Exhibitor tips
To stand out in the crowd requires a combination of strategy, tactics and interpersonal skills plus a significant amount of preparation. Below you'll find 26 tips to set your team up for success.
If you have any questions, contact expo@tmforum.org.
Pre-event
Identify your goals
What are you trying to achieve? Possible goals include increases in new leads and sales, increasing your brand visibility, expanding your social media network and even the creation of content for your long-term marketing activities.
Life's a pitch
Send the right individuals to the event and make sure they can deliver your elevator pitch (a 30-60 second overview of what your product/service does).
Tip: Practice initial conversations with your team using different personas. Tailor the conversation based on the attendees’ challenges/needs.
Plan an interactive experience
Engage your potential customers!
We are here to help you amplify that message. Let us know what your plans are. If approved, we will provide additional exposure for your brand by promoting your announcement/activities on webpages, social, emails to registered delegates and will share with our press and analysts in attendance.
Create a clear target list
Track the top prospects you want to meet at the show and book meetings beforehand.
Tip: Use the event app to message attendees
Let your customers know you'll be exhibiting
- Visit the marketing toolkit for support
- Use Feathr to let your customers know that you'll be at the event
- Post weekly on social media using the event hashtag #TMFDigital
- Update your email signature strip
- Add Digital Transformation World to your upcoming events listing
Have an "everything box"
Pens, stapler, tape, paper clips, scissors, Velcro, name tags, paper, business cards, etc.
Create the right atmosphere
Design the booth so visitors can navigate easily without feeling crowded. Keep the atmosphere intimate and remove any barriers between yourself and your audience.
Book/stand checklist
- Deliveries
- On site storage
- Electricity and Internet
- Graphics
- Furniture
- Screens
- Collateral racks
- Go green with QR codes (for downloads)
- Lead retrieval
- Register passes
Utilize the press list
Set up briefings and gain industry exposure via the press list. The list will be available in early June.
Schedule a staff briefing
Prepare to gather up and energize your onsite team with a briefing to go over roles and responsibilities.
During-event
Staff your booth
Make sure you have enough people so that staffers get breaks. Consider having a schedule for each team member to attend sessions and network with fellow attendees.
Tip: New for this year, all exhibitor passes have access to summit sessions.
Download the event app
Make sure you and your staff download the event app prior to the event.
Engage with visitors
Did you know all it takes is 3 seconds to make a good impression? Make sure to engage with visitors and be approachable. Everyone on your stand should be happy talking to visitors and starting conversations with passers-by.
Follow the 80/20 rule when speaking with attendees: Listen 80% talk 20% - Those who listen are the most successful.
Schedule a meeting
Meet someone interesting? Schedule a meeting with them onsite.
Be active on social media
Have someone take photos/videos and post it on your company's account using the event hashtag #DTW24 #Ignite.
Reward the staffers
Hold a contest to reward the staffers who obtain the highest quantity of qualified leads.
Look after yourself
Wear comfortable shoes and look after yourself.
Post-event
Send follow up email within 72 hours
Get leads into your CRM as quickly as possible and send a follow up email within 72 hours. Make sure to personalize these messages.
Connect on LinkedIn
Always swiftly invite connections on LinkedIn with the people you met.
Nurture Leads
Put prospects into your lead nurturing process.