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Spring Cleaning Tips for Great Tradeshow Exhibits

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Photo courtesy of Chiot’s Run, via Flickr

Winter is over, and many of us are wrapping up a successful trade show season. Now is the perfect time to review your exhibits and related events. Could they be fresher, more efficient, and more relevant to your audience?

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean an overhaul. Just make sure you’re getting the most out of every piece in your program, starting with clearing out clutter. Keep an eye out for:

Meaningless Jargon – Everyone offers an innovative, cutting-edge solution. And these overused terms are classic examples of “telling” rather than “showing.” We might not be able to trim all of these filler words out of presentations, graphics and related materials, but we can be mindful of falling back on them when a richer, more precise story could be told.

Cluttered Messaging – Are your presentations too long? Graphics laden with copy? Can a visitor look at your booth and immediately tell what you do or sell? Streamlining, shortening and creating areas of clear focus will create a more enjoyable experience for your guests, not to mention a more successful showing for your company.

Pieces that Aren’t Pulling their Weight – Do you have monitors that have gone ignored? Are there touchscreens no one touches? Consider working neglected technology into a demo. Or, transform dead spaces into a presentation area.

Shows that Aren’t Showing a Return – Most of us have at least one convention or trade show that seems to require more energy than it’s worth. If you trimmed it from your schedule, would it free up time and budget that could go toward shows that really improve your bottom line?

Now that you’ve cleared out some dead weight, it’s time for the next step: sprucing up. How can you give your program a fresh face without re-doing everything?

Fix wear and tear. If your exhibit house hasn’t done this already, have them repair scratched paneling, scuffed corners, dingy carpeting and other damage caused by months on the road.

Update graphics. Strategic re-skinning can give your booth a whole new look. Or focus on a few of your most impactful graphics to make branding more cohesive, freshen your messaging, and better showcase featured products.

Add interactivity. Bring your story to life with a live presentation. Let visitors experience your product with a hands-on demo. Find ways to work human interactions into your booth, vs. passive videos and displays. Even the small step of hiring professional hosts to welcome visitors to your booth will set you apart and set the stage for a better, fresher experience.

For more ideas on updating your booth without breaking the bank, contact us. A live presentation may be the key to breathing new life into an existing exhibit.

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in Exhibit Design and Build / Trade Show Tips / Uncategorized  by 10 Apr 2015 0 comments

8 Tradeshow Tips to Win Over Anyone

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With Valentine’s Day coming, we’ve been thinking about how live events—especially trade shows—are a lot like speed dating.

Surrounded by primped and primed competition, you have just moments to stand out. You must intrigue your audience, build trust, and make them want to take the relationship to the next level. You’re creating connections with the potential to turn into much more.

Whether your field is serious, technical or more conducive to fun, we’ve got a formula—a love potion, if you will—that can give you an edge over the others:

#1. Be attractive. Great booth design is important. You don’t have to be the biggest on the floor, but do invest in looking your best. That includes staffing. In addition to your most personable team members, consider hiring professional hosts to welcome visitors into your space. From the minute they step onto your footprint, your visitors should feel taken care of and valued.

#2. Offer an experience. Don’t just tell why your solution is best. Let your audience try it for themselves through guided sampling and hands-on demos. If visitors can’t experience your product live, create an activity that demonstrates the benefits in a unique way.

#3. Be emotional. Create a journey connecting your product or solution to your visitors’ everyday needs and desires. Demonstrate how your brand improves lives. Tell a story that tugs at the heartstrings, and help your audience envision a bigger picture.

#4. Make it fun. Or, if you’re striking a more serious tone, be powerful. Impactful. Interactive. All of this adds up to enjoyable, which will make your audience glad they decided to spend time with you.

#5. Be real. Amazing technological advances aside, it’s still hard to fall in love with a touchscreen. So make sure your experience has a healthy amount of human interaction. One-on-one encounters are one of the best reasons to exhibit at tradeshows, so don’t leave your visitors in front of machines. Engage them the old-fashioned way – with a handshake and an offer to share more.

#6. Create an easy traffic flow. Good storytelling has a sequence, and a great experience includes not having to jostle through crowds or guess what to do next. Combine booth design with signage and professional hosts to help visitors make their way smoothly through your space while getting the most from your message.

#7. Be memorable. If you’ve done all of the above, visitors should walk away remembering you. But don’t leave it to chance. A unique, high-quality parting gift can be the spark that reminds someone to seek you out for more in-depth talks.

#8. Make it a snap to follow up. Now that you’ve captivated your prospects, don’t let them leave without a clear invitation and a way to contact you. Nurture the relationship by following up and staying in touch.

For more on the benefits of face-to-face marketing, check out our post on the power of a great live presentation.

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in Event Planning / Exhibit Design and Build / Trade Show Tips / Uncategorized  by 11 Feb 2015 0 comments

We Don’t Want A Lot for Christmas…

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Another year ending—already? We were just catching our breath from the whirlwind of 2014! In the unique business of live marketing, we consider ourselves blessed. With our amazing team and clients, plus exciting projects on the horizon, we have all we need.

