14 Things You Can Tweet About When Attending or Exhibiting at a Trade Show

May 31, 2014

Trace Cohen

Trace Cohen is the Co-founder of Launch.it, the only Event News Management Platform for expos, tradeshows and events to increase their social engagement, buzz and revenue with their exhibitor and show news by creating a Digital Media Center for them.

To tweet or not to tweet, that is the question! Tweeting, for the sake of tweeting, at a show is fine, but you can add a lot more value if you tweet about relevant things. Most people come to a trade show to find new products, services, and/or ideas, and now that we are in the digital age, people are looking more and more to social networks like Twitter to find news from other people.

It is time to step-up and be the one to tweet something that is interesting. If you have something to share, use the conference hashtag (#), so others can find it easily.

Shows have so much news and information to share with their attendees and exhibitors, so I am passing along a few tips on what you can tweet out at a show. Remember, exhibitors like to share their news with everyone, and attendees like to hear about it.

First, start out by tweeting something about you. There is nothing wrong with self-promotion. Tweet that you will be at the show before it begins so that people know to follow you. People who can’t attend will then rely on you for information.

Tweet links to your news, so you can go beyond 140 characters.

Tweet your booth number, so attendees and media can stop by your booth.

Tweet pictures of your product and services so people can see, and share, what you do.

Tweet pictures of yourself at the show with your product, at your booth, or with other people attending or exhibiting at the show.

Tweet facts/questions about your product(s) and or service(s).

Hopefully, you will find some time during the day to leave your to attend some of the keynotes, breakout sessions, and walk around to network.

If you attend a keynote, tweet quotes from the speaker or interesting things you heard. Make sure to find the speaker’s twitter handle and give credit to them.

Tweet interesting facts you heard or read from a presenter’s slides.

Tweet pictures of cool things you saw, for example, a great promotion or booth designs.

Tweet your thoughts on the industry or show – feedback is important!

One of the best parts of Twitter is that you can directly engage with anyone you want, at any time.  Sometimes, you need to listen before you tweet, so you can have a conversation with someone, rather than just promoting yourself.

Why tweet?

There must be many people you want to meet at the show, tweet at them!

Add value to conversations - reply to something they tweeted.

Retweet as a sign of endorsement.

Retweet other exhibiting companies – make sure to support the industry.

You may be thinking, “If I tweet and have no followers, who will care?” That’s a reasonable question. If you are attending a trade show, everyone who could possibly care will be at the sameshow, or interested in knowing about the show, and following the hashtag. If they are not attending or not interested in finding out what’s new at a trade show, no loss.

Events are industry anomalies where lots of interesting people get together and want to meet each other, using social networks to connect and talk with people they know or better yet, haven’t met!

Start now by creating a Twitter account, get your feet wet and start spreading the news …

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact