Bloggers to Gather at BlogWorld Expo, Las Vegas, November

I found This and thought you might enjoy the chance to meet a lot of fellow bloggers.

Any company that has products that are geared towards blogs, vlogs, podcasting or blogging for money you still have time to order your trade show display from Digital Metamorphis.

Mention this blog and proof you will be attending this trade show and you will recieve a 10% discount on your order!

Found on Thinking Home Business Blog
by Des Walsh on Mon 25 Jun 2007 01:07 PM EST

You could be meeting more bloggers in one place, at the BlogWorld & New Media Expo, November 8-9. If only for the chance to spend a couple of days in Las Vegas, you should attend. Expo/Conference organizer Rick Calvert is keen to attract a wide range of bloggers, as indicated on the event home page.

"Blogger, Vlogger, Podcaster, Internet radio broadcaster, or producer of any other form of new media content. If you blog about business, technology, politics, sports, lifestyle & culture, general news items, or celebrity gossip, If you are a Milblogger, or Godblogger, or advocate a social position you need to be at BlogWorld & New Media Expo."

The trade show should prove a great place for all the companies that market their products towards blogs and other related communities.

"will include publishing platforms, design companies, web/blog/podcast hosting companies, aggregators, add-on services, plug-ins, widgets, computer hardware & software, wireless services, podcasting products, wireless & high speed ISPs, VOIP companies, on-line advertising networks, news readers, RSS/syndication services, search engines, consulting companies, affiliate program partners, new media products and services ... and many more."

The Expo conference program covers a wide spectrum of topics, from Business Blogging 101 to "What Web 10.0 Might Look Like: The Far Future".

Executive and Entrepreneur conference on November 7. This is the event described on the expo website as the "CEO Conference".

The CEO Conference is an exclusive pre-show conference beginning on Wednesday, November 7. This confrerence will be focused mainly on corporate blogging and use of new media in business.

I hope to be able to attend myself. If so I look forward to seeing all of you there.

Ten Trade Show Exhibit Best Practices

Is now a good time to spend on a trade show exhibit? Regardless of the economic conditions or competitive landscape, there are many tactics your small business can use to ensure a winning trade show.

Ten Trade Show Exhibit Best Practices

Pick an offbeat show. Sometimes an unrelated show to your target market can be the best exposure opportunity. Nordic Track had huge success not at fitness shows, but at dental trade shows.

Choose unrelated shows, and stand out, making sure the demographics are correct.

Avoid trade show company hype. Companies running the show may over-hype their event. Talk to the businesses who have attended several trade shows.

Follow this information to guide your trade show exhibit attendance decision.

Never exhibit at a new trade show. New trade shows are untested venues. Small businesses have limited time and money to experiment on unknowns. Save your cash for the regular, proven shows in your industry.

Focus on quality. Invest in shows that reach the key decision-makers of your target market.
Create a buzz. Months prior to the trade show, spend time informing existing clients and your market of the upcoming show.

Use the show as a platform for a new product or service launch.

Be an attendee-not an exhibitor. If the budget is tight this year, don't spend on trade show exhibits. Capitalize on the trade show by being a speaker or a panel expert. This will add credibility to your business and attract potential leads.

Partner with the trade show`s management team. Good trade show organizers will want your business to have success and come back next year.

Contact the management team for help with developing an appealing booth, staff scheduling, and marketing campaigning prior to the show kick-off.

Train your trade show team. Trade shows are unlike other sales environments. Limited time and attention of attendees requires quick qualifying, and lead generating tactics. Make sure your staff is prepared and has a clear goal for each day.

Call them while they're hot. Sales staff frequently make the mistake of contacting trade show leads, months after the show. Make sure your sales staff have extra time and incentive to follow-up with all leads within weeks of your trade show exhibit.

Make your business newsworthy.

Entrepreneur, Joseph Cossman, was a master of promotion. To create a buzz around his new toy spud gun at a big toy show, Cossman, ordered hundred's of pounds of potatoes and invited the local orphanage to come and play. The Spud Gun was the hit of the show. Use drama and flair to have your small business stand above the competition.

Trade shows still continue to be big business for all businesses. According to The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), business-to-business spending for trade shows is third to advertising and promotion. In a world of websites, emails, and voice mails, trade shows offer one of the true opportunities to build relationships with face to face contact. Something every business can use a little more of.

A message from the owner of Digital Metamorphis

All

I was not sure about this blog being able to help our company. I have been reassured by several people in the company it is would be a great idea and could not hurt. I know it is fairly new as far as blogs are concerned. However we are already enjoying a few extra calls at the office.

