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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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Your Guide to Selecting the Best Lead Retrieval Tool

Planning an event means balancing a hundred moving parts, including timing, logistics, budgets, and of course, the experience you’re delivering. However, there’s one thing that should never be overlooked, which is capturing and managing leads in the exhibit hall. The right lead retrieval tool can make a huge difference in ensuring your exhibitors see real results from their investment in your event.

As event planners, we understand how important it is to get this right. Here’s what you need to know before selecting a lead retrieval solution for your next event.

What Is Lead Retrieval?

Lead retrieval is a tool that helps exhibitors collect and manage contact information from people they meet at an event. Most commonly, this data is pulled through badge scanning or QR codes, which makes the process fast, accurate, and automated.

When you invest in a smart, user-friendly lead capture system, you enhance the exhibitor experience and increase the overall value of your event.

Why Lead Retrieval Matters for Your Event

As an event planner, you want to ensure your exhibitors walk away with value. Lead capture does more than capture contact information; it enables exhibitors to qualify leads, prioritize follow-ups, and ultimately increase ROI from the event.

Here’s why investing in the right solution matters:

1. Delivers Measurable ROI for Exhibitors

Exhibitors come to events to connect with potential buyers. The right solution helps them capture qualified, organized, and actionable leads, which means faster follow-ups and more conversions. When exhibitors see real results, they are more likely to return and invest more in future events.

2. Drives Exhibit Sales

A strong lead retrieval system makes your booth packages more attractive. When you can demonstrate that your event helps exhibitors meet the right contacts and close deals, it becomes easier to sell space and increase revenue.

3. Improves the Attendee Experience

Good lead capture solutions integrate seamlessly into your event ecosystem. Attendee information can be quickly and reliably scanned, interactions are smoother, and data is handled responsibly, creating a professional, streamlined experience.

4. Provides Strategic Data for Planners

Integrated lead retrieval software gives you visibility into traffic flow, engagement levels, and behavioral trends. These insights help you optimize future events, make smarter programming decisions, and demonstrate value to stakeholders.

5. Reduces Risk and Builds Trust

A reliable and compliant system ensures that data is accurate, secure, and privacy-conscious. This builds confidence among exhibitors and attendees that their information is handled with care and protects you as the event organizer by ensuring only verified and validated individuals interact with each other.

In short, the right lead retrieval system isn’t just a tech upgrade, it’s a growth engine for your event.

What to Look for in Lead Retrieval Solutions

Choosing the right system comes down to understanding your event’s needs and what you want to achieve. Here are the key features to look for:

  • Ease of Use
    The software should be intuitive, requiring minimal setup and training for your exhibitors.
  • Scalability
    Whether you’re organizing a small trade show or a large conference, the system should scale to fit your event’s size.
  • Privacy and Compliance
    Ensure the software complies with data protection standards.
  • Exhibitor and Onsite Support
    Look for a provider that offers dedicated exhibitor support and experienced staff onsite. eShow delivers hands-on assistance before, during, and after the event to help exhibitors make the most of their lead capture tools.
  • Reliability
    Choose a tool that’s proven to work under the pressure of live events. Ensure your lead retrieval system has a track record of being dependable.

Using Lead Retrieval to Maximize Your Event’s Value

Lead retrieval is more than just an operational necessity, it’s an investment in your event’s overall success and growth. High-quality lead capture tools can enhance exhibitor ROI, drive booth sales, and provide actionable insights, all while increasing your event’s value. Here’s how you can strategically integrate lead capture into your event’s broader goals:

  • Boost Booth Sales
    Offering a high-quality lead capture tool makes your exhibit packages more attractive. When exhibitors know they will walk away with qualified, actionable leads, they are more likely to reserve space and return year after year.
  • Gain Actionable Insights
    When combined with session tracking, check-in processes, and mobile app engagement, lead retrieval provides a detailed understanding of attendee behavior. This enables you to refine your event layout, enhance content, and boost engagement, ensuring future events are even more impactful.
  • Enhance Post-Event Value
    Giving exhibitors easy access to manage their own follow-up data helps them convert leads faster. When exhibitors succeed, your event gains a reputation for delivering results, making it easier to grow in the future.

If you are looking to improve the exhibitor experience and create a more engaging, data-driven event, eShow’s eConnect Lead Retrieval offers a comprehensive solution. With over 26 years of experience, eShow understands how to deliver seamless, reliable lead capture for events of all sizes.

Take a quick look at our webinar to discover how eConnect Lead Retrieval boosts exhibitor ROI and elevates your event:

Lead Capture That Works for You: Drive Exhibitor ROI and Increase Value

In this webinar, our lead retrieval expert, Lawrence Givens, Director of Onsite Solutions at eShow, demonstrates how eConnect Lead Retrieval simplifies lead capture, improves exhibitor engagement, and delivers measurable value across your events.

Watch the Webinar Recording

By integrating the right lead retrieval tool, you can turn every interaction on the show floor into an opportunity for growth and stronger exhibitor relationships. Explore how eConnect Lead Retrieval can support your next event’s success today.

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

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Onsite Exhibit Sales: A Comprehensive Guide to Success

Successful onsite exhibit sales are crucial for the financial health and growth of trade shows and exhibitions. Managing these sales effectively requires meticulous planning, real-time management, and post-event analysis. This comprehensive guide will provide actionable tips for running successful onsite exhibit sales, integrating insights from industry best practices and leveraging eShow’s suite of products.

The Importance of Onsite Exhibit Sales

Onsite exhibit sales are the backbone of trade shows, generating significant revenue and driving engagement between exhibitors and attendees. Effective sales strategies ensure that exhibitors receive value, attendees find the products and services they need, and event organizers achieve their financial goals.

Benefits of Successful Onsite Exhibit Sales

  1. Increased Revenue: Onsite sales can significantly boost the event’s revenue.
  2. Enhanced Exhibitor Satisfaction: Efficient sales processes and strong support lead to higher exhibitor satisfaction and retention.
  3. Improved Attendee Experience: When exhibitors are satisfied, they are more likely to offer engaging and informative booths, enhancing the overall attendee experience.

Pre-Event Planning

Effective onsite exhibit sales begin long before the event starts. Here are some crucial steps in the pre-event planning phase:

Define Clear Objectives

Set clear, measurable goals for your exhibit sales. Objectives could include target sales figures, the number of booths sold, or the level of exhibitor satisfaction.

Actionable Tip: Use eShow’s Exhibit Sales Management tools to set and track these objectives. The platform allows you to monitor progress in real-time and adjust strategies as needed.

Market Your Event Effectively

Promote your event to potential exhibitors well in advance, starting with booking exhibitors for next year’s event as the current event is happening. After the most recent event, continue to promote your next event with a mix of email marketing, social media, and direct outreach to attract exhibitors. Highlight the benefits of exhibiting at your event, such as high foot traffic, targeted audience, and networking opportunities.

Actionable Tip: Create a comprehensive marketing timeline that outlines key milestones and promotional activities leading up to the event. Use eShow’s Exhibitor Marketing tools to automate and schedule these campaigns. Include a mix of content such as blog posts, case studies, and testimonials to showcase the value of exhibiting. Regularly update your event website with new information and use social media to generate buzz. By maintaining a consistent and strategic marketing effort, you can ensure maximum visibility and attract a high number of quality exhibitors.

Offer Early Bird Discounts

Encourage early sign-ups by offering discounts to exhibitors who commit while at the current event. This helps secure a baseline of committed exhibitors and generates early revenue.

Actionable Tip: Automate the discount application process using eShow’s Registration Management system, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience for exhibitors.

Onsite Exhibit Sales Strategies

Once the event begins, effective management and real-time adjustments are key to maximizing exhibit sales. eShow even provides onsite sales support to help maximize booth sales for your next event.

Streamlined Check-In and Setup

Ensure a smooth check-in and setup process for exhibitors. Provide clear instructions and support to help exhibitors set up their booths efficiently.

Actionable Tip: Use eShow’s Event Management platform to coordinate check-in times, assign setup assistants, and provide real-time support.

Real-Time Lead Tracking

Track leads in real-time to identify high-interest exhibitors and prioritize follow-ups. Use tools that allow exhibitors to capture and manage leads effectively.

Example: eShow’s Lead Retrieval system enables exhibitors to scan badges and collect contact details effortlessly, ensuring no potential lead is missed.

Communicate Important Information

Use eShow’s Exhibit Sales Management Tool to communicate important information like booth set up and dismantling times with exhibitors.

Actionable Tip: Schedule automated reminders and updates using eShow’s platform to ensure exhibitors receive timely information about critical details such as setup times, dismantling schedules, and any last-minute changes. 

Personalized Exhibitor Support

Provide personalized support to exhibitors throughout the event. Assign dedicated support staff to address any issues and ensure exhibitors have everything they need for a successful show.

Example: eShow’s Exhibitor Management tools allow for efficient communication and support coordination, ensuring that all exhibitor needs are promptly met.

Post-Event Follow-Up

Effective post-event follow-up is crucial for converting leads into sales and ensuring exhibitor satisfaction.

Collect Feedback

Gather feedback from exhibitors to understand their experience and identify areas for improvement. Use surveys and direct communication to collect detailed insights.

Actionable Tip: Use eShow’s Survey Tools to create and distribute post-event surveys. Analyze the results to make data-driven improvements for future events.

