Tips for a Successful Virtual Trade Show Experience
With this year’s sudden switch to virtual, sometimes it may feel like you aren’t getting the same amount out of your trade show experience as you would in person. Talking across a computer screen can feel less personal, more formalized and may not lead to the depth and quantity of conversations that you would like.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way. With a couple easy adjustments, you can begin to get more out of your virtual trade show experience, helping you create more opportunities and connections during shows.
- Reach out in Advance
By making connections in advance of the show, you go into it knowing what the people you want to communicate with want and what they’re expecting. You’ll have a better sense of how to talk to them and you’ll already have connections to further your conversation during the show.
By connecting prior to the show, you ensure the show focuses on deepening your conversation instead of acting as an initial interaction, even if just to say hello and connect. From there, you’ll be a familiar individual instead of a stranger and a first connection, making it easier to get to the conversation you’re looking for.
- Prepare Questions in Advance
This goes for anything you can prepare in advance, but it is especially helpful to prepare your questions in advance. By knowing what you want to ask and what you’re looking for, you’re able to make the most out of your time and conversation. You can guide the conversation in the direction you want by asking questions that get right down to what you’re interested in hearing about.
With a general outline of questions, you’ll also be able to easily adjust those questions to the person you’re talking to instead of needing to think of personalized questions on the spot. This ensure you come across as more attentive to their needs as well as more prepared.
- Get Creative
Not having the traditional format of an in-person show can feel isolating and difficult, but it doesn’t have to. This is an opportunity to branch out on how you’re representing yourself and your company through creative ways to interact and show your material. Don’t shy away from unique solutions to make yourself stand out. You don’t want to blend in with everyone else at the show, so give yourself the opportunity to be a bit different, and it will draw attention.