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5 Tips to Boost Exhibitor and Attendee Engagement

Have you ever seen an exhibitor watching the clock while attendees walk past without a glance? Or a crowded session that left the sponsor’s booth empty? With intentional engagement, these moments can turn into opportunities for connection and impact. Here are five real-world tactics you can use at your next trade show, conference, or expo, with insights and features from eShow for real-world implementation.

Key Highlights:

  • Use interactive floor plans in your event mobile app to guide attendees and increase booth traffic.
  • Add scavenger hunts, QR code check-ins, and digital leaderboards to make participation fun and boost booth visits.
  • Send personalized push notifications to maximize session and booth attendance.
  • Empower exhibitors with instant badge scanning and CRM-ready lead tagging to strengthen post-event follow-up.
  • Gather feedback and insights to refine future events and enhance both attendee and exhibitor engagement.

How Can Interactive Exhibit Floor Plans and Navigation Increase Engagement?

Why It Matters

Complex venues can overwhelm attendees, which leads to missed booths, lower traffic, and frustrated exhibitors.

Strategy

Ever wandered through a massive convention center, badge swinging, trying to find a breakout session that started five minutes ago? It’s a challenge that can quickly diminish the attendee experience.

That’s why event planners are ditching static maps and moving to interactive, app-based navigation. With a quick tap, people can see exactly where they are and where they’re headed next. It’s like giving everyone a personal guide, minus the walkie-talkie. Studies show clear navigation increases booth visitation and dwell time.

eShow’s Exhibition and Trade Show Management module supports interactive floor plans and integrates them into the event mobile app. Attendees can find exhibitors by name, product, or category, making it easier for attendees to stumble upon new booths naturally and without needing a hard sell.

2. Does Gamification Boost Attendee Participation?

Why It Works

Let’s be honest, everyone loves a good game, especially when it means free swag and leaderboard glory. Research from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) revealed gamification can increase lead generation by up to 40%.

Strategies

You might spot people darting from booth to booth, phones in hand. They’re not checking email, but collecting digital points for a scavenger hunt. Some are chasing a prize, others just want to top the leaderboard splashed on the event app. And for a few, it’s about bragging rights, and let’s be honest, who can blame them? 

Gamification doesn’t have to be complex, virtual check-ins, badge collecting, or sponsor-powered giveaways all add just enough spark to pull people in.

For attendees, it’s a mix of not wanting to miss out and fun. For exhibitors, it’s a subtle way to rise above the booth next door without saying a word.

Make It Interactive With eShow

With digital check-ins and the ability to create fun, engaging scavenger hunts using QR codes built into eShow’s event mobile app, it’s simple to turn booth visits into a game people actually want to play. Exhibitors get increased visibility when attendees collect points at their booth within the app.

3. Do Personalized Push Notifications Enhance Engagement?

Why It Matters

Conferencing is dynamic. Rooms can change, demos shift, and sponsors host unexpected events. When a packed breakout room moves floors last minute, who actually sees the updated signage? Hardly anyone. But a ping on your phone? That’s instant clarity and zero feelings of chaos.

Strategies

  • Session / Booth Push Notifications: Notify attendees when demo times or inventories change.
  • Reminders: Remind attendees about upcoming networking sessions, session start times, and other important conference events.

We’ve all scrambled to find the right breakout room after a last-minute change. Or missed a flash giveaway because we didn’t get the memo. Push notifications solve that. Organizers can schedule and automate messages to personalized attendee lists, boosting attendee responsiveness.

4.  Can Seamless Lead Retrieval and Networking Improve Exhibitor and Attendee Connections?

Why It Matters

Let’s be honest, most exhibitors don’t spend thousands on a booth just to hand out swag and hope people stop by. They’re there to make real connections, start meaningful conversations, and walk away with solid leads. But when those moments happen in a blur of business cards and rushed handshakes, it’s easy for opportunities to slip through the cracks.

That’s where having the right tools, like mobile badge scanners and instant lead tagging, can make all the difference. It’s not just about collecting contacts. It’s about capturing context while the conversation’s still fresh.

According to CEIR’s Maximizing Attendee and Exhibitor Engagement on the Exhibit Floor Series: Part One: Exhibitor In-booth Tactices: People, Product, Learning and Other Strategies, findings from the 2022 Onminchannel Marketing Insights Series revealed badge scanning ranked first in attendee engagement, with 75% attendees using it to connect with the exhibitors they visit. This exceptionally high level of participation underscores how effective lead capture can be in fostering exhibitor and attendee engagement. 

