Trade Show University for Virtual & Live Events
Trade Show University for Virtual & Live Events

Trade Show University for Virtual & Live Events

Jim Cermak

Overview
Episodes

Details

Trade Show University is the #1 resource in the industry for Exhibitors, Marketers and Show Planners to improve their results and ROI. With over 220 podcast episodes featuring tips, training and expert interviews, and exclusive group and 1-on-1 consulting and training, you have everything you need to make your next trade show or event wildly successful! We offer a free 15-minute Discovery Call to brainstorm ideas and possibilities for your business and your show - visit https://tradeshowu.biz/services/ to schedule your call! Every idea we generate in this no-cost call is yours! And so are the results! Developed and hosted by trade show veteran Jim Cermak, Trade Show University brings proven information from Jim’s 30+ years as a professional trainer, event planner and marketer, along with industry experts and insiders to discuss topics geared to help companies really get better results. If you find yourself asking questions like these below, then this show is for you: How to prepare for a trade show? How do I design a trade show booth? How do I get attendees to stop at my trade show booth or stand? What is the best trade show marketing? What are top trade show tips? How do I set goals for my trade show? Are trade shows, trade fairs, expos, and conferences worth it? How much is a trade show? To listen to podcast episodes, get information and free tools, and to sign up for email updates, go to www.TradeShowU.biz.

Recent Episodes

Ep 260 - Entrepreneur SUCCESS STORY Case Study - LESSONS from First BIG Trade Show -
DEC 18, 2024
Ep 260 - Entrepreneur SUCCESS STORY Case Study - LESSONS from First BIG Trade Show -

Innovative New Product entrepreneur and small business owner, Lauren McLaughlin of ChangeUp Kids (https://www.changeupkids.com), shares her story of how she found huge success at her very first BIG Trade Show! Her product for Parents of Kids was perfect for the Event she chose.

** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show?

Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://calendly.com/tradeshowu


Lauren is a mom of three adventurous boys, and we are constantly on the go. I always desired a place for them to get changed with privacy without having them go into public bathrooms after a sandy day at the beach.

Change Up Kids is a portable changing station that gives kids and families Dignity, Privacy and Convenience.

Lauren attended the MomCon expo (https://www.momcon.co/) for a couple of years as an attendee and saw this event as the perfect place to launch her new product. Thousands of moms attend each year.

She realized being at the right show wasn't enough, so reached out to Jim Cermak of Trade Show University. Jim coached her as she prepared for MomCon and the 5,000 moms that were going to be there. She ultimately made changes to her signage, displays, offers, and engagement questions.

You will love her energy and her story as she shares what worked well and what needs to be improved for the next show!

Connect with Lauren:

  • ChangeUp Kids: https://www.changeupkids.com/
  • Email: [email protected]
  • IG: https://www.instagram.com/change_up_kids/


Training Videos & Tips - Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity

Email Jim: [email protected]

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19 MIN
259 - Award Winning Event Marketer talks Success Tips & Strategies - with Laura Woods
NOV 25, 2024
259 - Award Winning Event Marketer talks Success Tips & Strategies - with Laura Woods

Today you are going to learn from an Award Winning event and marketing manager about Goal Setting, Sourcing, Networking and more. So excited to have Laura Woods, Event and Marketing Manager for Jamis Software join Jim Cermak, host and founder of Trade Show University for this impactful interview.

** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show?

Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://calendly.com/tradeshowu


Laura and Jim discuss:


Goal Clarity for Event Success: Like trade show exhibitors, event planners must define clear goals for each event to ensure smooth execution and meaningful outcomes. "If you don't have a clear goal, the event is not going to run smoothly."


Leveraging the Power of Networking: Facilitating connections between attendees is crucial for a successful event. Woods highlights the importance of dedicated networking time, icebreaker activities, and creating an environment that encourages interaction. "That's the lifeline of events is the connections in the networking."


Sourcing for Success: Woods emphasizes the need for strategic venue selection, considering factors like attendee location, accessibility, cultural relevance, and adequate space. "You need to make sure you have enough space and hotel rooms."


Continuous Feedback and Improvement: Pre- and post-event surveys provide invaluable feedback for improving future events. Woods encourages event planners to be receptive to criticism and to view feedback as an opportunity for growth. "Never take anything to heart of what you get back from these surveys."


Theming and Engagement: Creating a memorable event with a strong theme enhances the attendee experience. Woods shares examples of incorporating popular culture references and aligning the theme with the event's purpose.


Connect with Laura:


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurab90/

Email: [email protected]


Email Jim: [email protected]

Mentioned in this episode:

Subscribe to the new Trade Show University YouTube channel!

Check out the new Trade Show University YouTube channel where we feature a growing number of training videos to help businesses get More Leads, More Sales and More Profits through the power of Trade Shows! Many videos are exclusive to YouTube and not found on the podcast. Visit, Subscribe and Binge! https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity

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6 MIN
258 - 8 Tips to Hit Your Goals when the Trade Show is SLOW
NOV 18, 2024
258 - 8 Tips to Hit Your Goals when the Trade Show is SLOW

You're an exhibitor working a trade show or conference when all of a sudden, the traffic stops. What happened to the Attendees? Where is everyone? What do you do? I'm going to give you 8 TIPS you need to make the most of the slow times! 8 of them to be exact!

