Apple Rock MegaTrends Seminar 9.16.09 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROlr_lwW4cw

Apple Rock is Evolving Event Marketing Solutions for Today’s Economic Climate by launching their Innovative ADAPT Series Product Line to the public.  After last month’s private preview party, more than 100 people attended to celebrate this exciting benchmark in Apple Rock’s history!  The ADAPT Series Product line is the first Apple Rock manufactured exhibit display line.  The ADAPT product series is designed to provide optimal portability and a customized look at an unbeatable investment.

 

During the seminar, you will also learn the Top 10 marketing trends for the coming year to help realign your business strategies with the NEW Business reality.  You will come away with tools that you can use NOW to help your business THRIVE and GROW today. 

 

Apple Rock will also officially launch the interactive projection technology to the public.  This is the most engaging media that uses interactive surface projection solutions that combine intuitive human body motion with floors and surface areas – even glass.

 

The event will be held from 3 pm to 5 pm on September 16th and will be held at Apple Rock’s corporate design center at 7602 Business Park Drive in Greensboro, NC.  For directions visit www.applerock.com

 

Please rsvp to melissa.reavis@applerock.com or call 800-897-7131 ext. 4829.

Promoting Trade Show Events through social media

Using social media in the trade show industry is a great way to update prospects, who cannot attend shows, on what you have to offer. Social media can be used to interact with individuals by posting photos, or even chatting back and forth. Prospects are able to stay involved and see what your company has going on. Social media marketing can be very beneficial to companies if you know how to use them correctly. Many individuals may not have the time or money to personally come to events or a show, which makes social media is a great solution.

Facebook is a fairly new phenomenon that has over 100 million users who spend hours each day searching profiles, groups, and applications. Facebook is fast growing and shows no signs of slowing down. Users spend a lot of personal time messing around on Facebook, and somewhere within these users are business contacts. Yes…professionals mess around on Facebook too. This gives you the opportunity to connect with them on a personal level, by getting to know what their interests are. Another perk to using Facebook is that your profile is not only searchable within the Facebook network, but also within search engines, such as Google. Popping up on a Google search increases your profiles accessibility. If your company stays active on their account others will be able to see your recent activity and then click to view it. Facebook has live news feeds that appear on every user’s account, if you are “friends” with that user they will be able to see every move you make and then click on it to see what you have updated. You can post photos of your booth, or links to other sites on your Facebook page and they will pop up on a live news feed for other to see. Another advantage to this network is that you are actually able to buy advertising space that is placed on the side of each user’s Facebook page. These advertisements are targeted specifically to those individuals who may be interested in your trade show ad. This is a huge advantage because people willingly put their interests, activites, job description, etc. out for everyone to view, and advertisements are specifically targeted according to this information. So, if someone works in the trade show industry, or expresses their interest in the industry, your advertisement will pop up on their page.

Twitter is a way to “follow” fellow tweetee’s. Twitter does seem a bit stalkeresque since you do keep up with where, when, and what other people are doing. But, your company can actually benefit from this stalker method of social media, especially in the trade show industry. Individuals may not have the time or patience to go and look up a calendar or list of events, so twitter is a quick and easy solution because you are feeding them your list of events rather than them searching for it. You can instantaneously update any changes that have been made pertaining to your show. Your company can also invite people to link to your ongoing news. Regular tweeting (posting updates) leading up to an event creates a call to action. Updating how you are preparing for you trade show, where you are, how soon it is, all these factors add up to get people hyped about the show. You can share updates on the turnout of your event afterwards and begin sharing when your next event will be. If you stay active and update on all events you become approachable. This conveys to the prospect that you are willing and open for any questions and/or discussions they might have. Posting updates means you want to communicate important information about what you’re doing at your trade show and where you will be so that others can join you. Twitter puts a positive spin on your approachability.

Linkedin has over 12 million users and is networking geared towards business. So you don’t have to feel like you are raining on the social networking parade. This is what people go to Linkedin for, is to stay informed about your contacts and industry, and to find the people/knowledge you need to achieve business goals. On Linkedin you can invite anyone and everyone relevant to the trade show industry, then their connections are able to see you and hopefully connect, creating a ripple effect. Updating your profile page with new content is easy if you link it to new blog postings (tools are available for integrating these together automatically), allowing your profile page to include recent information from any other form of social media to help it stay fresh. Also when new people search their contact network for contacts in these areas your information and contact details will be at the forefront. Don’t miss an opportunity to brand your company logo. Upload your company logo, address, phone number, and tag line as one large image. Uploading this information will make you look more credible and professional to all of your contacts, and their contacts.
Another social media aimed at professionals is Plaxo. This network enables you to keep up with all of your business contacts in an organized and timely fashion. It is somewhat of an address book, you can keep a large number of contact information without losing them in the mix. If you are at a trade show you may be a large number of leads that you need to follow up on, and Plaxo is a great way to store that information. Plaxco also allows for unique personal information, such as birthdays. Plaxo will notify you of a contact’s birthday which can be a useful tool for keeping in touch. Plaxco is great for updating your own information so that others can keep in touch as well. If you change phone numbers, or relocate this information is automatically updated on all of your contact list’s information.
Promoting any of these profiles at your trade show encourages attendees to go out and visit your sites. You can set up a space in your trade show booth where individuals can go online and check out what your profile has going on and they can figure out what kind of work you have been doing previous to the show and what you plan on doing in the future. Some networks, such as Plaxco, can even be available for those visiting your booth to enter their contact information in if they are interested in your company.

Social media today allows everyone to have a personal relationship with your company. Social media also enables every single individual to have a face to face relationship whether they are at the event or looking online, they still get the interaction they want. All social media are a link between face to face interaction and technology.