Strategies

Picture this: An exhibitor’s booth is buzzing. Business cards flying, conversations flowing. But three hours later, it’s all a blur. Who was that buyer from Seattle? What were they looking for again? That’s why scanning badges on the spot and tagging leads as “hot” or “follow-up later” isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s survival. Even better when that info syncs with your CRM, so your next email doesn’t sound like you’ve forgotten the conversation.

Tools like eShow’s Lead Retrieval badge scanners and export-ready formats make it simple to keep the momentum going, even after the booth packs up. But they don’t just collect badge data, they let you tag hot leads, export to your CRM, and follow up while the conversation is still fresh. A smooth post-show process helps exhibitors build on event momentum.

5.  How Can Feedback Improve Your Event Next Year?

Why It Matters

Qualitative and quantitative feedback shows what resonated and what drove drop-off.

Strategies

  • Survey Reminders: Schedule post-session push notifications to drive attendee feedback.
  • Session Attendance Tracking: Measure room occupancy and dwell time.

If a session cleared out halfway through, that’s a signal. If one demo had a crowd three people deep all day, that’s another. The data tells the story if you’re listening.

How eShow Helps

eShow’s Conference Management suite provides detailed insights on session attendance and surveys. Organizers can track popularity and feedback to trend exhibit traffic and inform next-event planning.

Bringing It All Together: End-to‑End Engagement

Here’s how these tips combine into an enhanced event experience:

Engagement AreaAudience BenefitExhibitor Benefit
Interactive MapsEasier navigation to areas of interestHigher booth visibility
GamificationFun incentives to explore, attend sessionsBoosted foot traffic & brand awareness
Push NotificationsAlways in the know, no missed opportunitiesFlexibility in demo or promotional timing
Lead RetrievalEfficient networking avoids paper formsMore meaningful, prioritized leads
Analytics & FeedbackInputs help shape future schedulesExhibitors adjust demos/materials for impact

By combining navigation, incentives, communication, and measurement, you orchestrate a more engaging experience for both exhibitors and attendees.

Final Takeaway

Exhibitor and attendee engagement isn’t a single tactic; it’s a carefully choreographed experience. When attendees find what they want, exhibitors connect meaningfully, and the event runs smoothly, success becomes measurable. This is what makes the experience feel smooth and intentional for everyone involved.

With eShow’s solutions, from mobile apps to lead retrieval and registration management, organizers can activate each engagement tip efficiently and meaningfully. Help your attendees feel seen. Give your exhibitors real value. And run an event that people don’t just show up to, but talk about afterward and return to the following year.

Ready to learn more? Let us know how we can help you get started.

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Maximizing Event ROI: How Integrated Solutions Drive Success

In event management, maximizing return on investment (ROI) is a top priority for event planners, directors, and coordinators. A successful event not only covers its costs but also generates significant value for stakeholders, attendees, and exhibitors. One of the most effective ways to ensure a high ROI is through the seamless integration of event management solutions. This post will explore how integrated solutions can drive event success and maximize ROI with the right tools and advanced strategies.

Understanding Event ROI

Event ROI measures the financial return generated by an event compared to its costs. This includes not just direct revenue from ticket sales or exhibitor fees but also indirect benefits such as brand exposure, networking opportunities, and long-term business relationships.

Factors Influencing Event ROI

Several factors can impact the ROI of an event:

  1. Attendee Experience: A positive experience increases satisfaction, leading to repeat attendance and word-of-mouth promotion.
  2. Exhibitor Success: Exhibitors who achieve their goals are more likely to return and invest more in future events.
  3. Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes reduce costs and improve the overall event experience.
  4. Data Utilization: Leveraging data can optimize marketing efforts, improve attendee engagement, and fine-tune future events.

The Power of Integrated Solutions

Integrated event management solutions bring together various tools and functionalities into a cohesive platform. This integration enhances operational efficiency, data accuracy, and overall event management.

