not only are the trivial things important, but have you considered other ways you could improve your event by creating a more effective and engaging conference for your attendees and sponsors?
Give Your Sponsors Some Love
Promoting your sponsors at a convention is like showing off your cool friends at a party. They're the ones who made it all happen, and if you don’t give them a shout-out, it’s like hosting a pizza party and forgetting to tell everyone who brought the pizza! Plus, sponsors love to see their logos splashed everywhere - it's their moment to shine, like the stars they are. So, give them the love they deserve, and they might just keep bringing the pizza... or, you know, the funds for next year’s convention!
At a recent convention that Marketing Angle was hired to promote, we produced short (1-2 minutes) videos with as many vendors as possible. With minimal equipment, literally an I-Pad with a mic, we assigned one person to visit each vendor booth to shoot a short video of them telling everyone about their business! They were easy to capture, required little to no editing, and we posted them on our client’s social media platforms giving us an uncomplicated way to “spotlight” their businesses and show our appreciation after the convention was over.
Don’t Forget About Future Promotions
Taking advantage of the opportunity to get pictures and video for future promotions is one of the things that may be forgotten if it’s not on a checklist! Hosting a convention or trade show is like having the ultimate backstage pass to a highlight reel for your future promos! Take those photos and videos - capture every awkward selfie, every high-energy moment, and even that one attendee who somehow ended up with three name tags. You’ll be sitting pretty with fresh content for social media and future promos, and trust me, your future self will thank you when it’s time to make the next convention look even more fabulous. Plus, who doesn’t want to look back and laugh at the epic moments, like that time someone accidentally photobombed the keynote speaker? Perfect material for next year’s marketing!
Make sure you take the time when planning your convention or tradeshow to assign these important tasks in advance. Once the convention starts, it’s hard to plan on the fly.
Other Opportunities You Don’t Want to Miss
Conventions and Trade Shows are usually well attended by Board members, Employees, and other important people in the industry. It’s a perfect opportunity for you to hire a professional photographer and get some professional photos taken during the event of award winners, Board Members, and employees.
Whether it’s a conference, convention, trade show or special event, planning is key to its success!
Below are a few tips:
- Start your planning process early (4-6 months for new events)
- Establish clear, quantifiable goals (grow attendees, grow vendors, establish your organization as an authority in your industry)
- Define your audience (who is your ideal attendee?)
- Gather insights from previous attendees (survey previous attendees for topics, hot-button issues, or speaker suggestions)
- Craft a multi-channel marketing plan (email campaigns, social media posts, event details on website, newsletters, get speakers/prominent attendees to share on their social media)
- Create a reasonable budget and stick to it (shop around for major costs; venue, equipment rentals, catering, etc.)
- Build an event agenda
- Highlight your sponsors effectively
- Have a backup plan in case something goes wrong (create a plan to combat the many issues that typically go wrong…log in issues, microphones not working, presentations not loading, etc.)
Marketing Angle offers expert services in planning, promoting, and managing conventions and trade shows for clients, ensuring a seamless and impactful experience. With a strategic approach, we handle everything from initial concept development to executing targeted
marketing campaigns that boost attendee engagement and brand visibility. Our team works closely with clients to tailor each event, leveraging our experience and creative strategies to maximize success. Whether it's managing logistics, creating engaging content, Marketing Angle is your trusted partner for executing conventions that leave a lasting impression.
If you’re looking for someone to handle it all or just lend a helping hand,
we’d love to talk with you about your next convention, trade show or event. Call us today.
