Trade shows and vendor events are the perfect place to meet people you may have never met otherwise and increase your circle of influence.
In our last training, Lydia Martin talked about how to develop systems for follow-up and how to best communicate with your new leads.
But how do you move those leads to become fans of your social media platforms?
There are a number of ways you can increase your social media during and after your event.
- Utilize Twitter and the Trade Shows Official Hashtag. Twitter is one of the best social platforms you can utilize during any type of event. Twitter allows you to have conversations with attendees as well as the other vendors there. As a part of marketing, most event planners create a custom hashtag to use, for example, #womensshow.
Be sure to utilize this hashtag in all of your posts and invite people to come check out your booth. Use it to engage, do giveaways and remind attendees of any demos you may be doing at your table.
- Invite guests to like your Facebook Page. When your guests visit you at your booth, it’s important that you engage them in conversation, hook them with your call to action and get their information for further follow up.
One of the best things you can do is introduce these new leads into your culture right away. When attendees meet you at your event and test your product, you are at the forefront of their mind.
But so are other vendors.
It’s important to get these leads on your Facebook Business Page so that you can reignite that excitement and interest after the event.
Be sure to have a poster on your table that has your social media handles and invites your guests to become friends with you there. Always remind your guests to take out their phone and give your page a quick like.
- Add your VIP Group to your draw slips/customer information sheets. Your draw slips/customer information sheets are how you are going to collect your leads’ contact information. Aside from asking their interest in becoming a customer, host or consultant, it’s a great idea to also add if they are interested in being added to your VIP Group Page.
Tip: It’s important that you sell why your VIP Group is the place to be.
Your customers are getting frustrated with being spammed in groups. Tell them what they will get from your group and what they will learn. (If you want to learn how to generate income successfully with VIP Groups, be sure to check out my new class here.)
- Post photos to Instagram from the event and with your guests. (Ask if you can tag them!)
Depending on your customers and demographic, Instagram might be the platform you are utilizing to try and grow a profitable following. Be sure to take photos of the event and guests at your booth, especially if your product is one they can demonstrate or wear. Ask if you can post it to your Instagram and if you can tag them in it.Their friends are more likely to engage on your posts if their friends are tagged. And people love being recognized!
- Go LIVE on Facebook (your guests will check you out to watch it to see themselves)
If you use Facebook as a marketing tool (which you all should!) it's important that you use video on your Facebook Business Page (and personal) as much as possible! Facebook WANTS video, so they are pushing video content out more than any other type.
Be sure to go LIVE on your pages to share with your viewers what's happening at the event and what you are doing at your booth.
Ask guests at your booth if they will go on live with you! That way, they are likely to check out the video when they get home to see themselves AND share with their friends!
- Connect with other Vendors on social media (Especially those who are your target demographic!)
Often times, consultants and other business owners leave out a whole group of potential customers – other vendors!
Be sure to walk around and introduce yourself, especially to those who fit your target demographic. Invite them to connect with you on social media as well as through e-mail. You will be able to build a relationship and benefit from having each other as customers!
- Encourage them during e-mail follow-up
It's important that you collect information at your booth so you can follow up with your customers/leads at another date. This is vital to getting AND keeping new customers.
During your follow up, be sure to remind them to join your social networks. Let them know that your social media platforms is where you share information, tutorials, tips and more! It is definitely a place they want to be if they are interested in your industry or solution.
Be sure to add your social networks into your e-mail signature as well!
Happy Socializing!
Lindsay
P.S. Do you have any tips that work for you? Share them below!