Benefits of Integration

  1. Streamlined Operations: Managing all aspects of an event from a single platform significantly reduces complexity and administrative burden. By consolidating tools and processes, event planners can save time and resources, allowing them to focus on delivering a superior event experience. For instance, eShow’s Registration Management system offers customizable registration forms that cater to different attendee types, ensuring a smooth registration process. Real-time reporting capabilities allow organizers to monitor registration data as it comes in, enabling quick adjustments to marketing strategies and logistical planning. Seamless payment processing integrates directly into the system, reducing the risk of financial discrepancies and simplifying financial reconciliation post-event.
  2. Data Consistency: Integrated systems ensure that all data is consistent and up-to-date across various functions, minimizing errors and enhancing decision-making. For example, eShow’s Exhibit Management suite provides a comprehensive toolset for managing exhibitors, including booth assignments, contracts, and lead retrieval. By keeping all exhibitor data in one centralized system, organizers can easily track interactions and performance metrics, ensuring that exhibitors have the necessary information to maximize their ROI. This consistency extends to attendee data, ensuring that all stakeholders have access to accurate and synchronized information.
  3. Enhanced Attendee Engagement: Engaging attendees effectively is crucial for the success of any event. eShow’s Mobile App enhances attendee engagement by offering features such as real-time updates, personalized schedules, and networking tools. Attendees can receive push notifications about session changes, exhibitor promotions, and networking opportunities, ensuring they are always informed and engaged. The app also includes interactive maps, which help attendees navigate the event space and find sessions and exhibitors of interest, thereby enhancing their overall event experience. Additionally, the app supports attendee-to-attendee messaging and social media integration, fostering a sense of community and facilitating networking. By keeping attendees engaged and connected, the app contributes to higher satisfaction rates and increased likelihood of repeat attendance.
  4. Improved Organization: Effective organization is key to successful event management. eShow’s Meeting Logistics Manager (MLM) assists meeting planners in creating function sheets, Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), and expense reports, which are crucial for managing event logistics. This tool facilitates seamless coordination by allowing vendors to access relevant worksheets and forms. By leveraging the organizational capabilities of the Conference Management Tool, event planners can keep all logistical details in one place, ensuring that all vendors have the information they need to perform their tasks effectively. This centralized access reduces errors and enhances decision-making, leading to a more efficient and successful event.

Advanced Strategies for Maximizing Event ROI

To fully leverage integrated solutions like those offered by eShow, event planners should adopt advanced strategies that ensure every aspect of the event is optimized for success.

Pre-Event Planning

  1. Set Clear, Measurable Goals: Define specific, quantifiable objectives for your event, such as increasing attendee numbers by 20% or generating a specific revenue target from exhibitor sales. Clear goals provide a roadmap for planning and execution. Using eShow’s Registration Management system, you can track these metrics in real-time and adjust your strategies accordingly. For example, if early registration numbers are lower than expected, you can ramp up marketing efforts or offer early bird discounts to boost sign-ups.
  2. Segmented Marketing Campaigns: Utilize data from previous events to segment your audience and tailor your marketing efforts. eShow’s integrated solutions allow you to capture detailed attendee information and use it to create highly targeted email campaigns, social media ads, and personalized outreach. Segmenting your audience by demographics, past behaviors, and interests enables you to deliver more relevant content and promotions, increasing engagement and conversion rates.
  3. Engage Speakers and Exhibitors Early: Securing high-quality speakers and exhibitors well in advance is crucial for generating interest and boosting attendance. eShow’s Conference Management tool offers a streamlined process for managing speaker submissions, session scheduling, and content management. Early engagement also allows more time for promotional activities, helping to build anticipation and attract a larger audience.

During the Event

  1. Leverage Real-Time Data: Monitor attendee engagement, session attendance, and exhibitor interactions in real-time. eShow’s Mobile App provides instant access to this data, allowing you to make on-the-fly adjustments to improve the attendee experience and address any issues promptly. For example, if a particular session is under-attended, you can send push notifications to attendees highlighting its importance or offering incentives to attend.
  2. Optimize Networking Opportunities: Facilitate connections between attendees, speakers, and exhibitors using eShow’s Mobile App. Features like personalized schedules, interactive maps, and networking tools help attendees make the most of their time at the event. Networking lounges, dedicated networking sessions, and matchmaking algorithms can further enhance networking opportunities, leading to more meaningful connections and higher attendee satisfaction.
  3. Enhance Exhibitor ROI: Use eShow’s Exhibit Management suite to provide exhibitors with advanced lead retrieval tools, detailed analytics, and promotional opportunities. This ensures they get the most value from their participation. Real-time lead tracking and post-event reports help exhibitors measure their success and follow up on leads efficiently, leading to higher ROI and satisfaction.

Post-Event Follow-Up

  1. Comprehensive Feedback Collection: Gather detailed feedback from attendees, speakers, and exhibitors using eShow’s integrated session and speaker evaluations. Feedback can be tied back to specific attendees, sessions, and speakers with speaker evaluation results shared directly with speakers. This data can provide valuable insights into what worked well and what needs improvement. Structured feedback forms and real-time analysis allow for quick identification of areas needing attention and help in planning future events.
  2. Analyze and Act on Data: Review the data collected during the event to assess performance against your goals. eShow’s Conference Management tool offers detailed analytics on session attendance, speaker ratings, and overall attendee satisfaction. Identifying patterns and trends in this data helps in understanding attendee preferences and improving future event strategies.
  3. Share Results and Future Plans: Communicate the outcomes of the event with stakeholders, highlighting successes and outlining plans for addressing any challenges. Detailed reports and presentations build trust and demonstrate the event’s value. Sharing these insights with your team and stakeholders ensures that everyone is aligned and informed, setting the stage for future collaboration and success.

