Lauren M. Spinelli’s Post

>>>Field research and eating your own soup - Why busy founders don't prepare for industry events? I met with Aleš Pevc from Technology Park Ljubljana this week for lunch. We both had tomato soup and covered much ground during lunchtime. We talked so much that I forgot to eat my soup and got cold. One of the topics on the menu was attending trade shows and industry events. I still don't know why some founders invest so much energy and time into going somewhere but run out of time to prepare. Attending an industry event or exhibiting at a trade show requires considerable time and energy. You have to make every euro or dollar count. What is a good enough mode? Vs. What's coming prepared? Busy founders often don't adequately prepare for tradeshows due to a combination of time constraints and underestimating the value of proper planning: → overloaded with daily operations → underestimating the importance of pre-show prep → lack of clear objectives → belief in product/service selling itself → assuming the team will handle it If you want to warm up your potential clients and partners, connect with them on LinkedIn for 9-6 months before you need anything from them. If you want a steady pace, 3-6 months is catching the last train. There are only 2 things you need to start: → Connect with your ideal clients, industry experts, and peers daily (aim for 100/week!) → Create a personal LinkedIn profile that is your #1 sales page, and polish your company and/or services profile. These are the foundations to start building your founder brand. If you skip preparation because you're stretched too thin, think again. You are going to build massive leverage with this. The sooner you start, the bigger the leverage. If you plan to attend any big shows, such as CES, ICE365, Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), Embedded Technology Convention | World Series, GITEX EUROPE ... DM me. I'm cooking something efficient to prepare you for your next industry event. Remember - 1 connection, 1 referral, 1 comment, or 1 post can be enough to land a MAJOR OPPORTUNITY! But you only have 1 OPPORTUNITY to make your 1st impression!

Today, Freeman Company released their Q2 edition of the trends report, this time focusing on exhibitors. Here's the TL;DR - none of which are surprising: 🙌 Exhibitors want more customers and prospects at the show 🙌 Exhibitors want pricing transparency and more packages 🙌 Exhibitors want to quickly qualify/disqualify leads 🙌 Exhibitors want more quality networking time My confirmation bias sought out validation on engagement, so here's how I'm reading it: 👉 STAT: 69% of exhibitors say getting an attendee list offers added value. 🔴 PROBLEM: Attendees are registering at the last minute, making it embarrassing and scary to provide "light" lists early, and impossible to align participation decisions on attendees. 🙌 SOLUTION: Sharing company/title is SO helpful to *everyone*! Do it! 👉 STAT: Networking and commerce are the top two reasons to exhibit. 🔴 PROBLEM: Not enough networking time or opportunities. 🙌 SOLUTION: More whitespace in the agenda. Dedicated show hours that don't conflict with sessions. More curated networking (i.e. think tanks, roundtables, collision-rich environments) 👉  STAT: Networking/meetings with attendees ranked highest in importance, but only 37% of exhibitors want tech to help them connect. 🔴 PROBLEM: Organizers are trying to fix the networking problem with tech tools, but the people just want more time with the people. 🙌 SOLUTION: More time in the agenda for conversation, not just listening. 👉  STAT: 44% of exhibitors believe that small group discussions are the most influential teaching/learning opportunity. 🔴 PROBLEM: Most events prioritize large "sit and get" breakout sessions. 🙌 SOLUTION: More roundtables, think tanks, topic-based meetups. 👉  STAT: Topic-specific meetups ranked as the most valuable networking opportunity amongst exhibitors (43%), which aligns with attendees’ networking priorities. 🔴 PROBLEM: Organizers fail to add this into the agenda, favoring traditional breakout sessions. 🙌 SOLUTION: Just add them! More roundtables, think tanks, topic-based meetups. 👉  STAT: 27% of exhibitors rated speed meetups as important, but attendees rank them as the least important networking element (8%). 🔴 PROBLEM: Exhibitors want to quickly qualify/disqualify leads, but attendees are looking for more value when they network. 🙌 SOLUTION: Topic-based small group discussions help provide value to both exhibitors and attendees. 👉  STAT: 95% of exhibitors ranked Meeting/Networking with Customers/Prospects as the #1 reason for exhibiting, but only 59% are satisfied. 🔴 PROBLEM: Organizers are not fulfilling the audience acquisition promises like they used to, and when they do, they aren't providing enough opportunities to network. 🙌 SOLUTION: Audience acquisition is everyone's job. Exhibitors and speakers need to help spread the word to get more registrants. Grab the whole report here:

