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	<title>&#34;Hey Newman&#34; &#187; Trade show giveaways</title>
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	<link>http://magnetproductions.com/blog</link>
	<description>A Magnet Productions Q &#38; A Trade Show Blog</description>
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		<title>Sex Sells &#8230; or Does it?</title>
		<link>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2010/08/25/sex-sells-or-does-it/</link>
		<comments>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2010/08/25/sex-sells-or-does-it/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:19:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Newman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Booth staff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lead generation & follow up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show news & trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[booth assistants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[booth buzz]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[booth traffic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crowd gathering]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trade show trends]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://magnetproductions.com/blog/?p=338</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The year is 1985:  I’m presenting at one of my first trade shows: Comdex.  Strolling around the Sands Convention Center, I see more women falling out of their clothes than I’d seen at Caesar’s Palace the night before. I turn a corner and actually see one booth offering lap dances with women cooing high-tech features of products to highly “attentive” attendees. But, of course, that was then and this is NOW, right?  We’ve progressed WAY beyond that kind of thing. (Insert ironic smirk, here.)]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><em>Hey Newman, I attended my first major trade show recently, and I have to say, it wasn’t exactly a “family-friendly” event.  Do these shows always have so much skin on display?” –Bob in New York</em></strong></p>
<p>The year is 1985:  I’m presenting at one of my first trade shows: Comdex.  Strolling around the Sands Convention Center, I see more women falling out of their clothes than I’d seen at Caesar’s Palace the night before. I turn a corner and actually see one booth offering <em>lap dances</em> with women cooing high-tech features of products to highly “attentive” attendees.</p>
<p>But, of course, that was then and this is NOW, right?  We’ve progressed WAY beyond that kind of thing. (Insert ironic smirk, here.)</p>
<p>Several months ago, I attended<strong> a very large and respected annual event in Las Vegas. </strong>There were “stewardesses” in micro-miniskirts and skin-tight Spandex everywhere I looked. Attendees were getting whiplash walking from one booth to the next — and senior executives of some of the <em>same </em>companies exhibiting the questionable practices, were taking offense. (Senior executives of both sexes, mind you.) It became such a cause for concern that I understand Show Management will now be enforcing a booth staff dress code for future events.</p>
<p><strong>This conduct is precisely why it</strong> <strong>can be so difficult to articulate the value of a legitimate, professional crowd gatherer to an exhibitor</strong>; they’re lumped in with all the rest of this “eye candy.”</p>
<p>As I have written about before, <a href="http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2009/06/09/the-great-debate-qualified-crowd-gatherers-or-mere-booth-babes/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">qualified, savvy crowd gatherers</span></strong></a><strong> can be a huge help on the trade show floor.</strong> But these women and men are doing much more than selling sex and taking photos with attendees; they’re delivering a pitch, stratifying prospects and bringing target attendees to the booth staff capable of following up. It’s important, meaningful work.</p>
<p>All this sex appeal raises a very important question:<em> <strong>What do these companies think they’re getting for their money? </strong></em>Sure, attendees are stopping by the booth for a “closer look,” but who are these people and what are they looking at? <strong>Sex sells … but what does it sell?</strong> What’s the takeaway? When calls are later made to follow up on these leads, the people picking up the phone aren’t real prospects. They just wanted a photo between two bikini-clad models. <strong>A guy in a suit might be less attractive, but he’s attracting <em>serious</em> prospects. </strong>And by that, I mean “serious” in demeanor and interest in your product.</p>
<p>Companies need to keep in mind that when they run their trade show presence like the Vegas strip, they don’t get the benefit of <strong>“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”</strong> These attendees have smartphones with 5 megapixel cameras and 1080p video. Now it&#8217;s more like  &#8220;<strong>What happens in your booth is on YouTube in 30 seconds.&#8221; </strong> And if what&#8217;s happening there is not consistent with your company image, or potentially offensive, THAT can be some risky business.</p>
<p><em>Have an industry-related question? </em><a href="mailto:info@magnetproductions.com?subject=Question%20for%20%22Hey%20Newman%22"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em>Send  &#8220;Newman&#8221; an e-mail</em></span></a><em> and get your inquiry answered on  the blog.</em></p>
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		<title>Do You Need a &#8216;Pickup Artist&#8217; in Your Trade Show Booth?</title>
		<link>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2010/07/20/you-might-just-need-a-pickup-artist-in-your-trade-show-booth/</link>
		<comments>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2010/07/20/you-might-just-need-a-pickup-artist-in-your-trade-show-booth/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:58:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Newman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Booth design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Booth staff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show news & trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show presentations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade shows & social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[booth traffic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[engagement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[passion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pickup artists]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://magnetproductions.com/blog/?p=317</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do your booth staffers look like sad little wallflowers? Do they look like kids at a high school social afraid to ask someone to dance? Is there a guy sitting expressionless in front of a glass bowl of Hershey’s Kisses, wondering why no one is coming up to talk to him? This “condition” is more common then you might think, especially with the smaller booths. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><em>Hey Newman: I just got back from attending a trade show in Vegas and from the look of things, it seemed that most of the people staffing the booths just didn’t want to be there.  Don’t you think there’s a much cheaper way to have a lousy time? —Gail from New York</em></strong></p>
