How can social media help you follow-up after trade shows?

1 Connect with attendees

The first step is to connect with the people you met at the trade show on social media. You can do this by sending personalized messages, following their accounts, or joining their groups. This way, you can keep the conversation going, learn more about their interests and needs, and offer value. You can also use social media to thank them for their time, share your appreciation, and remind them of your unique selling proposition.

2 Share valuable content

The next step is to share valuable content with your new connections on social media. You can do this by posting relevant articles, videos, podcasts, or infographics that address their pain points, challenges, or goals. You can also create your own content that showcases your expertise, insights, or solutions. The key is to provide value, not to sell. You want to educate, inform, and inspire your audience, not to spam them with sales pitches.

3 Engage with comments and feedback

The third step is to engage with the comments and feedback you receive on your social media posts. You can do this by responding to questions, acknowledging compliments, addressing concerns, or asking for opinions. You can also initiate conversations by commenting on your connections' posts, liking their updates, or tagging them in relevant content. The goal is to build rapport, trust, and credibility with your audience, not to ignore them or annoy them.

4 Showcase social proof

The fourth step is to showcase social proof on your social media platforms. You can do this by sharing testimonials, reviews, ratings, or case studies from your satisfied customers, especially those who came from trade shows. You can also share photos, videos, or stories of your trade show booth, presentations, or demos, and highlight the benefits and features of your products or services. The purpose is to demonstrate your value, authority, and reputation in your industry, not to brag or exaggerate.

5 Promote your offers and events

The fifth step is to promote your offers and events on your social media channels. You can do this by sharing exclusive discounts, coupons, or free trials for your products or services, especially for your trade show leads. You can also invite them to join your webinars, workshops, or online courses that can help them solve their problems or achieve their goals. The idea is to create urgency, scarcity, and curiosity for your offers and events, not to pressure or manipulate them.

6 Track and measure your results

The sixth and final step is to track and measure your results from your social media follow-up after trade shows. You can do this by using analytics tools, CRM software, or surveys to monitor and evaluate your social media metrics, such as reach, engagement, traffic, leads, conversions, and sales. You can also compare your results with your goals, budget, and expectations, and identify what worked and what didn't. The aim is to optimize your social media follow-up strategy, not to guess or assume.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?