** Please SUBSCRIBE to the Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity **


So when the show gets slow, what i see is people pulling out their phones and start scrolling. Please stop that! When attendees start coming around again, they won't want to stop at your booth.


So here's what you do - create a strategy!


So that means before you go to the show, you have to do your research and figure out what you are going to do when the show is slow. And for those of you at larger shows in the end aisles and the back corners, that means when the show opens! You may not see anyone for a while!


So before I go into the 8 things I recommend being prepared to do when the show is slow, you have to find and research the show floor layout. This is NEEDED for the first 3 Tips:


#1 - Look for booths that can be potential customers


#2 - Look for competitors - spy on them


#3 - Look for potential vendors or suppliers - reach out to purchasing and see what their needs are.


#4 - What breakout sessions should you attend?


Anything else you do before the show? Drop that in the comments. And please subscribe if you're getting value!


#5 - Have someone walk the floor and take pics of other booths for ideas - design, activations, more


#6 - Review with your team goals, scripts, and roles


#7 - Make time to network!


#8 - Give people breaks!


** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show?

Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://calendly.com/tradeshowu

#strategy #tradeshows #events

Mentioned in this episode:

Subscribe to the new Trade Show University YouTube channel!

Check out the new Trade Show University YouTube channel where we feature a growing number of training videos to help businesses get More Leads, More Sales and More Profits through the power of Trade Shows! Many videos are exclusive to YouTube and not found on the podcast. Visit, Subscribe and Binge! https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity

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6 MIN
Sell MORE Event Tickets & Keep More MONEY - with Ashley Stanford
NOV 4, 2024
Sell MORE Event Tickets & Keep More MONEY - with Ashley Stanford

How to attract More Attendees to your Trade Shows, Conferences and Events, Sell More Tickets, and Keep More Money! Get the Tips on using the right Marketing and Ticket Platform.

** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show?

Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://tradeshowu.biz/services


Join Jim Cermak of Trade Show University and Ashley Stanford, a Digital Marketing Consultant and Freelancing Expert. With 20 years of experience in the digital marketing space, she specializes in building strategic marketing plans, mapping strategy execution, and collaborating to optimize tactics that drive increased performance for clients in the Events & Entertainment space. Her app Ice Cream Social is backed by Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech, which invested in the company in early 2022.


We Discuss:

  • Effective Event Marketing
  • What should organizers consider when choosing a ticketing platform?
  • What are the most effective ways to boost ticket sales for trade shows?
  • How to make sure the right audience attends?
  • Trends in the trade show industry that planners and exhibitors should keep an eye on?


Ashley's Top Takeaway:

The importance of choosing a flexible ticketing system that aligns with their trade show's needs, combined with effective marketing and networking strategies, to drive attendance and maximize the value of their event. The message should be that strategic decisions in both technology and personal interactions are key to a successful trade show experience.


Connect with Ashley Stanford:


Mentioned in this episode:

Exhibitor Expert Review - exclusively from Trade Show University

Ready to exhibit at your next Show? Don’t make the mistake of waiting until you get to the show to learn lessons on what you can do better and tweaks you can make for next time. You can do that BEFORE this next show and accelerate your results! I can help you get locked in for Success with an Expert Review! • Having a professional set of outside "eyes" is important because You Don't Know what You Don't Know! • 30+ year Trade Show expert will review: o Design o Messaging o Goals & Metrics o Engagement Questions o Attendee journey • Identify the Gaps and Opportunities you don’t even know exist! • And get you capturing more Qualified Leads than ever before • Visit Tradeshowu.biz/services

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21 MIN
256 - Should you BUY or RENT your Trade Show Exhibit?  With Chris Dunn
OCT 14, 2024
256 - Should you BUY or RENT your Trade Show Exhibit? With Chris Dunn

Should you buy or rent the exhibit for your next Trade Show, Conference or Event? What's the ROI? This is a top question for big and Small Business across the US and Europe.

** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show?

Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://tradeshowu.biz/services

We're going to break it down with great tips and advice from Chris Dunn, VP of Sales & Business Development with BlueHive Exhibits who has been in the industry for 30 years.


We discuss:

-- When does it make sense to buy compared to rent?

-- When is the breakeven ROI for buying versus renting?

-- What type of Exhibit program is a good candidate for renting?

-- Case Studies and more!


Chris's Top Tips:

-- When selecting an exhibit partner, like an exhibit house or an agency, make sure that you choose someone that you trust not only for where you’re at currently but also where you want to go and how you want to grow

-- Be open to exploring options on both the purchase and rental side to get the best combination that works for your Exhibit program

-- Create and understand a complete exhibit calendar that includes both sizes, show dates, locations and goals. Work with your partner to handle overlapping situations or an outlier space as a for instance.


Special Offer from Chris and BlueHive:

BlueHive is happy to offer a 30 minute no charge tradeshow program audit


Contact Chris Dunn:

-- Email: [email protected]

-- Website: www.bluehive.com

-- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjdunn1/


Weekly Tips, Training and More! Register for our Newsletter at www.tradeshowu.biz

Mentioned in this episode:

Subscribe to the new Trade Show University YouTube channel!

Check out the new Trade Show University YouTube channel where we feature a growing number of training videos to help businesses get More Leads, More Sales and More Profits through the power of Trade Shows! Many videos are exclusive to YouTube and not found on the podcast. Visit, Subscribe and Binge! https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity

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31 MIN