<p>This is a message for trade show vendors: At your next show, sneak up on your own booth. That’s right, pop out from around a corner about 10 yards back and take a good, honest look at your investment.</p>
<p><strong><em>Do your booth staffers look like sad little wallflowers?</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em> </em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Do they look like kids at a high school social afraid to ask someone to dance?</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em> </em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Is there a guy sitting expressionless in front of a glass bowl of Hershey’s Kisses, wondering why no one is coming up to talk to him? </em></strong></p>
<p>This “condition” is more common then you might think, especially with the smaller booths. At one recent show, I walked around and paid particular attention to the 5 x10 and 10 x10 booths. Often they&#8217;re manned by just two or three people who are so uncomfortable they’re burying their heads in books or dabbling with smartphones — just sitting there waiting for it all to be over.</p>
<p>I looked at these people and found myself thinking about Neil Strauss, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone best known for penning a book called, <em>The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists</em>. This was the inside story of guys who despite NOT being the most attractive males out there, pick up women with absolute ease. Strauss not only researched this “secret society,” he became arguably one of the top pickup artists in the world and actually started conducting workshops for the undesirable and uninitiated.</p>
<p><strong>At the heart of this book is a philosophy about “how to engage people.”</strong> He argues that if you’re going to try to pick up a woman in a bar, you don’t say, “Can I buy you a drink?” You don’t ask anything that could elicit a “no” response. Instead, you “engage” her. You contrive a story seemingly playing out before her eyes and ask, “What do you think?” Yes, it’s an opening line. But it’s an opening line that’s not clichéd or overwrought; it’s a question that pulls this woman into a story with you through her advice or involvement.</p>
<p>Strauss’ philosophy is hardly limited to the world of pickup artists. “<strong>Engagement” is something that most certainly can be applied to trade show marketing.</strong> I was observing the booth staff at this recent trade show, and they weren’t engaging anyone. First of all, they’re sitting. Rule No. 1: No sitting! Secondly, even when standing, they look positively miserable. <strong>If you’re spending that kind of money at a trade show and you’re planning to go there with the attitude that you’d rather be anywhere else, then <em>don’t go!</em> </strong>And before you say a couple of staffers don’t represent the “enthusiasm of the company,” remember that these faces <em>are your company</em> for the purposes of these crucial three trade show days. They are the representative image of you and the images that attendees will remember.</p>
<p>Honestly, if I had some sort of magisterial banishment power, King Newman would have sent home half the people working this particular trade show. If you’re going to look bored — <strong>if you’re going to feel miserable — find another way to market your services.</strong></p>
<p>Here’s the ironic thing: A lot of these same people will spend a fortune on search engine optimization, which is designed to drive traffic to their site. <strong><em>But they don’t spend any energy driving traffic into their booth. </em></strong>And that doesn’t necessarily mean hiring a trade show presenter like me but perhaps a <a href="http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2009/06/09/the-great-debate-qualified-crowd-gatherers-or-mere-booth-babes/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">crowd gatherer</span></a> — at least someone with people skills! If the person in your booth is not the type who can go up to a perfect stranger and strike up a conversation, then they’re the wrong person to be at the show.</p>
<p><strong>You need to find someone who is not just a technical expert; you also need your company’s best pickup artist.</strong></p>
<p>Have an industry-related question? Send &#8220;Newman&#8221; an e-mail and get your inquiry answered on the blog.</p>
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		<title>Humor Always Has Its Place at Trade Shows</title>
		<link>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/29/humor-always-has-its-place-at-trade-shows/</link>
		<comments>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/29/humor-always-has-its-place-at-trade-shows/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:07:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Newman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Trade show giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show news & trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show presentations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[humor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[live presentations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[storytelling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trade show trends]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://magnetproductions.com/blog/?p=313</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A lot of companies are in a serious mood right now and are concerned whether laughter in presentations is appropriate. Generally speaking, companies have the tendency to hide behind, "We have a serious message." The fact is, every organization has a serious message. Business is serious stuff. But there are a million ways to communicate that message.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><em>Hey Newman, all you have to do is pick up a newspaper to see that we’re in a VERY serious climate right now.  I know as a trade show presenter, your approach is to balance content and comedy. Are you still finding it appropriate to be funny, or are companies so sensitive about everything that they want strictly informational presentations? —</em></strong><strong>Karen from P.A.</strong></p>
<p>Karen, you’re right. A lot of companies are in a serious mood right now and are concerned whether laughter in presentations is appropriate. Generally speaking, companies have the tendency to hide behind, &#8220;We have a serious message.&#8221; The fact is, every organization has a serious message. Business is serious stuff. But there are a million ways to communicate that message.</p>
<p>Haven&#8217;t we all gone to the movies where we&#8217;ve seen a &#8220;serious&#8221; film, and found ourselves laughing?  You might be laughing through your tears.  Or crying through the laughter.  But the power of the film, its <em>message</em> still comes through.</p>
