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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.

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Boost Event Engagement through Gamification

Thinking outside the box and keeping your audience engaged are two critical keys to any successful event. Now that virtual and hybrid events have become the norm, organizers must work even harder to keep energy high and hold their attendees’ attention.

Integrating games and competitions into events, also called “gamification,” is one of the hottest trends right now. Adding gamification to your event is one of the best ways to increase engagement, heighten brand awareness, and drive attendees to perform desired actions.

What is Gamification? The Basics

Despite its recent rise in popularity, there’s still some confusion about gamification and what it isn’t. It’s important to note that it’s not about turning your event into a big competition or creating something that resembles a fair; instead, event gamification is simply the process of incorporating game mechanics into the overall event experience. 

It works because humans, by nature, like to compete; they also feel a strong sense of satisfaction when rewarded for their efforts. Gamification taps into this psychology to drive desired behaviors in a fun and exciting way. 

Using Gamification to Drive Action

Defining your desired outcome is the first step to successfully incorporating gamification into your events. Whether you’re trying to build your prospect list, upsell to current customers, or increase brand awareness, it’s essential to know how you’ll measure your success.

While gamification can add a significant amount of entertainment to your event, this shouldn’t be the only purpose. Instead, it should always be linked to a specific goal that directly relates to the success of your event. For example, you may aim for a 30% increase in exhibitor interactions or a 25% increase in attendee referrals.

Once you’re clear on your goals, choosing the best gamification format for your event is much easier. For example, if you want to ensure your sponsors and exhibitors get plenty of traffic, you may offer points for each display they visit.

Some other ways to use gamification to drive action include:

  • Awarding points for correctly answering trivia questions during the event
  • Checking off boxes on BINGO cards for completing specific tasks
  • Hiding secret codes at various locations throughout the event space
  • Creating a scavenger hunt and awarding clues for taking particular actions
  • Offering the ability to earn titles and “level up” for completing several tasks
  • Giving points or rewards for inviting others to attend the event

Using a mobile app with gaming capabilities will help you design and launch your gamification plan. While it’s critical to have the right technology in place, simply providing access to an app isn’t enough. You’ll also need to motivate your attendees to participate in the games and make it worth their while. Do it right, and you’ll create loyal brand advocates who will be talking about your event long after it’s over.

Motivating Attendees

Since most people enjoy a bit of friendly competition, providing visual incentives like leaderboards, notifications, and personal scorecards can help keep your attendees motivated.

For in-person meetings, you may also consider giving out color-coded lanyards or badges for reaching certain levels. This will keep your gamification top-of-mind and encourage a competitive spirit.

Make sure your games are challenging enough to give participants a sense of achievement, but not so difficult or complex that attendees get frustrated or lose interest. It’s also essential to monitor your gamification in real-time. Keep an eye on how close participants are to earning awards and how engaged they are. If enthusiasm seems to be waning, make sure to send notifications reminding them how close they are to receiving a reward.

Choosing Rewards and Prizes

If you want people to get excited about your games, you’ll need prizes or rewards they want. While there are many options, ultimately, you’ll want to make sure the rewards you choose surprise and delight your guests.

For multi-day events, you may consider awarding experiences such as a VIP happy hour, a special dinner, a massage at the hotel spa, or an exclusive outing for those who reach certain levels.

Some organizations offer to donate to a charity of the winner’s choice, while others stick to traditional prizes, like a t-shirt and a coffee mug. As you choose the awards for your event, it’s crucial to think about what the prize says about your organization and the lasting impression you want to make.

Benefits of Gamification

Adding gamification to your event is an excellent way to guide your attendees to the actions you want them to take. It also makes them more comfortable, because they’ll know exactly what’s expected of them. In addition, when attendees are fully engaged, they’re more aware of their surroundings, allowing for deeper interaction with presenters and exhibitors.

Properly implemented, gamification converts “attendees” into “participants.” It helps them become fully immersed in the moment, learn new things, and get more out of the event than they otherwise would.

Gamification can create a fun and relaxed atmosphere and ensure a positive and rewarding experience. It can also significantly increase your return on investment by helping you to reach your predefined goals.

Add Gamification to Your Next Event

While the concept of gamification has created a lot of buzz lately, only a small number of organizers are currently using it to its full potential. By using gamification to upgrade your event experience now, you can ensure your events will stand out from the crowd. It will also allow you to increase both participants and sponsor engagement, encourage deeper connections, increase your session attendance, and improve the overall experience.

To learn more about how eShow can help you add gamification to your next event, request a personal demo. We’re happy to show you exactly how our mobile app works and help you choose the perfect line-up of products to ensure your next event is a stellar success.

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Ensure a Positive Experience at Live Post-Covid Events

No one can deny that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected all facets of our lives, including face-to-face gatherings.  Now that restrictions and mandates have been somewhat relaxed, people are yearning to shed their comfy sweats and pajamas, stop Zoomin’, and get back to making real emotional connections. Event managers recognize this and although virtual and hybrid events are seen as a way forward (there are too many benefits for event managers to give them the old heave-ho), they’re still trying to satisfy clients who prefer in-person events. 