I want to thank anyone willing to link to our blog and help us gain a larger group of readers. That is why we are offering tips and other strategies to help any company or person interested in purchasing a trade show display. If you visit our website you will also see that is far from the only product we have.

Our very talented graphics department offers freelance design services for all kinds of graphic needs. They are able to design a website as well as help design your company logo and any other branding needs you may have. This group of graphic artists can even restore most older and damaged photos that bring them back to their former glory.

We even offer canvas and poster prints for families, grandparents, and anyone that may want one. These are perfect to sit above your mantle or on any other wall in your home or office. We offer many standard sizes as well as custom sizes.

Again I want to thank everyone out in the blogging community that will help us and our readers.

Thank You

Bryan W. Taylor

Upcoming Trade Shows for July 2007

Once again we are listing upcoming trade shows for next month. If you have or are planning on registering as an exhibitor at any of these shows and have not updated or ordered your new display or graphics visit us at Digtal Metamorphis.com!

Core Sports Expo-Buffalo
Date: 07-JUL-07 to 08-JUL-07Core Sports Expo rovides a unique two-day trade expo that is sure to be profitable for both exhibitors and attendees. The only show of its kind, representing all action sports markets in the US, Core Sports Expo will feature over 400 of today's hottest action and adventure sports manufacturers in a venue that promotes buying, selling, networking and marketing. Venue: Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, Buffalo, New York, United States Of America.

Summer Fancy Food Show
Date: 08-JUL-07 to 10-JUL-07Summer Fancy Food Show is the leading part of this technology forum. It showcases all kinds of food processing and packaging machines, materials, systems and products under one roof. This is the unique opportunity to meet senior buyers & decision makers from all facets of the user industry. Venue: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, United States Of America.

DALLAS FABRIC SHOW
Date: 09-JUL-07 to 11-JUL-07The Fabric Show features over 160 mills and coverters of decorative fabrics, laces, trims, leather, and related supplies. Held twice a year, this temporary show caters to the diverse needs of the apparel, bedding, drapery, furniture, gift and accessory item, luggage, slip cover, tabletop and related sundry manufacturers who buy by the bolt. Venue: Dallas Market Center, Dallas, Texas, United States Of America.

Enforcement Expo
Date: 11-JUL-07 to 12-JUL-07Enforcement Expo provides an annual and accessible forum for the police and law enforcement community to learn about vital new techniques as well as to view and compare the latest equipment necessary to do the job. Ohio and its surrounding states make up one of the largest law enforcement markets in the country, with Cleveland at its heart. Cleveland is an accessible and affordable location both for attendees and exhibitors who supply this sizeable market. Venue: I-X Center, Cleveland, Ohio, United States Of America.

Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo
Date: 15-JUL-07 to 19-JUL-07Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo is an international scientific/medical exposition of clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists and other individuals involved with clinical chemistry and other clinical laboratory science-related disciplines. Venue: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California, United States Of America.


Cosmoprof North America
Date: 15-JUL-07 to 17-JUL-07Cosmoprof North America brings the worldwide professional beauty industry together all at one place at one time. Cosmetics & Personal Care Packaging, Contract Manufacturing and Private Lable Professional Hair, Nail & Equipment Venue: Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Of America

July Gift & Home Furnishings Market
Date: 17-JUL-07 to 24-JUL-07L.A. Mart proudly presents the July Gift & Home Furnishings Market, offering unlimited resources and thousands of lines in dozens of categories, all under one roof. With 724,000 square feet of shopping space spread over 13 floors, the Gift & Home Furnishings Market provides an unsurpassed, one-stop shopping experience for buyers. Venue: Anchor of The Furniture & Decorative Arts District, Los Angeles, California, United States Of America.

Marine Aftermarket Accessories Tradeshows (MAATS 2007)
Date: 18-JUL-07 to 20-JUL-07Marine Aftermarket Accessories Tradeshows (MAATS 2007) remains the premier event for the marine aftermarket and brings together nearly 400 accessory manufacturers and over 90% of the industry's marine accessory buyers. The MAATS format provides a great venue for doing business, as buyers come prepared to purchase products for the boating season. Venue: Las Vegas Hilton & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Of America.

Comic-Con
Date: 26-JUL-07 to 29-JUL-07This is far more than a comic book show. This is the First Edition of New York Comic-Con, featuring Comic Book Publishers, Gaming Companies, Manga Publishers, Anime Screenings, Celebrity Appearances & Autographing, Gaming Tournaments, SCI-FI, Movie & TV Screenings, Dealers & Retailers, Artists & Creators, Panels Sessions, Show Exclusives and so much more! Venue: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California, United States Of America.