<p><strong>If you&#8217;re going to impart information — especially if it’s difficult-to-grasp, complicated information — people are more likely to remember it if they&#8217;re laughing about it. </strong></p>
<p>I had a Chemistry teacher in high school who made the dullest material come to life through story-telling, crazy props and even costumes.  His classes were like 45 minutes of stand-up punctuated by the occasional explosion.  I’m sure you have your own version of that science teacher, and I’m sure you remember a lot of what they taught you.</p>
<p>To appreciate the lasting power of humor, all you have to do is walk up to someone on the street (preferably 30 and up) and say, “Remember ‘The Puffy Shirt’ episode of Seinfeld?” Instantly, that person’s face will brighten and they’ll start quoting lines from it … despite how many years it has been since that person saw it on TV. For my generation, you can do the same experiment reminiscing about the campfire scene in “Blazing Saddles,” or your favorite Monty Python sketch.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s plenty of evidence to support laughter as a highly effective memory device. When you have a booth of people laughing about something, you can ask them two hours later “what was so funny?” and they’ll be able to tell you not only what was funny, but the substance behind the joke. They <em>remember.</em> And in the same way, they will remember your company and your featured product or service.</p>
<p>I have watched scores of trade show presentations over the past few months, and the vast majority of them are horrible. About as riveting as watching paint dry.*  No laughter. No smiles.  Just a lot of vacant stares.  The presentations are little more than a staged reading of a product white paper, followed by, &#8220;Thank you very much&#8221; and &#8220;Here&#8217;s your free shirt.&#8221;</p>
<p>Ask someone what they remember two hours after a presentation like THAT, and they’ll say,  “Um &#8230; well I did get the free shirt.”</p>
<p>(By the way, I actually did find a video of paint drying on YouTube. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1VEY7ndKCs" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Watch it</span></a> and judge for yourself.)</p>
<p><em>Have an industry-related question? </em><a href="mailto:info@magnetproductions.com?subject=Question%20for%20%22Hey%20Newman%22"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em>Send   &#8220;Newman&#8221; an e-mail</em></span></a><em> and get your inquiry answered on   the blog.</em></p>
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		<title>Ditching Trade Show Paper in a Digital World</title>
		<link>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/08/ditching-trade-show-paper-in-a-digital-world/</link>
		<comments>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/08/ditching-trade-show-paper-in-a-digital-world/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:59:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Newman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Booth staff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Going green at trade shows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lead generation & follow up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show news & trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade shows & social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[digital devices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[going green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trade show trends]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://magnetproductions.com/blog/?p=308</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Jeffrey, I want you to imagine this:  It’s Monday night, and you’ve just blocked out two hours for the season finale of  “24.” During the next 120 minutes, as Jack Bauer saves everyone from everything, how often do you think you’ll see him with armfuls of papers, rustling through them for reference while he’s disarming a bomb or finding the bad guys? Never. Why? Because it’s on his phone. It’s on his thumb drive. It’s on his laptop or if and when there’s “24: The Movie,” on his iPad. It’s all about quick, simple, efficient, on-demand information access — especially when TV lives are on the line.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><em>Hey Newman, I’m back from my last trade show and just got done wading through about 10 pounds of brochures, flyers and press releases.  I hate to admit it, but most of it is now on it’s way to the recycle center.  Is this my fault or the exhibitors’? —Jeffrey in Redwood City</em></strong></p>
<p>Jeffrey, I want you to imagine this:  It’s Monday night, and you’ve just blocked out two hours for the season finale of  “24.” During the next 120 minutes, as Jack Bauer saves everyone from everything, how often do you think you’ll see him with armfuls of papers, rustling through them for reference while he’s disarming a bomb or finding the bad guys? Never. Why? Because it’s on his phone. It’s on his thumb drive. It’s on his laptop or if and when there’s “24: The Movie,” on his iPad. It’s all about quick, simple, efficient, <em>on-demand </em>information access — especially when TV lives are on the line.</p>
<p>At the core, the trade show world isn’t very different. The smart companies are getting away from traditional media entirely. The trend started with moving from glossy paper handouts to CDs … then to 1 gig thumb drives. The next logical step is to point all those iPhone and iPad-toting attendees to a dedicated website landing page. Why burn through paper and budget when you can just direct people to YourNameHere.com/Interop?  Virtually every trade show attendee has a handheld digital device, or two. Now it’s up to all of us to utilize them. In the meantime, exhibitors featuring innovative ways to share information will continue to best the booths with stacks and stacks of paper. At a recent show, one company was handing out 2-gig storage drives that were the no larger than a credit card. All that literature that would get trashed, was now treasured right there next to your Amex card. Brilliant.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and those high capacity storage devices also lend themselves beautifully to video testimonials, product demos and other things that paper just can’t deliver.</p>
<p>I believe that attendees need to take some responsibility for this problem as well.  Just last month I watched someone at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, going through their trade show bag and dumping just about EVERYTHING into the trash.  Well, they DID rescue the t-shirts and flying monkeys &#8230;</p>
<p>Attendees should ask themselves — <strong>while still at the show</strong> — if they really need all those papers. They should also be asking the exhibitors if they have a green, travel-friendly alternative. If exhibitors find themselves going home with almost all of the literature they showed up with,  how fast do you think they’ll adjust? Immediately!</p>
<p>Jeffrey, it’s not just about being green; it’s about being smart … and taking advantage of all the opportunities available in the digital trade show world.</p>
<p><em>Have an industry-related question? </em><a href="mailto:info@magnetproductions.com?subject=Question%20for%20%22Hey%20Newman%22"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em>Send  &#8220;Newman&#8221; an e-mail</em></span></a><em> and get your inquiry answered on  the blog.</em></p>
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		<title>Top 10 Ways to Guarantee More Booth Traffic and Better Leads</title>
		<link>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2010/05/07/top-10-ways-to-ensure-more-booth-traffic-better-leads/</link>
		<comments>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2010/05/07/top-10-ways-to-ensure-more-booth-traffic-better-leads/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 May 2010 16:47:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Newman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Booth design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Booth staff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Going green at trade shows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lead generation & follow up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show news & trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show presentations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade shows & social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crowd gathering]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lead follow up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[targeted giveaways]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://magnetproductions.com/blog/?p=290</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Realize smaller can be better: When selecting your booth size, keep in mind that investing in a 20x40 might not guarantee you a more successful show. A smaller booth that is constantly packed is a lot less expensive than a large half-empty booth and will generate much more excitement. Think of your last dinner party. Doesn't everyone seem to congregate in the smallest room in the house?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>1) Realize smaller can be better</strong><br />
When selecting your booth size, keep in mind that investing in a 20&#215;40 might not guarantee you a more successful show. A smaller booth that is constantly packed is a lot less expensive than a large half-empty booth <em>and </em>will generate much more excitement. Think of your last dinner party. Doesn&#8217;t everyone seem to congregate in the smallest room in the house?</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>2) Make sure your booth staff is ready to talk to attendees<br />
</strong>That means don’t sit down. Avoid standing in groups of two or more fellow staffers. Stand near the aisles.  Look out at the crowd and <em>make eye contact</em>. Smile. Don’t say, “Can I help you?”  They’ll say, “NO.”  Instead, look at their name tags.  Use their name. Ask them what their company does. Invite them into the booth. Now you’re getting somewhere.</p>
<p><strong>3) Quickly follow up on leads<br />
</strong>Three-quarters of the leads generated at trade shows are never followed up on … and when they are followed up, it tends to be way too late. Those 2,000 leads you got don’t mean anything if you don’t <em>do something</em> with them.<strong> </strong>You need a way to categorize your leads as “HOT,” “warm” and “cold” — and with hot leads, there’s no such thing as getting in touch too soon. First contact should come within days of the trade show’s end. When weeks or months go by, you just end up lumped together with all the other SPAM.</p>
<p><strong>4) Use giveaways to build booth traffic<br />
</strong>BUT, don’t just give stuff away. USE that giveaway item to quiz the audience on what they’ve just heard. Use it to get them to ask questions. You can also use higher-priced giveaways (from thumb drives to HD TVs to wads of cash) as an incentive to get people to the demo stations and get them into the booth. And consider “green” giveaways. Cheaply made swag just ends up in the trash and then in landfills. You want your giveaways to <em>last</em> … so that attendees hold onto your branded item as long as possible.</p>
<p><strong>5) Keep product demos short</strong><br />
Seven minutes is ideal. Ten minutes is the limit. Fifteen minutes … Get the hook! Trade show attendees have a lot of real estate to cover. Don’t feel you have to tell them your <em>entire story</em>. Pique their interest. Get them to want to know more. Get them into the booth.</p>
<p><strong>6) Limit your seating<br />
</strong>A seating area with 50 chairs is intimidating. Few people want to be the first to sit down. Also, if you have an audience of 25 people, it still looks half empty. But with a dozen or so seats, you’re looking at a standing-room-only crowd. People walking by will be more interested in what’s going on if all the seats are full. It’s only natural to wonder what could be going on <em>over there.</em></p>
<p><strong>7) Have at least one crowd gatherer<br />
</strong>We are not talking about scantily clad eye candy for your booth. We’re talking about warm, engaging, gregarious greeters. We’re talking about men and women who know how to chat up people in the aisles, ask them questions, invite them into your booth, introduce them to your knowledgeable (and well-trained) staff. These crowd gatherers will continue to invite people to stop and listen even after the presentation has begun. If you skip the crowd gatherers because of the stereotypes, you’re doing yourself a disservice.</p>
<p><strong>8 ) Insist on an “open” booth design</strong><br />
Think about the lines. Think about the traffic flow. And think about how much you enjoyed the last time you couldn’t find your car in a parking garage. Try to design your booth in a way where there are virtually no impediments in any direction for someone coming in or someone going out. Make the booth’s architecture as open as possible to create maximum flow. You want people to just stroll through and almost accidentally find themselves in the booth. Booth layout and thoughtfulness has much more to do with success than booth size and “impressiveness.”</p>
<p><strong>9) Do your pre-show work!<br />
</strong>Promote in advance using social media. Send e-blasts to prospective attendees. Offer up a promotional tease to get people into the booth before the show even starts. Tweet from the trade show floor<strong> </strong>with your latest news<strong> </strong>and special offers. Utilize video. Do a “Live from the Trade Show Floor” spot and a daily wrap-up. Announce news and promotions with all the fanfare a live recording can offer. Make it short, interesting and something to get people excited <em>in anticipation</em> of your event.</p>
<p><strong>10)</strong> <strong>Utilize a professional presenter<br />
</strong>Bippy the Mime making a workstation out of balloons may be impressive, but it’s not likely to ensure you qualified leads. Have someone represent your company who is engaging, knowledgeable and will interact with the audience. Most trade show demos seem to be staged readings of marketing white papers. Whether you hire a professional presenter or not, don’t do this … under any circumstances.  Everyone talks about “24/7, valued-added solutions.” Your audience will tune out. Say it in layman’s terms, and say it with <em>passion</em>. Find a reason to truly care about your subject matter.</p>