Analyze Sales Data

Analyze the sales data to evaluate the success of your onsite exhibit sales strategies. Look at metrics such as the number of booths sold, revenue generated, and lead conversion rates.

Example: eShow’s Analytics and Reporting tools provide comprehensive insights into your sales performance, helping you understand what worked and what didn’t.

Build Long-Term Relationships

Follow up with exhibitors after the event to thank them for their participation and discuss future opportunities. Building strong relationships with exhibitors ensures they return for future events.

Actionable Tip: Use eShow’s CRM Integration to manage post-event communications and maintain ongoing relationships with exhibitors.

Maximizing Onsite Exhibit Sales with eShow

Running successful onsite exhibit sales requires careful planning, real-time management, and effective follow-up. By leveraging eShow’s comprehensive suite of tools, event organizers can streamline the entire process, from pre-event marketing to post-event analysis. Implementing these strategies will not only boost your revenue but also enhance exhibitor satisfaction and improve the overall attendee experience.For more information on how eShow’s tools can help you achieve onsite exhibit sales success, book a demo today.

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Harnessing the Power of Lead Retrieval: A Game-Changer for Exhibitors

In today’s highly competitive business landscape, trade shows and exhibitions have become a crucial platform for companies to showcase their products and services, network with industry professionals, and generate valuable leads. However, with the multitude of attendees and interactions taking place, effectively capturing and managing leads can be a daunting task. This is where lead retrieval tools come into play, empowering exhibitors to optimize their efforts and maximize their return on investment. In this blog post, we will explore how lead retrieval has emerged as a powerful tool for exhibitors and why it should be an integral part of every trade show strategy.

1. Streamlining Lead Capture:

Traditionally, exhibitors relied on business cards and manual note-taking to collect contact information from potential leads. This approach was not only time-consuming but also prone to errors and inefficiencies. Lead retrieval tools revolutionize this process by providing a seamless and automated way to capture leads. With features like badge scanning or QR code scanning, exhibitors can effortlessly collect attendee information, including name, contact details, company, and job title. This streamlined approach ensures accuracy and enables exhibitors to focus on engaging with prospects, rather than fumbling with paperwork.

2. Real-Time Data Insights:

One of the significant advantages of lead retrieval tools is the ability to access real-time data insights. Exhibitors can instantly access and analyze the captured lead data, providing valuable visibility into the effectiveness of their trade show efforts. Metrics such as the number of leads collected, popular booth visit times, and attendee demographics can help exhibitors make informed decisions and adjust their strategies on the fly. This data-driven approach allows exhibitors to identify hot leads, prioritize follow-ups, and gauge the overall success of their participation.

3. Enhanced Lead Qualification:

Not all leads are created equal. Some may be ready to make a purchasing decision, while others might still be in the exploratory phase. Lead retrieval tools provide exhibitors with advanced lead qualification capabilities, enabling them to categorize leads based on specific criteria. Exhibitors can customize lead qualification forms to capture additional data points or use built-in survey features to gather valuable insights about attendees’ needs and interests. By segmenting leads into different categories, exhibitors can tailor their follow-up strategies and allocate resources more effectively.

4. Efficient Follow-up and Relationship Building:

The true value of lead retrieval tools lies in their ability to streamline the follow-up process. With instant access to contact information and lead insights, exhibitors can promptly reach out to prospects after the event, striking while the iron is hot. Personalized and timely follow-ups demonstrate professionalism and genuine interest, increasing the likelihood of conversion. Additionally, lead retrieval tools often integrate with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, making it seamless to import leads and maintain a centralized database for ongoing nurturing and relationship building.

5. Measurable ROI and Performance Analysis:

Trade show participation involves a significant investment of time, money, and resources. Lead retrieval tools provide exhibitors with a tangible means of measuring their return on investment (ROI). By tracking the number of leads captured, conversions, and revenue generated, exhibitors can evaluate the success of their trade show efforts. Furthermore, these tools offer valuable insights into the performance of individual sales representatives or booth staff, helping exhibitors identify areas for improvement and optimize future participation.

Conclusion:

In the fast-paced world of trade shows and exhibitions, lead retrieval has become an indispensable tool for exhibitors. By automating lead capture, providing real-time data insights, enabling enhanced lead qualification, streamlining follow-ups, and facilitating ROI analysis, lead retrieval tools empower exhibitors to make the most out of their trade show investments. As the competitive landscape continues to evolve, exhibitors who harness the power of lead retrieval will gain a distinct advantage in

 generating high-quality leads, nurturing relationships, and ultimately driving business growth.
Learn more about how eShow can help level up your event with attendee detail tracking, Excel reporting, CEU verification and more. Our expert team is ready to find a customizable solution that fits your needs and ensures success at your next show. Generate leads on and off the show floor by booking a personal demo today.

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