Is an On-Line Trade Show An Option for You?

"On-Line Trade Show as a Supplement to the Live Convention Trade Show"

  1. Determine a ballpark figure that you are willing to budget as if you are paying for all costs with no expected income.

  2. Determine how many months in advance of the live show that an on-line trade show will run.

  3. Determine the length of time to continue the trade show after the live event.

  4. Determine a priority rating for each of following features:
  • On line registration for visitors or attendees
  • On line registration for exhibitors
  • Calendar of events, education sessions, meetings, etc.
  • Personalized itinerary for each attendee
  • List of education with synopsis of the course
  • List of speakers with credentials and courses.
  • List of exhibitors
    • with link to trade show location
    • with links to exhibitor’s web sites
  • Map of exhibit hall
    • with links from booth to exhibitor info
    • with video clips of booths
  • Catalogue of products and services
  • Shopping cart capability to purchase products & services
  • Data capture of visitors
  • Lead tracking for vendors
  • Credit Card registration on-line
  • Download form for fax registration
  • Hotel Directory
  • Hotel Room Reservations
  • Hotel/Site mapping
  • Links with hotel web site
  • Links with restaurants, entertainment, and tours in the locale
  • Demographics of current registrants
  • Airline, car rental and other travel reservations
  • Email for personal response to questions and concerns
  • Tutorial assistance to travel through the site
  • Frequently asked Questions Section

  1. Review other on-line trade shows and Production Companies to see what options they may provide and what costs are usually associated with this production. You will find a very broad spectrum of features and price ranges.

  2. Determine what income you expect to receive by selling vendors space on the web site. Also include per booth costs, look into package of live trade show and web visibility, and determine minimum number of vendors required to provide this income.

  3. Prepare two marketing plans – one to sell the site to exhibitors as on-line vendors and another to promote visibility and repeat visits by attendees.

  4. After careful consideration of your options, projected income and potential costs (in a broad range), you can prepare an RFP to provide to several developers or present a proposal to your directors to prepare a web site in house (providing staff & equipment are capable).

  5. Once activated, maintain constant overview, since a web site can be modified quickly and easily. Collect relevant statistics. Monitor Q&A areas, email complaints and survey visitors and exhibitors.

  6. Review and reconsider benefits and drawbacks when the first On-Line Trade Show is completed.


"On-Line Trade Show in place of live production"

Someday, this may become the norm, but the benefits of an independent trade show are not yet evident. This is a year-round event and No Convention is associated with it. Takes a larger marketing plan to keep this attention getting. Is more appropriate for attendees who are very technologically literate, such as a technology convention would be. Members must have the quality of equipment and understanding of its use to proceed. Costs are usually fairly high for the tech options that should be included. This eliminates the networking opportunities provided by a live event.