<p><em>This article originally appeared as a guest contribution on the <a href="http://www.choicevendor.com/blog/2010/05/10-ways-to-make-the-next-trade-show-your-best-ever/" target="_blank">ChoiceVendor.com blog</a>. We&#8217;ll return next week to the usual Q&amp;A format. </em><em>If you have an industry-related question, <a href="mailto:info@magnetproductions.com?subject=Question%20for%20%22Hey%20Newman%22"><span style="color: #ff0000;">send &#8220;Newman&#8221; an     e-mail</span></a> and get  your inquiry answered on the blog.</em></p>
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		<title>Toxins &amp; Trade Shows: What Can We Do Better?</title>
		<link>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2010/04/17/toxins-trade-shows-what-can-we-do-better/</link>
		<comments>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2010/04/17/toxins-trade-shows-what-can-we-do-better/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:01:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Newman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Booth design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Going green at trade shows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show news & trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[going green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trade show trends]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://magnetproductions.com/blog/?p=272</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As part of our ongoing dialogue with the green marketing experts at The Good Mix, we’d like to turn our attention this week to the incredible toxicity of trade show carpeting. You can smell it when you walk onto the trade show floor. Some people have allergic reactions. It emanates from the backing materials and carpets themselves. Breathing in the fumes for three days is bad enough for trade show attendees — and for those of us who make a living on trade show floors it’s an even bigger issue. Inhaling VOC (volatile organic compounds) can absolutely give you a headache. But far more seriously, those VOC’s have been linked to asthma and cancer. And when that carpeting ends up in landfills, it becomes an environmental problem that affects us all. Trade shows should be about the fun of dynamic presentations and the excitement of new products; it should be about the “atmosphere” of the event … not the actual atmosphere. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><em>Hey Newman, We exhibit at about four trade shows a year, and   I’ve yet to do one that didn’t give me a headache. And I mean that   literally.  Is it the noise? Dehydration? I know you’re not a doctor,   but what do you think? </em></strong><strong><em>–Ann in San Francisco</em></strong></p>
<p>As part of our ongoing dialogue with the <a href="http://thegoodmix.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:  #ff0000;">green marketing experts</span></a> at The  Good Mix, we’d like  to turn our attention this week to the incredible  toxicity of trade  show carpeting. You can smell it when you walk onto  the trade show  floor. Some people have allergic reactions. It emanates  from the  backing materials and carpets themselves. Breathing in the  fumes for  three days is bad enough for trade show attendees — and for  those of us  who make a living on trade show floors it’s an even bigger  issue.  Inhaling VOC (volatile organic compounds) can absolutely give you  a  headache.  But far more seriously, those VOC’s have been linked to   asthma and cancer. And when that carpeting ends up in landfills, it   becomes an environmental problem that affects us all. Trade shows should   be about the fun of dynamic presentations and the excitement of new   products; it should be about the “atmosphere” of the event … not the <em>actual   atmosphere. </em></p>
<p>The good news is the trade show floor is an  environment that’s  controllable. It’s temporal (built and shut down) as  opposed to the  L.A. freeway. We can change the materials at these  events. We can even  change the trade show culture, and with it the  “default” materials and  products used.</p>
<p>There are companies that  create carpet squares made from 100%  recycled materials, lowering the  amount of carpet that ends up in  landfills releasing toxins into the  air. There are low- and no-VOC  paints for booths. There are plenty of  alternatives to using vinyl,  which is one of the greatest toxic  offenders in the industry (and most  industries).</p>
<p>Management  companies pride themselves on giving out presentation  awards such as  “Top New Product.” What if they created incentives for  their exhibitors  buying booth space along with a “Top Green Exhibitor”  award? What if the  following year that exhibitor got a discount on  booth space or better  yet, preferred exhibit space in a prime location  for having the greenest  booth, most sustainable giveaways and smallest  carbon footprint?</p>
<p>There  are ways to have a friendlier trade show environment <em>and </em>incentivize   the process to keep all parties happy. It will just take a few good   ideas and a lot of commitment.</p>
<p>And if you’re looking for some  information on how to “green” your  trade show presence, please contact  <a href="mailto:Janet@thegoodmix.com"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Janet at The Good Mix</span></a>.   She’s a great resource.</p>
<p><em>Do  you have an industry-related question you&#8217;d like answered on  &#8220;Hey    Newman&#8221;? <a href="mailto:info@magnetproductions.com?subject=Question%20for%20%22Hey%20Newman%22"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Send him an    e-mail</span></a> and get  your inquiry answered on the blog.</em></p>
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		<title>Everything You Need for Trade Show ‘Tweeting’</title>
		<link>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/17/everything-you-need-for-trade-show-tweeting/</link>
		<comments>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/17/everything-you-need-for-trade-show-tweeting/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:00:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Newman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lead generation & follow up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show news & trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade shows & social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[booth buzz]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trade show trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[using video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://magnetproductions.com/blog/?p=142</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I know you’re busy and are afraid that Twitter will be a big time-wasting machine. But it’s not like you need to have a Twitter Department and hire a CTO (Chief Tweeting Officer.) Just throw yourself into the mix. There’s absolutely no downside to creating a very simple Twitter profile—even if it’s just a profile directly related to your presence at an upcoming trade show. It costs nothing to do. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><em>Hey Newman, I don’t want to tweet and there’s nothing you can do to make me. That’s not really a question, but I wanted to say it anyway. –Scared in Seattle</em></strong></p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p>Okay, SIS, I hear you. People are still very resistant to jump into the whole Twitter thing … especially when I move from talking about 140 characters to “advanced” tweeting techniques such as leaving Twitter video messages.</p>