But if Santa still wants to send us a little something extra, we don’t mind making a list.

All we want for Christmas is…

Comfy Shoes – Can the elves make heels that feel like walking on cotton balls, even after 8 hours on a trade show floor? We’ll take 100 pairs.

Friendly Skies – Please gift the airline industry with zero flight delays, minimal turbulence, and the will to bring down ridiculous fares. Our frequently traveling team members will be grateful.

Great Stories – More fun, inspiring and innovative messages mean more memorable experiences for us to create. We love that!

Kindred Spirits ­– Our clients, partners and team members just “click.” So it feels like an embarrassment of riches to ask for more. But who doesn’t love connecting with awesome people?

New Challenges – Give us that that tough assignment, that impenetrable brief, the idea no one’s sure what to do with—and watch us make it great.

Health and Happiness for All – We hope our friends, family, co-workers and clients have a wonderful holiday. And best wishes for a successful, joy-filled 2015!

in Uncategorized  by 15 Dec 2014 0 comments

Content Marketing at Conventions: Why You Should Consider a Camera Crew

Camera Crew at ConventionsWith today’s focus on visuals, documenting your company’s convention and trade show presence should be part of your marketing budget. Yet we often are surprised when clients don’t have a plan for showing higher-ups and other stakeholders just how successful their booths, demos and other activities were.

Sure, photos and video can be captured for free with phones and personal cameras. Professionally shot video, on the other hand, communicates the quality of the experience, allowing you to craft a recap that shows off why your company should continue to invest in trade shows and other live events.

But don’t stop there. Quality content can be repurposed to help you market externally as well.  Consider:

  • Filming your featured presentation, then breaking the footage into segments for an online series.
  • Filming demos as stand alones that can be used on your website or by sales reps in the field.
  • Interviewing your experts live for segments that can be included in blog posts or shared via social media.

To get the most out of your investment in a professional camera crew, follow these tips.

  • Create a content plan. Map out what you want to capture and where it will be showcased. This helps ensure you don’t return from an event missing the one piece of content your managers and marketing team want to see.
  • Compare crews and costs. It may seem like a money saver to hire in the convention city, but money is wasted if the crew doesn’t deliver what you need. Our clients often use our video directors, who understand their needs and equity — and who we trust to do quality work — then allow them to vet and hire other crew members on the ground.
  • Clear it with the venue. Make sure you understand and follow any restrictions on filming at the event.
  • Get releases. If you’re planning to use footage of attendees publicly, you’ll want signed permission forms. We use a boilerplate release and work with our clients’ legal teams, if necessary, to make sure everyone is covered.
  • Be efficient on-site. Time is money, so designate a point person to help the crew get what they need as quickly as possible.

For more information on our video services and capabilities, check out MPG’s video production page.

in Trade Show Tips / Uncategorized  by 25 Sep 2014 0 comments

Your Convention Season Survival Guide

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Image courtesy of iosphere/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If you have kids, you’re probably getting ready for back-to-school. And if your exhibiting season kicks into high gear in the fall, like ours does, then you also are preparing to get back on the road.

Here’s our back-to-show supply list: a compilation of must-haves for professionals who travel to conventions. The more you attend, the more you need these items, so be sure to stock up on…

checkmarkBright Smiles. You’ll need plenty of positivity to survive long hours working with the public, vendors, thought leaders and colleagues.

checkmarkVitamin C. Air travel, time zone differences, sketchy on-the-road nutrition and those aforementioned long hours can bring your body down. Pack the immunity boosters that work best for you.

checkmarkProblem Solving Skills. Seasoned exhibitors know not to be surprised when something goes wrong. Don your Thinking-On-Your-Feet Cap, and you can creatively handle any challenge.

checkmarkSleep Aids. Hotels offer varying degrees of comfort, but you can’t let it keep you from getting your zzzzzzz’s. Pack a white noise machine, sleep mask, herbal tea… whatever helps send you to dream land.

checkmarkCameras. You’ll want to show your bosses back home how well your booth is doing, and what better way than with photos and video? Don’t just rely on your smartphone, pack a good lightweight camera with video capabilities, too.

checkmark Batteries and Chargers. Enough said.

 

checkmarkChargers for Your Own Batteries. Take a break from people pleasing and problem solving with a good book. Or pack your running shoes for a jog after the show floor closes. Can’t take a week off to visit the beach? Schedule a spa weekend between conventions.

Now it’s your turn. What items are on your personal convention survival guide list? Let us know, and we’ll update with any we might have missed.

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in Trade Show Tips / Uncategorized  by 13 Aug 2014 0 comments

Try These Tips for Powerful Product Demos at Live Events

Product Demonstration for P&G fabric and skin care at AAD - By Moening Presentation Group

Product demonstrations are classic experiential marketing and a sure-fire way to make an impression on audiences at trade shows and other live events.

Demos can simplify complicated concepts. They can spark an “a ha!” by showcasing your brand in a new light. They enhance memorability by engaging all of the senses. And they provide a “reason to believe” by allowing target audiences to try the product and interact with the science behind it.

Are you considering a live demo? Here are some key questions to ask.

