5 Reasons to Encourage Exhibitors to Upload Digital Media

September 22, 2013

Are you still on the fence about enabling your exhibitors to add rich content such as product listings, press releases, specials and videos to their listings on your event website? Here are five compelling reasons which may just persuade you to change your mind.

  1. Save Paper

By providing an online forum for exhibitors to showcase their products and services, many show organizers are significantly reducing, and in some cases completely eliminating, dependency on thick printed directories. By going digital, you will not only be saving costs and precious natural resources, but are bound to be also recognized by the industry for your green initiative.

When Penton Media’s Natural Products Expo West 2011 event was reconginzed as the leader in green initiatives amongst the trade show industry for the fourth year running, the director of exhibitions and conferences for Penton Media explained the event’s eco-friendly strategy in words which highlight the importance of going digital: “We are committed to being progressive in our strategies to drive quality attendance to our events. We are passionate about providing an in-person experience aligned with our market. The variety of recognition we have received is a testament of our holistic approach in delivering leading events in the tradeshow industry.”

  1. Get Noticed by Search Engines

It’s no secret that leading search engines like Google and Bing give heavy weightage to photos, slideshows and videos for ranking in search results. If a large volume of digital media is hosted and viewed on the event website, it’ll definitely boost the event’s online visibility. Conversely, if the search engines crawlers find more text-heavy pages on the event website, other websites with richer content will be considered more relevant by their indexing programs.   

  1. Provide Value to Exhibitors

Exhibitors are always eager to use every opportunity to get in front of the attendees. Being able to showcase their innovations and specials to attendees before the event pleases exhibitors tremendously and helps strengthen their relationship with the event organizers.

  1. Engage Attendees

Most of us are spending more and more of our waking hours browsing the web and using apps to plan our lives. Attendees, no matter which industry they belong to, now prefer to use the feature-rich event website and mobile app to search for exhibitors and plan their personalized agenda ahead of the event.

This is how an attendee at PACK EXPO 2012 explained the value provided by the official mobile app solution: “It’s much better than the printed show guide, you can search the exhibitors by product categories.”

Exhibitors with rich and engaging content are, of course, going to generate more interest in their brands when attendees are able to view their product listings and watch their promotional videos before deciding which companies they are going to engage with at the event.

  1. Generate Additional Revenue

By building upgrade packages that enable exhibitors to pay for additional digital media listing options, show managers can generate additional revenue from their online assets as well as provide visibility to featured exhibitors and sponsors.

Click here to check out how USITT conveys the value of upgrading their eBooths to exhibitors on the event website.

Add new comment

About text formats

Related Articles

Within a few days of returning from a trade show, it’s important to get together with your team to review the event’s successes and failures. Your booth staff will have fresh…
It’s no secret that trade shows and conferences produce a sizable amount of waste that becomes destined for the dumpster after just a few days in the spotlight. Having…
Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, was home to the 2019 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exhibition last week, Aug. 10-13. More than 5,400 association…
The fashion industry is evolving fast, and the biannual MAGICfashion trade show is keeping up, with everything from on-trend iridescent signage to mobile app registration to…
Mary Pat Heftman, who has overseen the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show for two decades, will be honored as the 2019 TSNN Awards Industry Icon…
This year’s SISO Event Innovation Battlefield, featuring five event tech companies, was a fierce competition, but the audience of more than 200 trade show executives…
Partner Voices
Partner Voices
NO WISH IS TOO BIG AT THE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact
Learn More