Again if you need any display exhibits or updates to your current trade show display we are ready to help and offer rush order services!

Selecting the Right (or Wrong) People for Booth Duty

Who in your company is best suited to successfully work your next exhibit at a major trade show?

That seemingly innocuous question has created interesting problems, challenges and much discussion when one considers that in the final analysis, the success or failure of an entire trade show investment will most likely rest on the shoulders of the people selected to work the exhibit.

Therefore, it’s reasonable to consider, that reaching your trade show exhibiting goals will most likely depend on the people selected to work the booth.

That being the case, how would you answer the following questions?

How do you begin selecting the right people?

How do you know they are the right people?

What kinds of trade show booth duty people are better than others?

Who in your company is best suited to do the job successfully?

Who is (or should be) responsible for selecting booth duty team members?

How and when do you train exhibit booth workers?

We all have witnessed many different personality types of people who, for whatever reasons, were selected to work a trade show exhibit. Some were great while others probably should have stayed home. Here is a somewhat entertaining look at a few of the more interesting personality types I’m sure we all have observed at one show or another over the years.

See if you recognize any of these characters:

The know it all

Here is the person who has worked trade show exhibits in the past and firmly believes in his/her ability to fully understand everything there is to know about the exhibit, products and attendees. While taking direction is virtually impossible, this person spends most of the time lecturing anyone willing to listen.

Do as I say, not as I do

Words alone are this person’s bread and butter and will usually always talk a great game. However, when it comes time to working in a booth in a consistent manner, this person can’t hold up and often finds any excuse to take breaks and ends up being gone for most of his/her shift.

I am the technical guru

Prospects and customers can’t hold a candle to this person’s superior technical knowledge and he/she takes almost every opportunity to tell any suspect, prospect or customer about it. Technical arguments are standard practice when anyone disagrees with this guru’s opinion and his/her presence in the booth only spells “headaches” for anyone attempting to calm him/her down and be a little more socially congenial.

To shy to speak

You’ve seen this person in a booth doing anything possible to get away from meeting prospects and customers in a face to face situation. Nothing amiss or devious about this individual, however, his/her introverted personality just does not lend itself to being on the front line at a trade show.

All smiles

The ultimate “Top Gun” sales person is always ready, willing and able to attempt to close every suspect, prospect or general visitor who nears the booth. Usually talks more than listens and literally ends up driving potential new business to the competition.

I’m the boss

Let it be known that the boss is in the house! One can usually spot him/her holding court in the middle of the trade show exhibit while projecting the image of being an executive who might be a little too important to pull booth duty and work side by side with every day worker bees.

The inventor

Somewhere lost in space is the technical person who developed some of the products on display and all he/she really wants to do is quietly go back to the office and get back to work solving more technical problems.

Why am I here?

Field sales people have been often heard to declare: “I’ve got sales targets to meet in my territory with only a few days left in the quarter to close some business and here I am standing in the middle of McCormick Place, Chicago playing booth tag with strangers I have no interest in meeting. Who’s going to compensate me when I miss my sales target and bonus I’ve worked so hard for all year to earn?”

Jokes and good times galore

They usually stand in small groups off the beaten path telling jokes, assorted funny stories and comment on any unusual person(s) that might walk by. Work! Are you kidding? We haven’t seen these guys together since last years show and it’s time to catch up and have some fun while away from home and the office.

Man, do I have a headache

This unfortunate soul probably looks like he/she spent the night curled up in some corner wondering what time it was and how many hours until it was time to stand booth duty. For some unknown reason, out of town trade show time is “let’s get a little crazy” time and it usually shows the morning after much to almost everyone’s disappointment.

Eat drink and be miserable

At 25 years old, it might be possible to go out after the show, have a few drinks, a big meal and get to bed and get about 5 hours of sleep and then show up at the exhibit the next day in pretty good shape. Over 25 years old and it’s highly unlikely that this activity will continue to support a future of meeting promotional goals and salary increases, especially on the trade show floor where it’s almost impossible to hide from management’s critical eye.

The Don Juan

Wedding ring hidden away somewhere, generously splashed with the newest body wash and feeling 21 years old again, this individual is away from the spouse, kids and home and ready to party. We’ve all seen individuals like this and it’s also a known fact that their unacceptable behavior is not in the best interests of the corporate trade show exhibit effort.

A bit out of shape

Effectively and responsibly manning a trade show booth for three days is hard, demanding work that tests the boundaries of both the mind and body. If the booth staff is out of shape, tired or hung over, prospects and customers will know it and most likely politely walk away disappointed and with them any chance of meeting most pre-show goals.

The “Trade Show Coach”, Susan Friedmann, (http://www.thetradeshowcoach.com/) says:

“The 5 most important individual characteristics the trade show manager should seek out in selecting booth duty people are,”
People who want to be there – i.e. they like meeting new people, building relationships, like to travel, etc.

Appreciate the importance and power of tradeshows and are willing to work hard to achieve company and personal goals and objectives.

Have great questioning skills and are able to probe visitors for essential/quality information that’s critical for the follow-up process.

Superlative listeners – have the ability to listen more than they talk (tough skill for salespeople)!

Can think on their feet and can adapt their presentation/demonstration to meet the visitor’s needs.

We’re entirely confident that almost everyone reading this can add to our list of entertaining unusual trade show characters seen working exhibits, but as much fun as it is to match the above types with actual people we might know, that’s not the objective of this article.
What is the objective of the article is to get people thinking more seriously about who might be best suited and who in the company should or should not be asked to work your next major trade show exhibit presentation.

Consider the following:

Required in every person selected to work your trade show exhibit should be dedication, commitment, professionalism and sincerity. In addition, these special people should at all times exemplify the highest level of integrity and honesty your company stands for in the marketplace.

Booth people should know the products and services offered and are able to present this information in a confident and careful manner while asking intelligent questions and listening to the answers provided.

The entire booth staff should be selected and viewed as the company’s most professional, well trained and sensitive employees who set excellent examples whenever and wherever they are asked to serve the best interests of the company on a 24-7 basis. You seldom get a second chance to make a first good impression.

Try to look at all departments in your company to discover outstanding trade show booth duty candidates including: customer support, technical support, administration, manufacturing, engineering, research and development and of course sales, marketing and executive management.

So when it’s time to assemble your next trade show exhibit booth duty schedule, take care in selecting the right people with the right stuff to ensure that the critical “people” portion of your trade show exhibit is as strong as the rest of your effort and you’ll have a much better chance meeting the goals and objectives set for the entire effort.

Plan for a Successful Trade Show

Participating in a trade show involves a significant investment of time and money - and your business depends on getting a good return on this investment.


Here are 10 easy ways you can plan ahead for a successful trade show:


1) You can avoid incurring extra fees when you exhibit in a trade show by ensuring that you don't miss any of the deadlines related to registering and exhibiting. Costs go up by a big percentage after the registration and payment deadlines pass, so it's worthwhile to submit your application as early as possible - and to keep good files on each trade show you'll be participating in.


2) You can usually count on the safe arrival of everything you ship to a trade show. But shipping isn't always reliable - and what if part of your trade show booth display, your literature, or other components don't arrive in time? As part of your planning process for the show, you should come up with a plan of action for such a situation, so you'll be prepared to salvage your presentation.


3) Although receiving a really big order at a trade show can be exciting, you may want to check with other wholesalers to see whether the company that placed the order has a history of paying promptly and in full. Unfortunately, new exhibitors at trade shows are a frequent target for scammers who place a large order and disappear after receiving it, without paying the big bill they owe the supplier. Of course, large orders can also be perfectly legitimate; so protect your business by exercising caution and checking the company's references carefully.


4) You can use trade shows to test and refine your new product concepts without spending any money on fully producing them in quantity. Bring a sample or two of a new product to a show, and get customers' feedback on it. If it's a hit, go ahead and take orders for the item and schedule delivery dates that will allow for your production time. If the item needs to be reworked to incorporate customers' suggestions - or if it doesn't generate the interest you hoped - it's easy to alter or completely scrap the idea without losing money on production.


5) Your trade show booth may be approached by independent sales reps looking for lines to represent. If you're interested in selling your products through a sales rep, consider ahead of time what commission you would be able to pay a rep and still be able to meet your expenses and turn a profit. With that information in mind, you'll be prepared to have a productive meeting with a sales rep during or after the trade show.


6) Develop a concise, detailed production plan so you'll know how exactly long it takes you or your supplier to produce certain quantities of your products. Then pad your estimate time slightly. That way you have a high likelihood of meeting your quoted delivery deadlines, and may be able to pleasantly surprise your customer by delivering early. It's important to know your production time before you go to the show, so you can give your customers accurate delivery dates.