Is it simple? Live events—trade shows, especially—are unique settings. Space is limited, and so is the amount of time people are willing to spend. Look for activities that…

  1. Can be done within a couple of minutes. If that isn’t possible, consider creating a time-lapse video.
  2. Require a minimum of materials. You should be able to set up on a table-top, then re-set quickly, so demos can be run back-to-back.
  3. Are safe for the general public. If the demo requires safety goggles or poses any sort of physical risk, it’s probably not right for something like a trade show.

 

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Will it play to the crowd? While “kitchen science” is a great approach, and simple is always best, make sure your demo delivers a message that matches your audience in sophistication. Demos should also…

  1. Have an easy-to-notice result. You’re going for a “Wow!” so make sure the outcome is obvious and impressive.
  2. Be big enough to be seen by a semi-large group of people. We often place a small camera on the table so the demo can be broadcast on our video monitor for folks in the back.

 

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Will it work every time? This is the biggest and most important question. Most of our demos run 3 to 4 times an hour over several trade show days, and nothing hurts credibility more than a demonstration that doesn’t deliver the results it’s promised. To ensure that your demo works every single time, you will want to…

  1. Test, test, test. It’s not enough for a demo to work a couple of times in your lab. Run it at least 10 times in succession in a conference room.
  2. Consider a video. If you can’t replicate the same impressive results every time, videotape a successful demo and show that instead.

 

To see more of MPG’s demo work, check out the new experience we created for P&G skin care brands. Our case study will be up soon!

 

in Live Presentations / Trade Show Tips / Uncategorized  by 27 Mar 2014 0 comments

Happy Holidays from MPG!

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in Uncategorized  by 18 Dec 2013 0 comments

MPG Wins Spirit of Cincinnati Partnership Award

Image1The MPG team has been honored by the Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitors Bureau with a Spirit of Cincinnati Partnership Award for its work on a multi-media live spectacular that was presented as part of the closing ceremonies at the 2010 World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China.

Titled “The American Dream,” the show introduced singers from around the world to the city of Cincinnati, which will host the World Choir Games in 2012.

Calling the show “one of the most powerful tools we had to demonstrate the power of American music and Cincinnati USA,” the convention and visitor’s bureau gave MPG the Partnership Award at its 2011 annual meeting.

“MPG created a truly memorable show, and let the world know that Cincinnati USA will be ready to take center stage in 2012,” said members of the selection committee.

Written, produced, orchestrated, cast and costumed entirely by MPG, “The American Dream” featured Broadway caliber performers with video transitions that followed a young boy from China and a young girl from Cincinnati as they chatted via computer about their plans for the 2012 games.

in Uncategorized  by 24 Oct 2011 0 comments

MPG Kicks Off Countdown to the 2012 World Choir Games

Recently the MPG team had a chance to let our city—and the world—know about an amazing event coming to Cincinnati in July 2012. It’s the World Choir Games, and we couldn’t be more excited.

So we were thrilled to help create and produce a Countdown to the Games event in Cincinnati’s Fountain Square. The lunchtime celebration featured Drew Lachey as emcee, performances by Kelly King of last year’s “American Dream” show in China, an introduction to Whirl and Twirl, the 2012 Games’ official mascots, and a “musical postcard” welcome (below), which is being broadcast to the world on YouTube.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouuO2OcZ4CU&w=640&h=390]

Despite the record heat, we had a huge turnout for the Countdown, and everything went off without a hitch. Team MPG is so appreciative of the many volunteers and performers who helped make this event a success, and we can’t wait to help create even more memorable moments when the games arrive here at this time next year!

in Uncategorized  by 15 Jul 2011 0 comments

Get the Most from Your Event Agency: Pick a Pest

They say nobody likes a pest, but when it comes to choosing a partner to create your events and trade show activations, a pest might be just what you need.

Now, when we say “pest” we don’t mean someone who’s going to call every single day, show up unannounced and spam you with emails “just to say hi.”

What you want is a company that isn’t afraid to prod you when a deadline’s coming, let you know when a request will impact budget in a major way and stay in front of you when feedback, assets and approvals are needed to keep a project on track.

A good partner knows you’re busy, and most likely you’re working on several projects at once. We’ve seen the in-boxes of some of our clients, so we respect the many, many things competing for their time and attention. We’ve learned that sometimes it takes a bit of pestering to break through the noise and get what’s necessary at critical project milestones.

Because being timid can become costly. What we may gain in not bothering someone today we risk losing multiple times over when deadlines are missed, change orders come in and rush charges start piling up.

A good partner’s priority should be on keeping your project running smoothly, with as few major hiccups and nasty surprises as possible. The only way to do that is to make sure everyone’s aware of where things stand from a schedule and budget standpoint, ensure that all major stakeholders sign off on key pieces before moving forward, and manage expectations every step of the way.

In today’s crazy world, sometimes the only way to accomplish those things is to be a bit of a pest. So if you’re working with a company that isn’t afraid to email and call a few extra times when a project’s mission-critical, then be glad. Often, it’s the pests who turn out to be your best partners.

in Uncategorized  by 17 Mar 2011 0 comments