Blogs

Jul 27, 2014
I write many articles on social media, content marketing and how to engage with your customers, which are all great strategies for shows, exhibitors, and attendees to educate and generate new leads. All of these initiatives are viable and aimed to deliver quicker results. Now, I would like to focus on a more “under-the-hood” or long-term internal workings strategy to keep people coming back well after the show has ended using SEO. Most people are under the impression that search engines deliver answers, when in fact, they deliver search results that you can control, allowing you to come up… more
Jul 22, 2014
A powerful message I received early on in life about time management is that it doesn't matter if you wear a $10,000 Rolex or a $29 Mickey Mouse watch - we all have 24 hours in a day. And, for the new Smart Phone generation, who no longer wear timepieces, the point is the same - we all have the same 24 hours - no more, no less and you can't buy time, sorry Rolex!So why do we feel less productive at times and more productive at other times? A lot of this has to do with priority alignment. The key being that we align our priorities (the most important task) to our desired outcomes (… more
Jul 21, 2014
You probably have heard the question many times: “Why exhibit at trade shows?”   And you’ve likely answered the question from the standpoint of how trade shows help your company in the marketplace.  Yet there’s a lot more to it than that.Here are 4 sets of benefits trade shows offer, at all levels of your professional life:How Trade Show Helps You:  Whether you are working your trade show booth, attending keynote sessions, or just meeting people in the aisles, trade shows provide a fertile ground for advancing your career.  You learn more about your clients, prospects… more
Jul 21, 2014
It's easy to get caught up in the latest and "greatest" in technological gimmickry.  However, the tried-and-true methods still work, and you shouldn't overlook them when it's time to promote your trade show displays.After all, direct mail is still one of the most-used methods for trade show outreach, accounting for an average of 30 percent of trade show attendees' ad spend.Further, direct mail offers several distinct advantages over electronic communications. Even in this age of always-online customers and consistent beeping distractions, plain ole' "snail mail" is still a highly… more
Jul 14, 2014
As the event industry continues to adopt and grow its digital presence through various social networks, we always need to zero-base and remember why we are doing it. First off, it allows organizers and everyone at the show to interact with everyone else on multiple levels for lots of different reasons in basically real-time like never before. Below are a few reason why your show needs to go digital: 1. Customer service and feedback Shows are busy, people are running around and things tend to go wrong sometimes – this is where twitter can be amazing! If you have an active account,… more
Jul 14, 2014
Woody Allen gave a very memorable quote to the New York Times in 1977, saying “showing up is 80 percent of life.” This seems to be still true today, where many times the key to a great attendee engagement is the act of being present. So, how can you ‘show up’ at your next trade show? No distractions: First and foremost is to eliminate distractions when you are working your booth. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, drinks/food, laptops and side conversations. Why is this important? It is very difficult to split your focus and have a genuine engagement… more
Jul 07, 2014
In the past (almost) nine years of covering the trade show industry for first Tradeshow Week magazine and now Trade Show News Network, I have lost count the number of times I have read short-sighted, ill-informed and one-sided articles, op-eds, etc., about a city’s choice to build or expand a subsidized convention center or an adjacent hotel. Most recently, I read an op-ed written by Steven Pearlstein for The Washington Post that lambasted the opening of a new headquarter hotel – Marriott Marquis – next to the Walter E. Washington (D.C.) Convention Center. His op-ed hit all… more
Jul 04, 2014
Trade shows are opportunities, as we all know, and it's critical to know how to make the most of them for success. Spend time researching the event ahead of time to find out what your competitors are doing is essential and how you’re going to drive traffic to your tradeshow booth is a requirement. Head into the event with clearly stated goals and a well-designed booth and presentation. Once you're there, use these tips to leverage the event for your business' success. 1. Stay Upbeat  It's easy to get discouraged when person after person walks by your trade… more
Jun 28, 2014
There’s no doubt that by now, you’ve heard of content marketing. Maybe you’re even in the process of implementing it for your own business. Being in marketing myself, the concept had been on my radar for some time. However, it wasn’t until taking part in a particularly enlightening #Expochat (I find myself repeating this sentence quite often) earlier this year on content marketing for shows/exhibitors that I realized the power it held for trade shows. As attendees continue to expect more from their trade show experience than a sales pitch, exhibitors have to be ready… more
Jun 28, 2014
You don’t need a law degree to grasp the simple rules of trade show success. To ensure you don’t get jailed by poor trade show performance, or judged guilty of wasting your company’s scarce marketing resources, don’t break these 10 laws: 1. Know why you exhibit before you do anything else Just as intent is an important factor in the law, it’s essential in exhibiting. Too often exhibitors reserve a booth at a show without knowing why they are going in the first place. Without the guiding light of an overriding goal, they can’t shape their exhibit to… more
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