7) When getting ready to travel to a trade show, pack your displays and booth items with quick setup in mind. The things you'll need first for setting up your booth should be on the top when you open your boxes. At the bottom of your boxes should be the last things you'll need for setting up.


8) If the show promoter provides table covers for each booth, bring your own table runner with your logo on it. You can arrange it over the provided table cover to make your display stand out from the others.


9) Keep your own written record of the weight of each shipping case, both empty and full. That way you can ensure that you're being charged for the correct weight by the drayage company and the contractor.


10) Set up your trade show display with "easy information" in mind. Information your potential customers may want to know should be easy for them to find intuitively at your booth, if you're busy with another customer. You can use signs and literature with clear, visible headlines to answer frequently asked questions about your minimum orders, pricing, shipping, etc. If customers have to wait for you to answer their questions and can't easily find the information they need, they'll move quickly on to the next booth.

More tips for a succsessful trade show!

1. Establish your reason for exhibiting at a show.

Your company must ask itself why is it exhibiting at a specific trade show. Write out your trade show objective. Once you have determined the objective, concentrate your booth messages to complement that one show objective. Work hard to create a singular objective. A business that has multiple strategies cannot successfully focus its efforts. Select a single show objective and concentrate your energies to meet that objective. Donƒt dilute your energies.

2. Pick the right show.

Do your homework in advance. Does the show selected attract the correct audience for your products or services? Does it have the proper attendance to justify your anticipated expenditures? Call the trade show sponsor to obtain a list of previous show attendees. Call a small sample (5-10) of your target accounts to see if they will be attending the show. If all the answers are positive, it is probably a good show at which to exhibit.

3. Set your trade show budget and how you will spend it.

Determine how much the company is willing to spend, prepare a written budget, apportion the money properly, and record your expenses for future review. Determine why the budget amount was exceeded for any reason after the show or if you held to the pre-determined budget.

4. Market your trade show exhibition.

Depending on your budget allocations, market to target customers before the trade show. Use a short clear direct mail piece letting target companies know your company will be exhibiting, what the booth number is, where your booth is physically located at the show, at what their benefits will be if they stop by your booth.

5. Create a clean, clear, simple booth.

You don't get much time to make sure a show attendee understands your booth's message. Don't confuse them. Flashy booths with many areas that attract a visitor's visual attention will overpower and confuse. Keeping a booth simple is the key. Ensure your booth visitor receives the information they need to make a decision favorable to your company. That's all they need and that's all you want.

6. Grab the trade show visitors' attention.

Attendees at any trade show pass by hundreds of booths, sometimes thousands depending on the show. Your company will have only a few seconds, sometimes as little as 5 seconds, to catch the attention of a show attendee. Make sure your booth is designed to create a single focal point using easy to read text with clean simple graphics so trade show visitors will understand your message quickly and correctly.

7. Create a booth that makes visitors feel comfortable.

Remove physical barriers to visitor exchange. Too often booth designers create a boot that they believe "looks cool." While it may, it doesn't encourage visitors to your booth stop and want to talk to you because they don't feel comfortable. Make it easy for booth visitors to enter your space and obtain the information they desire. Many booths are designed as barriers with tables between you and your potential customers. A U-shaped trade show space removes the barriers between booth operator and visitor and encourages exchange. If visitors are comfortable and want to enter your booth, it is more likely they'll listen to your sales pitch and your show will generate better success.

8. Visit your booth before the show.

Put your creative ego in check and "visit" your booth just like the trade show attendee will do. Take an objective look at your booth and ask yourself if you would be attracted to the display and would you actually remember your booth. If you have selected the correct trade show and know the audience for that show, you should be able to create a display that will motivate visitors to stop at your booth. Understand the reasons they are attending this show. Give them a reason, a real benefit to them, to stop at your booth. Do a little pre-show research on your target audiences' show motivations.

9. Record visitor interest and key contact data.

If you have successfully attracted visitors to your booth, you need to record their key contact information and what they were individually interested in — whether it is one of your products or services your company offers. Most large shows offer easy ways to scan in key contact data, but they don't provide a means to record individual interest. Use a dictating machine, a prepared spreadsheet, or simple lined paper to record what the visitor was interested in so you can properly follow up with those that are real targets.

10. Don't forget proper show follow-up.

Just because you created a great booth doesn't mean you'll attract good traffic at your booth. Our fourth tip discussed limited pre-show marketing. Not only do you need to market your attendance before the show, but you must follow up after the show on all the leads generated during the show to effectively ensure your trade show investment will be optimized. Those show leads cost you a lot of money. Make sure you translate some into sales for your company.