Trade shows aren’t what they used to be for exhibitors and attendees.

Typically, trade shows are great for business development and networking, allowing businesses to meet new prospects and promote their products or services. However, attending these events can be costly, and many businesses struggle to maximize their ROI. That’s why The Site Visit podcast, powered by SiteMax, decided to rethink its trade show strategy by bringing a podcast to the trade show floor at Buildex Vancouver this past month.

Both the seller’s and buyer’s journeys have changed.

Instead of simply promoting their software company, SiteMax, with a typical presentation, the hosts of The Site Visit, James Faulkner and Christian Hamm, decided to create a more interactive engagement that could build momentum and make every dollar worthwhile. To do this, they re-created their podcast studio in a tradeshow booth, broadcast each conversation live to every passerby on the trade show floor and essentially created a live event, but on the record and released via their podcast platform.

Over the course of two days, James and Christian recorded ten episodes featuring both scheduled and impromptu guests, covering a wide range of topics and trends related to the construction industry. The live show experience opened their eyes to new possibilities in the studio. They are eager to cover more topics and trends, invite guest contributors, and host live digital events. They are also considering replicating the mobile podcasting concept at other events.

The experience was a deliberate departure from James and Christian’s conventional methods of promoting their company. Still, it allowed them to interact with potential prospects more memorably and engagingly. The live audience added to the enjoyment of the experience, and they relished hearing stories from builders and entrepreneurs who had created some incredible businesses and projects. They hope to use their lessons to enhance their podcast and connect with their audience in novel and thrilling ways at future shows like Buildex.

Trade shows can be an excellent opportunity for businesses to promote their products and services. Still, thinking outside the box and creating engaging experiences that make every dollar worthwhile are essential. By bringing their podcast to the trade show floor, The Site Visit created a memorable experience for exhibitors and guests alike. As businesses look for new and innovative ways to connect with prospects, seeing how they will continue to rethink the trade show experience is exciting.

As an exhibitor or an attendee at your next trade show, try these 5 things to maximize ROI and ensure that every dollar and minute of your time invested is worthwhile.

1.  Create a Memorable Experience

Think outside the box and create an engaging experience that will make your brand unforgettable. Consider offering interactive demonstrations, product launches, or live entertainment to attract attendees to your booth. For example, The Site Visit podcast created a mobile podcasting concept that engaged the passersby on the trade show floor and grew their listeners and produced a product that would carry beyond the show dates, providing a memorable experience that helped to boost their ROI.

2. Promote Your Presence Before the Show

Leverage social media and email marketing to promote your presence at the show and encourage attendees to visit your booth. Share information about your products or services, and offer incentives such as exclusive discounts or giveaways to attract visitors to your booth. The more people you attract to your booth, the more you can bolster your network and build brand awareness and clout in your industry or niche.

3. Use Surveys with your Giveaways at the Show

Surveys are a great way to gather valuable feedback from your audience. When paired with a giveaway, it can create a fun and interactive experience for attendees while providing you with the insights you need to improve how you map your buyer’s journey or simply your products or services. It’s a win-win situation for both parties.

4. Follow Up with Leads in a meaningful way

Keeping the conversation going after the show is crucial to converting those leads into customers and maximizing your ROI. A personalized follow-up message, often via a handwritten note or personalized gift that references previous conversations and offers additional information about your products or services, can help keep the memorable experience going. This approach will show that you value the connection at the event and can go a long way toward building lasting relationships with potential customers.

5. Collaborate with Industry Partners

Collaborating with industry partners can be an effective way to increase your visibility and ROI at trade shows. By sharing resources and costs, you can make a bigger impact on the show floor and attract more visitors to your booth. Look for companies that complement your offerings and have a similar target audience. A successful partnership, as demonstrated by our collaboration with SiteNews at Buildex, can lead to new opportunities and insights that help you stay ahead of trends in your industry.

By implementing these strategies, you can maximize your tradeshow ROI and make the most of your investment in attending trade shows.

SiteMax is the complete jobsite management platform built for construction, offering a range of features to help construction companies streamline their operations and improve efficiency.

Check out these core features and more:

• Daily Reports.  Enable real-time tracking of construction progress using customizable templates. Eliminate the need for paper, email trails, or a separate Daily Reporting app.
• Safety. Remain in compliance with safety regulations through mobile-friendly inspections, assessments, and checklists with access on any device. Eliminate the need for paper or a separate Safety & Compliance app.
• Timecards. Simplify payroll processes with effortless hour tracking and approval, capturing and reviewing hours from the field and approving them seamlessly in the office. Eliminate the need for paper, spreadsheets, or a separate Time-keeping or Timecard app.
• Photos. Capture, organize, and access photos from any device, anytime, streamlining photo management and enabling effortless uploading and organization of photos from camera rolls or field reports. Eliminate the need for separate cloud storage or a Photos app.
• Equipment. Enable users to track tools and equipment across all projects and people, avoiding spreadsheet chaos and promoting easy tools and equipment management with QR codes and an in-app scanner. Eliminate the need for spreadsheets or a separate Tool Tracking app.
• Drawings. Easily upload and access your plans in the field with our automatic sheet separation feature, organizing and tracking your plans efficiently, with the ability to link RFIs, photos, punch items, tasks and section details and collaborate with permission-based access. Eliminate the need for paper drawing sets or separate cloud storage.

Overall, SiteMax is a comprehensive field management platform that enables construction companies to manage their jobsites efficiently while saving time and money. If you want to learn more about utilizing our complete jobsite management platform in your construction business, schedule a quick walkthrough with our team, and we will get you started.