Exploring the value of trade shows in today's business landscape. Check out this insightful blog post that weighs the pros, cons, and ROI of participating in these events. Your next big opportunity could be just a booth away! #TradeShows #Networking

Why Do Events and Trade Shows Still Work? It's a question we’re often asked. You’d think that by the time individuals or companies approach us, they’ve already decided to participate, but that’s not always the case. Here are some of our thoughts on why events and trade shows remain vital in today’s world. In an era where digital connections dominate, events and trade shows offer something irreplaceable — human connection. These gatherings allow brands to tell their stories face-to-face, showcase their products in real time, and engage all the senses. They provide a platform for genuine conversations, building trust and fostering relationships that go beyond transactional interactions. Whether it’s closing deals, forming partnerships, or gaining industry insights, the value of meeting in person is immeasurable. Attendees frequently highlight the unique energy at live events: the chance encounters with the right people, the inspiration from immersive experiences, and the clarity these events bring to their professional goals. For exhibitors, events offer a chance to cut through the digital noise. They create opportunities to stand out in a crowded marketplace and connect directly with an engaged audience. This is something we always encourage our clients to take full advantage of. Of course, in today’s economic climate, every decision must be a wise one, especially when budgets are under pressure. Yet, for those who commit to events, the possibilities and opportunities consistently outweigh the costs. #WeCreateExperiences #ProfessionalCuddle #TradeShows #Networking #BusinessOpportunities #EventIndustry #EventProfs #EventManagement

In the last 5 years, more than 75 events have increased engagement and NPS scored with this one simple program. I want to share with you how it works. I know your attendees are requesting more networking time, but you have to balance that with content that "must" be delivered. You've already tried: → Extending coffee break time → Extending lunch time → Adding more evening events But it's still missing the mark on your surveys, right? Enter the Spontaneous Think Tank. You can experience it for yourself (for free) TOMORROW, July 23 at 11am central online. This special think tank is focused on trade show professionals, so topics may range from vendor selection to booth activations to qualifying leads to selecting events to participate in - but we won't know the topics until everyone joins. A Spontaneous Think Tank is a "think tank" because it exists to solve problems. It's "spontaneous" because we don't know what those problems are until participants (you!) join and share your challenges. (We call this the "Wall of Woes"). You may be wondering why this tool for networking is being featured for trade show professionals... This is the secret sauce for: → Driving more engagement in your expo halls → Increasing sponsor value → Increasing *real* networking time And we can add it all to your trade show floor. We'll give you the full insights reports from the think tank so you can see what your post-think tank report will look like after your own event. So if you've been wondering what a Spontaneous Think Tank is all about, come join the online version to get a feel for it and we'll share how you can implement one in person at your next event! See you tomorrow at 11am Central! Register here: https://lnkd.in/g4iStXD2

Is attendance at your events a little lackluster? An events page might be just the thing you need! An events page on your website is the key to keeping your audience engaged and informed about all the exciting activities your business has to offer. From workshops to performances, it's the perfect way to spark interest and ensure no one misses out. But why stop there? Learn how to take your event planning game to the next level with our latest blog. Discover the importance of an events page, how it boosts engagement, and why it's essential for your business success. 💼🚀 https://lnkd.in/grbrjH6T #EventPlanning #StayInformed #UnlockSuccess #LegendWebWorks #CincinnatiMarketing #CincinnatiWebDesign