<p>I know you’re busy and are afraid that Twitter will be a big time-wasting machine. But <strong>it’s not like you need to have a Twitter Department and hire a CTO (Chief Tweeting Officer</strong>). Just throw yourself into the mix. There’s absolutely no downside to creating a very simple Twitter profile—even if it’s just a profile directly related to your presence at an upcoming trade show. <em>It costs nothing to do. </em></p>
<p>In fact, most companies have already taken that first step and do have a profile set up. It’s just not being used in any meaningful way. So, here’s a start: <strong>Tweet from the trade show floor </strong>with your latest news<strong> </strong>and a special offer only for the first 50 people to drop by the booth. Get comfortable with that, and then read the next paragraph when you’re ready to start really enhancing your trade show presence through Twitter Power.</p>
<h3><strong>Twitter &amp; Video: Marriage Made in Trade Show Heaven</strong></h3>
<p>Okay, 140 characters of text is a good start. But it’s hard to distinguish yourself from all those other text micro-posts flooding a Twitter user’s feed. <em>“Stop by my booth!” </em>might not hack it all of the time. That’s why you utilize video. Have your actual trade show presenter record 30- or 60-second spots for your Twitter feed and Web site. Do a “Live from the Trade Show Floor” spot and a daily wrap-up. Announce special offers, news and promotions with all the fanfare a live recording can offer.</p>
<p><strong>Video is a differentiator.</strong> It stands out from the typical 140-character crowd and taps into something people already love to watch: film previews. They’re short, they’re interesting and they get people excited <em>in anticipation</em> of something.</p>
<p>Creating these videos and getting them published online has never been easier. My favorite methods are two tools: <a href="http://www.bubbletweet.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">BubbleTweet</span></a><span style="color: #ff0000;"> </span>lets you record a cool, little bubble-shaped video that pops up on your Twitter page. <a href="http://www.bubblecomment.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Bubble Comment</span></a> creates a similar effect, but it’s right on your very own homepage. And, of course, your Web site and Twitter profile can cross promote one another. And if that’s a touch too much new technology for your taste, just post to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBm2FKpNCg0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">YouTube</span></a> and copy the embedded video code.</p>
<p>Before you say, “I don’t have the production equipment,” just let me say, “Buy a <a href="http://www.theflip.com/en-us/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">FlipCam</span></a> …. and, done!” If you’ve worried about being on camera, we’ve got talent who do this kind of thing for a living. For an example, I want you to check out a Twitter video by professional presenter, Andy Saks. <a href="http://www.bubbletweet.com/showBT.php?id=xghh2 " target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Here’s a recent BubbleTweet video</span></a> he did to encourage attendees to stop by the AT&amp;T Booth at Educause. Seriously, take a look because this is a great example of  harnessing the marketing power of a simple 30 second video.  Believe me, EVERYONE should be doing this stuff.</p>
<p>I’m not saying you need to use Magnet Productions to get any of this done. You don’t. I’m just saying all the tools and resources are in place to quickly take advantage of some great marketing tools and get more people into your booth! So, at your next trade show, don’t be Scared in Seattle. Use these suggestions and be the King of the Trade Show Twitterverse.</p>
<p><em>Do you have an industry-related question you&#8217;d like answered on &#8220;Hey Newman&#8221;? <a href="mailto:info@magnetproductions.com?subject=Question%20for%20%22Hey%20Newman%22"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Send him an e-mail</span></a> and get your inquiry answered on the blog.</em></p>
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		<title>The FOUR R’s: Reuse. Reduce. Recycle … Rebrand!</title>
		<link>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2009/10/06/the-four-rs-reuse-reduce-recycle-rebrand/</link>
		<comments>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2009/10/06/the-four-rs-reuse-reduce-recycle-rebrand/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:03:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Newman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Booth design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Going green at trade shows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show news & trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[going green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rebranding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recycling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trade show trends]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://magnetproductions.com/blog/?p=121</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We all know the “Three R’s” of green responsibility: Reuse, Reduce &#038; Recycle. As it relates to trade shows, there’s a “Fourth R” you can remember to enhance your trade show (and overall marketing) presence: Rebrand. Find opportunities to tell your company’s story in ways that create a positive association between attendees and your company.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Hey Newman, I really appreciated that <a href="http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2009/09/28/there-is-no-away-in-giveaway/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">&#8216;green giveaway&#8217; post</span></a><span style="color: #ff0000;">.</span></em><em> What other trade show tips did you get from</em><em><span style="color: #ff0000;"> </span><a href="http://thegoodmix.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Green Marketing expert</span></a> Janet Pomeroy? -Anne in Berkeley<br />
</em></p>
<p>We all know the “Three R’s” of green responsibility: <strong><em>Reuse, Reduce &amp; Recycle</em></strong>. As it relates to trade shows, there’s a “Fourth R” you can remember to enhance your trade show (and overall marketing) presence: <strong><em>Rebrand</em></strong>. Find opportunities to tell your company’s story in ways that create a positive association between attendees and your company.</p>
<p>I came across a <a href="http://www.dariamusk.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">rising star rock musician</span></a> who instead of giving out CDs at industry events and conferences, hands out biodegradable download cards that actually sprout flowers when you plant them in the ground. How’s that for telling a positive story while self-promoting <em>and</em> greening your public presence?</p>
