ESP Searches Jump After Virtual Trade Shows
Thursday April 29, 2010 | Filed under:
We held our fourth virtual trade show this week and all distributor feedback to date can be summed up in one word: great.
Only one thing can make the virtual experience better - and that's even more suppliers.
We know the all-day, online event is effective because exhibiting suppliers experience an average 24% increase in ESP searches the day after each show. And more searches mean more sales.
On average, exhibitors at Wednesday's virtual trade show - ASI's fourth - spent 66 minutes in the virtual environment and exchanged 4,548 instant messaging chats. And distributors completed 5,404 supplier surveys.
Wednesday's show featured several top suppliers, including Tri-Mountain/Mountain Gear (asi/92125), Americanna Co. (asi/35730), Graphco Line (asi/57956) and The Magnet Group (asi/68507). Exhibitors showcased everything from bumper stickers, key tags and bottled water to apparel, phone accessories, food and gifts.
If you missed this week's show, you can access it on-demand at www.asicentral.com/vts through June 15.
Everyone I've talked to says the virtual experience is a terrific way for distributors to chat one-on-one with suppliers providing interactive video at their booths - while drinking coffee from the comfort of their office.
Virtual events certainly won't replace our bricks-and-mortar shows (New York is next week!) , but definitely qualify as an added bonus. So we'll host two more this year, on Wednesday, June 16, and Wednesday, September 22.
Let me know how your virtual experience went by posting a comment or emailing me here. I'm also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.