Using LinkedIn to enhance your Trade Show success

Trade Shows & Exhibitions season seems to be already in full swing – not to mention networking events and meet-ups!
Well, whether you’re a visitor or exhibitor, LinkedIn is a fab part of the mix!

I’ve been talking lots with training clients about posting business related content … in addition to the more personal stuff that we see so much of.

Trade Shows, Conference, Exhibitions … these all offer brilliant opportunities to do that – ahead of the event, during it & as a follow up afterwards.

Here are just some ideas I’ve gathered together to try:

BEFORE THE EXHIBITION

Let people know you are going and where they can find you!

✅ Temporarily change banner image on your team’s Personal profiles
↳ Announce you’re exhibiting so people can come to talk to you – lots of views across the team so a great place to promote it

✅ Do the same on your Company Page
↳ Traffic may be lower but branding is important – also Feature or Pin a post for additional impact

✅ Post that you will be attending
↳  What are you showing or launching … who will be there … are you running a competition?

✅ Let your contacts know
↳ How? Use the search filters (geog / job title) & then simply message them through LinkedIn

✅ Create an Event page
↳ Invite up to 1000 connections a week to make them aware you’re attending.

AT THE EXHIBITION

It’s a busy busy day & lots of pulls on your time, but try to stay front of mind for those at the Expo & in your networks.

✅ Post at the start of the day
↳ Tell everyone you’re set up & ready to go (with suitable pictures of course!)

✅ Use your LinkedIn QR code (part of the app)
↳ Great way to connect with people & open new channels, plus collect details alongside business cards

✅ Record a short video
↳ Talk about what you are doing at the Show, how it’s going or of a chat with a customer (a video testimonial after the event)

✅ Take pictures during the day
↳ Visitors to the stand for a ‘multi image’ post with them, tagging the people in of course

✅ Doing or attending a talk?
↳ Tell others about it – key takeaways? People will be interested, guaranteed!

AFTER THE EXHIBITION

Yes, you have loads to do, I know! But continue those conversations, develop the extra channels LinkedIn gives you & leverage the contacts you made.

✅ Connect with people who visited your stand
↳ Make sure there’s a personal message mentioning your conversation & the Exhibition

✅ Make that post!
↳ Use pictures from the Show & tag /mention those in them where possible

✅ Announcements
↳ Prize draw winners (with pics), reinforce announcements or thank your staff

✅ Use ‘Send’ function
↳ Push posts to people you weren’t able to meet on the day by way of a follow up

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