As an event manager operating in the post-Covid-19 space, you’ll be tasked with not only ensuring an enriching experience for in-person attendees but a safe one as well. Despite relaxed restrictions and decreasing case numbers, the pandemic is still in force. To give attendees something worth shedding their jammies for, you’ll need to consider the following practices when planning your events:

1.  Consider the Why’s

To have a successful event and ensure that attendees have a positive experience, it’s important to consider why you’re holding the event in the first place. Are you looking to boost revenue or strengthen your brand message? What does your audience hope to gain by attending your event? Even with safety measures in place, attendees expect to see your creativity and innovation on full display. Deliver the goods and they’ll likely attend future events.

If you can create an environment in which you meet company goals and give attendees valuable take-aways, you’ll strike gold.

2.  Take It Outside

Outdoor spaces have become a safer option for everything from baby showers to restaurant dining, so why not consider an outdoor setting for your events? If your events will take place in locales with favorable weather year-round, you won’t have to schedule them during the spring and summer months only.

Be prepared to provide tents, porta-johns, and, of course, PPE (personal protective equipment) like masks and temperature check devices. This will increase your costs and staffing needs but if it will show that you take the health and safety of your attendees seriously, it’s worth it.

3.  Keep ‘Em Connected But Not Too Close

Post-Covid, event managers will need to foster opportunities for attendees to connect yet remain safe. Once events are back in “full swing”, most venues won’t be at full capacity and social distancing will likely still be in place. Consider incorporating additional safety signs and entry and exit points in your event spaces when planning the layout. Some companies are opting for larger facilities and creative layouts to aid in keeping attendees safely distanced.

For added safety, make as many of your processes (from check-in to photo ops) contactless. Take advantage of technology  to accomplish this. When promoting your event, convey the safety measures that will be implemented. Although some attendees may be comfortable throwing caution to the wind and doing the “mask whip-off”, there are some who will still want to see sound safety measures in place.

4.  Gamify the Experience

Whether your event takes place in an indoor or outdoor space, optimize attendees’ experience by gamifying it. Award prizes to attendees who visit the most exhibits or sponsor booths. Put on your creativity cap and find ways to enhance the experience for attendees while driving more traffic to sponsor booths. Want attendees to visit specific booths (i.e. for top sponsors)? Motivate them by holding contests (with prizes) directed at those particular booths.

Encourage and incentivize attendees to join social media conversations and post about the event.

5.  Hybrid For the Win

Although there’s a push for returning to live events, the hybrid event format can be beneficial to both event managers and attendees. For event managers (and their clients), eliminating geographic restrictions leads to increased attendance and reduced costs. Attendees benefit by being able to attend an event without having to travel across the country in some cases. They’re also able to connect with and share feedback with like-minded individuals.

According to Joanne Dennison, School of Hospitality adjunct professor of hospitality meeting and event planning at Boston University, “hybrid meetings will be the norm as opposed to the exception. People can attend face-to-face or virtually.”  Again, this increase in attendance yields higher revenue for companies (in the form of registration fees) and allows those who can’t afford travel costs to participate in the event.

If the benefits of a hybrid event resonate with you, prepare to face what some event managers consider to be their biggest challenge when hosting hybrid events: connecting the two groups. In a survey conducted by Swapcard, of 352 event planners polled, 33.5% said engaging two audiences when hosting hybrid events was their biggest challenge. Most event managers seek to connect the two groups of attendees because they feel it allows for more organic networking opportunities and makes it easier for speakers and moderators to engage with all attendees.

To meet the growing demands for hybrid events and deal with this obstacle and others, eShow offers a full range of solutions that will help you accommodate both your virtual and in-person attendees and save time, money, and resources.

Final Thoughts

Planning an event at any time can be challenging but planning an event when a national health crisis is still in effect presents unique challenges. As companies and the general public yearn for returning to in-person gatherings, event managers are tasked with not only ensuring that attendees have a positive experience but that they have a safe one as well.

Post-Covid, hybrid events are expected to be around for a long time because of the benefits offered to event managers/clients and attendees. With adequate planning, creativity, and taking advantage of available technology, managers can provide all hybrid event attendees with opportunities to make meaningful connections whether they opt to attend virtually or live.

At eShow, we provide event managers with an event “safety net” by helping them move their in-person events (or part of the event) to a virtual format. Our robust platform:

– Allows for better ROI

– Allows event organizers to reach out to attendees who aren’t able to attend in person

– Allows for increased engagement between virtual and in-person attendees

We understand that enhancing the attendee experience is key to having a successful event so we make it easy for attendees and speakers/organizers to connect before, during, and after the event. We can provide everything you need to manage all aspects of your event – from planning to execution. From event branding to strategy to vendor management, we’re with you every step of the way.

Contact us today for a no-obligation demo.

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