Leveraging Social Media Engagement in Your Trade Show Display

June 16, 2017

Tim Brown

Tim Brown is a marketing associate for GES, where he enjoys helping represent brands with live event technologies.

Trade show managers are always searching for the latest marketing trends to drive their booth’s attendance. Social media participation is key for any large event, enabling trade show goers to stay more engaged with instant updates on floor activities, educational opportunities and speaker sessions. 

Every exhibitor wants to have some sort of social engagement during a show and smart trade show marketers are taking advantage of a wide range of social media strategies to broadcast their message to more people than ever before.

So, if you want to get a larger audience at your booth, leverage social media in your trade show display using these techniques.

Launch Your Social Media Campaign Early to Build Anticipation

If you want people showing up at your event booth, ensure your social media campaign starts well before the event kicks off. Get them excited about your brand by offering product sneak peaks, contest announcements and swag giveaways. Most social platforms allow you to do sponsored content that can be targeted towards people with certain job titles, industries, interests and more.

You can also go the organic route and engage industry influencers. Reach out personally and tweet directly to people who you know will be at the show or to important thought leaders, encouraging them to visit your booth. Getting the attention of show-goers before the show starts will translate into a crowded exhibit from the get-go. 

Using the Power of Photos to Capture an Audience

Experiential marketing is all the rage right now. People love to share photos of their experiences on social media, so give them an opportunity to do it. This provides opportunities for attendees to showcase your brand to their network. Try out one of these photo-centric social media strategies at your next trade show:

·      Photo Contest: Set up a photo contest where people visit your booth, take a photo or write a post using your event hashtag, and post it to their account. Once it goes up, the attendee is entered to win a prize. 

·      Photo Opportunities: Get a celebrity or other public figure to show up and provide photo opportunities for attendees. People love to share photos of themselves with influential or affluent individuals, making it a perfect way to get your message spread across their social networks. 

·      Photobooth: Everyone enjoys stopping by a photobooth and taking silly pictures with their pals, so why not set one up in your exhibit area? You’re giving users a memento that can be shared across social media, so make sure to include features like a Facebook link, Twitter handle and hashtag on the photo booth background and printed pictures. Additionally, you could include a promo code on the photo that users can use for your product, giving them a reason to follow up with your brand. 

Stay Connected to Attendees via Social

Throughout the trade show, work to identify attendees who are using the hashtag or checking in at the convention center or surrounding hotels. Reach out directly to like, comment on or share their posts. Show your brand’s human side to connect on a more personal level and invite them to swing by your booth. 

While many event-goers may feel timid around salespeople in real life, they may be more inclined to inquire about your brand if they connect with your brand online. After the event is over, continue to follow up and nurture those leads that provided social media information to see if there’s any further interest. 

Try Going Live

Video is one of the most dominant platforms on social media today. Facebook’s recent feature, “Live,” lets users host their own real-time broadcasts right on their page. You can take advantage of this at your next trade show by showcasing your exhibit, new innovations and technologies, or interview spokespeople and industry professionals. Live is a powerful tool and can be harnessed by trade show exhibitors to enhance their message across the social media giant.

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Here at Mandalay Bay, venues are inviting and innovative. As one of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center has recently undergone an exciting upgrade. This renowned venue now offers everything your business needs, with a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, as well as an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're searching for a venue that is both inviting and innovative, Mandalay Bay is the place to be. Mandalay Bay is committed to investing in a new wave of enhancements, not only in the convention space but also throughout the entire resort. With new restaurant openings and remodels, spectacular entertainment, and updated rooms, Mandalay Bay promises to deliver new and exciting experiences to its guests until 2024. To create a truly effective conference venue, Mandalay Bay has carefully considered what businesses require. The right technology, capacity, and inspiration are essential to take ideas to the next level. The refreshed Mandalay Bay Convention Center has been designed with your business in mind. Every room is equipped with newly-upgraded technology, enhancing our ability to support bandwidth demand and overall data capabilities. Additionally, the addition of 10 new digital walls provides bigger and more dynamic ways to display customized content messages. Mandalay Bay offers world-class conference space and service. The venue options range from ballrooms to ample pre-function spaces, catering to teams of any size while accommodating multiple large groups simultaneously. Our certified planners work collaboratively with you to understand your specific event requirements, anticipating your business needs and offering the best-fit solutions. In addition to providing exceptional conference facilities, Mandalay Bay is also dedicated to sustainability. We strive to give our guests an unforgettable experience while minimizing our impact on the environment. As part of our sustainable energy efforts, you'll find refillable water stations throughout the property, eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles and reducing unnecessary plastic usage. Mandalay Bay is proud to offer an upgraded and enhanced experience for businesses seeking a venue that combines innovation, convenience, and sustainability. Whether you're hosting a conference, meeting, or other business event, Mandalay Bay's refreshed convention space, world-class service, and commitment to sustainability make it the ideal choice. Come and discover the new wave of experiences awaiting you at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip. Wherever your organization is going, getting there starts with being here.