<p>Start simple. Instead of giving out landfill-destined water bottles at trade shows, give away health- and eco-friendly <a href="http://www.kleankanteen.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Klean Kanteens</span></a> branded with your company identity. Provide a water source and you’ll be a hub of activity with an item that people will use for <em>years</em> instead of days or hours.</p>
<p>As for marketing materials, instead of expensive four-color brochures, provide thumb drives that can contain far more marketing information than an attendee would ever otherwise take home—including video, Web site links and anything else you can think of. And if you must have some printouts, just make sure it’s 100% post-consumer recycled paper with vegetable-based (nontoxic) inks. Water bottles = landfill. Paper = trees + landfill.</p>
<h2>Rebrand Through Re-Skinning</h2>
<p>One of the best opportunities for green rebranding is <a href="http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2009/06/02/with-booth-design-does-size-matter/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">booth re-skinning</span></a>, a technique for which I’ve already professed my love in this blog. Just think of all the resources that go into constructing a new booth every year and for every show. You can save a boatload of money recycling an already-built booth and giving it a “fresh face” with your company and product identity.</p>
<p>Lastly, ask the show decorators to provide recycling and composting. It’s possible to recover about 95 percent of tradeshow waste simply by having recycling and composting available. In some cities, the facility will actually spend less money by recycling and composting than by hauling waste.</p>
<p>Forty percent of what most people consider waste is food or food-related products. Suggest compostable flatware made from corn-based products and compostable paper plates. Trade shows look great when they take these steps; it’s a marketing message that can really be used in public relations and outreach … while diverting a lot of unnecessary waste from landfills.</p>
<p>Once again, if you’d like more information on eco-business strategies (or anything green), please visit Janet at <a href="http://thegoodmix.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">http://thegoodmix.com</span></a>.  Or follow her on Twitter at <a href="http://twitter.com/thegoodmixer"><span style="color: #ff0000;">@thegoodmixer</span></a><span style="color: #ff0000;"> .</span></p>
<p><em>Do you have an industry-related question you&#8217;d like answered on &#8220;Hey Newman&#8221;? <a href="mailto:info@magnetproductions.com?subject=Question%20for%20%22Hey%20Newman%22"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Send him an e-mail</span></a> and get your inquiry answered on the blog.</em></p>
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		<title>There is No &#8216;Away&#8217; in &#8216;Giveaway&#8217;</title>
		<link>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2009/09/28/there-is-no-away-in-giveaway/</link>
		<comments>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2009/09/28/there-is-no-away-in-giveaway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:42:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Newman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Going green at trade shows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show news & trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[going green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[swag]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[targeted giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trade show trends]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://magnetproductions.com/blog/?p=113</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For starters, take a good, hard look at your trade show giveaways. Products have a lifecycle. You purchase it from a manufacturer, who generates waste in the making of the product. That product is then packaged and travels thousands of miles to get someplace. From there, it’s redistributed, repackaged and sent out again (this time to your company). In the end, that adds up to thousands of pounds of carbon for thousands and thousands of pieces of swag.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Hey Newman, there seems to be an awful lot of talk these days about &#8220;going green.&#8221;  Is there a way that can be applied to the trade show industry? –Ellen in Oakland</em></p>
<p>Ellen, that’s a great question … and I almost went off on a rant about my random thoughts on “greening” your trade show presence. But that’s just what it would have been: random. So, I decided to do a bit of research and reach out to those who really know the answer to your question. Ever since you asked, I’ve been in an ongoing dialogue with Janet Pomeroy from The Good Mix. She’s a <a href="http://thegoodmix.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Green Marketing expert</span></a> with one of the first Green MBAs offered. So here’s a real, informed answer to your question:</p>
<p>For starters, <strong>take a good, hard look at your trade show giveaways</strong>. Products have a lifecycle. You purchase it from a manufacturer, who generates waste in the making of the product. That product is then packaged and travels thousands of miles to get someplace. From there, it’s redistributed, repackaged and sent out again (this time to your company). In the end, <strong>that adds up to thousands of pounds of carbon</strong> for thousands and thousands of pieces of swag.</p>
<p>And where does that squishy ball or flying guerrilla go after you give it away at the booth? It’s going to go home with that trade show attendee, end up in the hands of his son who plays with it and breaks it … and from there it <strong>ends up in a landfill</strong>. It really never does go &#8230; <strong>away</strong>.</p>
<p>That’s because most of this stuff is cheaply made. Giveaways have a very short lifespan because they’re not made to last. So, one of the first things Janet asked was: <em>“<strong>Do you need so much junky swag?</strong></em><strong> </strong>Are there alternative forms of messaging that will last for years instead of just one show? … Especially when all the leftovers are going to be tossed in the trash.”</p>
<p>What Janet’s words made me realize is I’ve <em>always</em> been against wasteful giveaways, but for an entirely different reason: <strong>You want the person to hold on to your branded item! </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Years ago, I discovered a number of items that could effectively substitute for the typical giveaway—and not end up in a landfill a week later.</p>
<p>In one case, it was a simple card trick.  The mechanism is this: One of three cards, a 5 of Clubs is placed into a spectator’s hand. Everyone is sure it’s the 5 of Clubs. When the card is turned over, it has magically turned into the company’s business card. It’s a simple illusion, but one that <strong>trade show attendees love to learn <em>and repeat</em></strong><em>. </em>I was recently at a trade show and an attendee recognized me from a show six months earlier.  He asked me if I had any more of those magic business cards. I asked him why, and he said it was because <strong><em>he had been using it over and over</em></strong> as an icebreaker in meetings, and it wore out.</p>