Results of eShow’s Impact

  1. Increasing Registration and Attendance: Increase event registration and attendance by implementing the Registration Management system. The customizable forms and real-time reporting allow event organizers to optimize marketing efforts and streamline the registration process.
  2. Enhancing Exhibitor ROI: Increase exhibitor satisfaction with Exhibit Management. The integrated lead retrieval tools and detailed analytics provide exhibitors with valuable insights, enabling them to make the most of their participation.
  3. Improving Attendee Engagement: Increase attendee engagement by leveraging eShow’s Mobile App. Real-time updates, personalized schedules, and interactive maps keep attendees informed and connected throughout your event.

How Integrated Solutions Can Transform Your Event ROI

Maximizing event ROI is a multifaceted challenge that requires careful planning, execution, and follow-up. Integrated event management solutions like those offered by eShow provide the tools necessary to streamline operations, enhance attendee engagement, and improve data accuracy. By following advanced strategies and leveraging these integrated solutions, event planners can drive success and maximize ROI for their events.For more information on how eShow’s suite of integrated solutions can help you achieve your event goals, view our suite of solutions.

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The Importance of Exhibitor Marketing

Exhibitor Marketing is a surefire way to generate quality leads and increase brand awareness if done effectively. These industry-specific events allow you to showcase and promote your products to an audience that may have little knowledge of your services. Our industry experts at eShow offer a strategic guide on how to make your next exhibitor marketing campaign one of success.

Lead Retrieval

Lead retrieval is one of the most effective ways to share contact information and network on the event floor that in turn, transitions into qualifying leads. We recommend using a fully integrated lead retrieval system that offers both exhibitors and attendees a universal experience. Our on-the-ground experts equip you with all you need to know for attendee detail tracking, Excel reporting, CEU verification, and more. Self-powered and easy to use, our compact and portable units will help you take entrepreneurship to the next level. 

Show Organizers

Set your next tradeshow up for success with a show organizer designed to optimize your tech stack. Lay the groundwork for long-term growth and expansion by developing a comprehensive strategy and plan of action. Look for a show organizer that provides you with the necessary tools to promote, sell, and manage your next exhibition or trade show. Utilize services like partnership outreach, market research, and more.

Exhibit Sales Management
Exhibitors want technology services that are straightforward and set them apart from the competition. With Exhibit Sales Management, users can easily select booths, add sponsors, and smoothly manage all functions of shopping and finances; they even get access to VEM Exhibitor Analytics for a smart, enhanced experience. Utilize our administrative tools to manage your exhibitors financially (and beyond) with reporting, eBlasts, invoicing, and more.

Attendees

Connecting to your target audience has become more crucial than ever. Engagement and exposure are at the forefront of exhibitor marketing, and we want to help you incorporate new opportunities for growth and ROI. Gamification has become more prominent over the last few years, and we don’t see it going away anytime soon. Gamification is known to spark engagement and increase lead capture more so than exhibiting booths that do not have activation or gaming features. Get ahead of the curve and integrate SmartMatch technology that will ‘wow’ your audience.

A few steps to ensure success from both exhibitor marketing expenditures and sales success:

  • To ensure your company’s business objectives are incorporated into your trade show sales messages, collateral, product positioning, etc., it’s essential to establish specific, quantifiable goals that you want to achieve. Whether the show is online, in-person, or hybrid, the goals should be measurable and achievable.
  • Once you have established your goals, write and design product and company brochures as well as any other necessary collateral. However, hold off on printing them for now as you may need to update them before the show.
  • Create a pre-show email marketing campaign to inform prospects and customers that you will be exhibiting. Offer them a discount registration code if you have one, and let them know what products or services you will be showcasing at the event. This will help generate interest before the event even starts.
  • After the show, create a post-show email marketing campaign to thank participants for attending and provide them with additional information on your company and products. This is an excellent opportunity to convert leads into customers by offering promotions, discounts or free trials.
  • You should work with your sales team to determine what constitutes a qualified lead and come to an agreement on how the leads will be turned over to sales for immediate follow-up after the show.
  •  Establish clear protocols on how and when leads will be distributed to each salesperson as well as the follow-up process. By doing so, you will ensure that your sales team can effectively convert leads from prospects to customers.

Learn more about how eShow can help level up your exhibitor marketing with a personal demo. Our expert team is ready to find a customizable solution that fits your needs and ensures success at your next show.

For additional helpful resources, check out some industry partners we highly reccomend!

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