But what makes a good online exhibition? Is it enough to put some images on a website and expect people to visit?
Here are some tips for putting on a winning online exhibition.
1. A good start would be to provide a “virtual” map of the exhibit floor. You may even want to add “virtual booths” complete with dots or legends showing where they are on the map - as if on a real exhibition floor.
2. Let your visitors register, complete with ID numbers. This will enable them to request more information about a product or service they see on the floor. It also saves visitors time by avoiding cumbersome registration at every booth they find interesting.
3. Allow users to “search” for what they’re looking for. This can be done by providing a search engine. You could even allow them to search using either company name, product or booth number - or all three.
4. Launch the online exhibit before the actual one. This drums up interest that will hopefully spill over into the actual trade show.
5. Let vendors offer “specials” on their respective pages - special offers or free gift items which visitors can claim at the actual exhibit. This can also be done for the online and actual exhibitions as well. Visitors can print out an online coupon and bring to the live show.
6. Why not take photos of the live show and upload these to the online exhibit. This will draw visitors who weren’t able to attend the live one.
7. It would also be a good idea to leave the online exhibition for at least three months to get more people interested for next year’s show.
8. Offer online booths to those vendors who wish to show their products but can’t attend the actual exhibit. You can even charge them an “online exhibit fee”. Make sure this is properly priced.
9. Allow vendors to create their own virtual booths. After all, they know their products best.
10. Offer links which lead to vendors’ company websites. This way, vendors can even generate more sales and advertising for their products outside the online exhibit. This entices them to join the show.
Just as you would prepare for an actual trade show, why not do the same for your online exhibition. Do it well and you will have visitors flocking to your show.
To find out what our online exhibitions can do for your business click on WebEvents Online Exhibitions.
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