Planning an Outdoor Event

Outdoor events are similar to other marketing events in many ways. The basic guidelines found in the “planning and preparation” tip all apply to outdoor and indoor events. Remember to do some initial research on attendance and demographic records to make sure the outdoor event is worth your investment. The following information will help you to plan your next outdoor event. contd…http://applerock.com/ReadyDesk/ReadyDesk/ar_viewarticle.asp?CID=&KID=20

Targeting the Appropriate Leads

When you participate in a trade show, many types of people with different objectives will attend your booth.  One of the most challenging aspects of running an exhibit and making sales afterwards involves the qualification of prospects.  Measuring the likelihood that a random lead will result in a purchase is important because your sales team does not have an infinite amount of time to do their job.  Your sales people have a limited amount of time to follow up on leads and wasting their day on a dead-end lead will squander your company’s money…. http://www.applerock.com/ReadyDesk/ReadyDesk/ar_viewarticle.asp?CID=&KID=19

Tips for Trade Show Attendees

Planning ahead is just as important for trade show attendees as it is for the exhibitor. Attendees have to make sure they are getting the most value out of attending. Planning ahead can eliminate the risk of mass confusion. Make the most out of time spent at a trade show.

 Before you attend the show you need to know what new product lines you are most interested in and what you’d like to purchase. Knowing your company’s finances is vital to staying within budget. Take advantage of all discounts and special offers at the tradeshow while you can.

 Visit all booths that offer the products you are looking for and then compare vendors. It is important to get as much information about each vendor while visiting their booth, otherwise there will be no comparing. Setting an appointment with a vendor is a smart way to seek out information for comparison; it gives you their undivided attention. If it is possible, ask vendors to send you information rather than carrying it around the show. Usually, if you carry it around it ends up lost or in the trash. It may also benefit your company to bring along any employees who could learn from the experience.

Be prepared and bring a flash drive with all artwork if you plan on purchasing any custom work. That way you can show the vendor what they will be working with.

Most importantly network, network, network. Don’t be shy, one key function of the trade show industry is to interact with one another face to face. Bring plenty of business cards to hand out at the show as well.

 

Delegating the Right Giveaways

Do your giveaways match the message you are trying to send to consumers? If you give away a flimsy toy that will break within a day, you are telling the consumer you are willing to sacrifice quality for cost. If’s that’s your motto, then perfect! But, generally that is not the motto a successful business goes for. Decide on a more durable item that conveys your company is strong, long-lasting, and resilient. Giveaways should match your business. They are a great way to establish or even enhance your company’s brand identity. Give your customers something they will appreciate. And put aside some time to really give some thought to what your customer will really enjoy using more than once. You want them to walk away thinking that was really nice of that company to give me this item. Your giveaways need to fit your company’s colors and graphics so that they are self promoting products It is generally a good idea to give something away that will be used around others, making it an advertisement for your company.

Giving Your Trade Show Exhibit the “Green Effect”

Going green is a challenge for every company out there. But, we don’t want to be wasteful do we? Trade shows don’t have to miss out on going green, you can do it too!

Your actual display can be smaller and lightweight to reduce your carbon footprint. The smaller your display is, the less material is needed for casing. Lightweight displays are easy to transport and require less labor. The less labor needed for thinks like set-up, the less travel is needed.

Renting your display, or even better renting a small or light weight display, is a green friendly method. Renting is almost like recycling displays in a sense. You are reusing materials rather than using more resources to build a new booth display.

Promotional products don’t have to be left out; they can be green too. Use a USB device to store any brochures, presentations, or handouts rather than printing them out. Printing out these pieces usually leads to a full trashcan. So you can store them items on your USB drive and have them on display at your booth.

Lastly, you can opt for promotional giveaways that are reusable products. Giveaway products such as cups, mugs, sports bottles, etc. with your company logo and colors on it. Not only are you being green when you giveaway these products, but you are able to advertise your company logo as many times as they use the product. These reusable giveaways are really a great investment.

Transporting/Shipping your exhibit

Without the proper shipping logistics services, your exhibit is worthless because it will never see the trade show it is intended for. There are many things to take into consideration when preparing shipments, choosing carriers, and protecting exhibits. The following tips will remind you about the necessary steps to take before transporting an exhibit to an event. http://www.applerock.com/ReadyDesk/ReadyDesk/ar_viewarticle.asp?CID=&KID=15

Pros and Cons of Renting a Trade Show Booth

When you are preparing for your next trade show, one of the most vital decisions that need to be made is whether you will rent or buy your exhibit.  Obviously, if you do one show a year, you will want to rent and if you do ten shows a year, you will want to buy.  But what about all of you who are in between these two figures?  If you attend between two and five events a year, you will need to weigh the pros and cons of renting trade show exhibits in order to make a financially sound decision. Click to continue reading…http://applerock.com/ReadyDesk/ReadyDesk/ar_viewarticle.asp?CID=&KID=21

Giving Your Exhibit an Outstanding Design

The way your exhibit is designed plays a large role in determining whether your event experience is an utter failure, or a phenomenal success.  The greatest challenge in event marketing is compromising between a unique, breathtaking design and a cost effective, functional design.  It is also important to find a middle ground between a highly detailed, flashy exhibit that attracts attention and a simple, clean exhibit that allows people to focus on your specific brands, products, services or messages more easily.  The following tips will help you to plan out what type of design will be most beneficial to your organization. to read more click http://www.applerock.com/ReadyDesk/ReadyDesk/ar_viewarticle.asp?CID=&KID=22