<p>I couldn’t have asked for a better endorsement. Instead of a propeller hat, here’s something fun that keeps branding your company again and again. I guess in this industry, you can equate sustainable with <em>interesting</em>. <strong>If it holds their interest, they’ll hold onto it longer. </strong></p>
<p>So, Ellen, giveaways is one place to start. And we’ve got plenty of ideas on giveaways that are practical, useful, interesting and won’t be thrown “away.”  Keep an eye on this blog for much more about “greening” your trade show presence. I couldn’t even come close to fitting it all in one post. Thanks to you and Janet Pomeroy from <a href="http://thegoodmix.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">The Good Mix</span></a><span style="color: #ff0000;"> </span>for getting the gears turning on this important topic.</p>
<p>If you’d like more information on eco-business strategies (or anything green), please visit Janet at <a href="http://thegoodmix.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">http://thegoodmix.com</span></a>.</p>
<p><em>Do you have an industry-related question you&#8217;d like answered on &#8220;Hey Newman&#8221;?<span style="color: #ff0000;"> </span><a href="mailto:info@magnetproductions.com?subject=Question%20for%20%22Hey%20Newman%22"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Send him an e-mail</span></a><span style="color: #ff0000;"> </span></em><em>and get your inquiry answered on the blog.</em></p>
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		<title>The Value of Giving Away Money</title>
		<link>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2009/06/23/the-value-of-giving-away-money/</link>
		<comments>http://magnetproductions.com/blog/index.php/2009/06/23/the-value-of-giving-away-money/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:52:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Newman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Booth staff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show news & trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[booth buzz]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[booth traffic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[qualified leads]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[targeted giveaways]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://magnetproductions.com/blog/?p=44</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I recently did three days of presentations for a company that was giving away $10,000 at a trade show. The festival atmosphere this promotion conjured up was beyond incredible. I've seen companies give away cars and other larger-ticket items, but the buzz about this cash was unparalleled.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong>Hey Newman, cash prizes at trade shows: A good investment or a waste of money? -Mike in Los Angeles</strong></em></p>
<p>I recently did three days of presentations for a company that was giving away $10,000 at a trade show. The festival atmosphere this promotion conjured up was beyond incredible. I&#8217;ve seen companies give away cars and other larger-ticket items, but <strong>the buzz about this cash was unparalleled.</strong></p>
<p>To win, you filled out a card with your name and contact information. To be eligible to enter the drawing, you had to watch the live presentation I gave or engage with somebody in the booth one-to-one and ask a question or listen.</p>
<p><strong>All three days of the show, we never presented for less than standing room only. </strong><em>Ever.</em> On the last day, the money had already been given away, yet we still packed the presentation. That final-day success had a lot to do with our crowd gatherers and how persistent we were about getting the seats full. But on those first two days, <strong>the money did a lot of the work. </strong></p>
<p>I mean, it&#8217;s $10,000. That&#8217;s a lot of cash &#8230; and a substantial incentive.</p>
<p>Not every company is going to shell out 10 grand, but they might spend $1,000, which is still a good chunk of change. It&#8217;s enough for people to come into a booth and fill out a piece of paper just to enter the drawing. So, if a company is willing to spend $1,000 for the cash grand prize and a total of $800 more for three medium-priced electronic devices, what they&#8217;ll get back for that expense is huge. <strong>There&#8217;s a lot of buzz and booth traffic</strong> to be gained from an investment of that size.</p>
<p>Mike, the point of contention is whether this cash incentive will get you a bunch of greedy &#8220;dead-ends&#8221; or some actual leads on which to follow up. There&#8217;s a big argument in the trade show industry that says you&#8217;ve got to look for quality leads over quantity. I disagree. That&#8217;s because if you have 20,000 people attending a show, <strong>you must do something compelling</strong> in your booth to capture the names of a significant percentage of those people (even 10 percent over three days) and get that traffic to flow through the booth. If you don&#8217;t, there&#8217;s a good chance you&#8217;re never going to have the opportunity to identify those coveted high-quality leads. In fact, you won&#8217;t have any leads at all.</p>
<p>Those 25-30 key people—the dream leads—aren&#8217;t going to just magically appear in your booth.  They&#8217;re likely to be swept into your booth along with the hundreds of other people who may be there to just win the $1,000.</p>
<p>There are only a few things that will draw people to your booth, and a lot of it has to do with what&#8217;s eye-catching. That can be movement, color, noise; those create crowds. When we did this drawing, and we have video documentation of this, there were 1,000 people standing around the booth. The fire marshals were getting people out of the aisle. It was insanity, pandemonium.  People were walking by asking,<em> &#8220;What&#8217;s going on here? &#8230; They&#8217;re giving away $10,000! Oh my, can I get in?&#8221; </em></p>
<p>Sure, that person may have no interest in the particular technology, but somebody they later talk to might &#8230; or somebody they&#8217;re standing next to might &#8230; or somebody just walking by. An adept salesperson will capitalize, and there&#8217;s a huge piece of business that&#8217;s been booked.</p>
<p>Trade shows are, by their nature, a little bit of &#8220;sideshow.&#8221;  There&#8217;s no question that <strong>it&#8217;s all about buzz and excitement. </strong>And nothing says excitement better than an oversized check with $10,000 printed on it.</p>
<p><em>Do you have an industry-related question you&#8217;d like answered on &#8220;Hey Newman&#8221;? <a href="mailto:info@magnetproductions.com?subject=Question for %22Hey Newman%22"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Send him an e-mail</span></a> and get your inquiry answered on the blog.</em></p>
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