What happens when people can’t find their way at events? ⬇️ Participants often experience: 🤯 Frustration: "This event is massive.. there are so many booths, and I don’t even know which ones are relevant to me—this is overwhelming." 😩 😰 Stress: "I’m constantly checking the printed map to find my way around to sessions, but it’s hard to match it to where I actually am—the signs aren't clear and I'm late!" 😥 Disconnection: "I keep wandering around and missing out on opportunities to network with the right people because I don't have full visibility over where everyone is all the time.." Luckily, our new and improved interactive maps feature is here to help! 🔍 Zoomable Map - Get detailed views from any angle, whether up close or far away. 📋 Exhibitor Profiles - Discover virtual booths, connect directly to company profiles, and explore their entire product lineup with just a click. 🔗 Interactive Elements - Navigate seamlessly with clickable icons and links that connect you to sessions, speakers, documents, and more. 📍 Live Location Tracking - See your real-time location on the map to easily find your way around. 🤝 Integrated Networking - Set up meetings with exhibitors directly from the map, simplifying your connections on the spot. We get it—managing your way through the event tough, but we're here to make things easier and take some of the stress off your plate. Curious to hear more? Let's #talque!

Produce your own event or participate in an industry event? It seems that more and more brands are focusing their face2face strategy on events that are created by their own versus presenting in large scale industry events. I think this has more potential for getting the ROI you want from events. It is more accurate, you get your audience's full attention and the event is all about your brand so you get to do whatever you want. Two concerns still: 1. The cake has to be split somehow. Meaning, if a company has XXX budget for traveling to go see events, will they prefer your exclusive brand event versus industry event where they can meet all brands at once? 2. And if the answer to the above is that attendees will participate in both types of events, how sustainable is it if we just doubled up the amount of events people will travel to? #EventMarketing #BrandStrategy #NetworkingEvents #ROI #AudienceEngagement #ExclusiveEvents #SustainabilityInBusiness #FaceToFaceInteraction #B2BEvents

"𝑨𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝑹𝑶𝑰 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 … 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉"🤝 I recently asked my audience ‘Is there such thing as too many trade shows in our industry?’🤔 50+ votes later, it is clear trade shows provide strong value with an overwhelming 71% stating the importance of event quality.   𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 … 💠Location, cost, attendance, audience, company resources and budgets. Location plays a crucial role, as venues in major cities with good infrastructure and industry relevance attract more attendees and exhibitors. However, high booth fees or ticket prices associated with prime locations can limit participation, particularly for smaller companies. This is a challenge for smaller and mid-size Contract Manufacturers, who may struggle to attend multiple trade shows due to budget constraints. Larger companies, with bigger budgets, can afford more impressive displays and dedicate more resources to events. In an industry driven by innovation, representation of smaller companies is so important.   𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐑𝐎𝐈) When determining budgets and allocating resources, it is important to define ROI. In the context of trade shows, ROI refers to the business benefits. For example, sales leads, partnerships, or brand exposure gained from participating in relation to expenses like booth fees, travel, and marketing. This finding reaffirms the importance of networking effectively. Yes you may speak to 50+ business prospects in a day, but how are you utilising these connections? How often are you following up? By going the extra mile you will expand your professional reach and consolidate long term valuable connections. It’s not about what you know, its who you know...   If you missed this discussion I'd love to continue this conversation! Share your thoughts below👇   #Personalcareindustry #Personalcare #Executivesearch #Networking 

Transform your event with Headshot Magic! Want to spark excitement and forge lasting connections at your next event? Elevate your game with our professional headshot booth! Why it’s a game-changer: 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Give attendees the chance to capture a stunning, professional image that boosts their personal brand. It sets your event apart and leaves a lasting impression. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Our booth isn’t just for photos; it’s a networking hub! Conversations flow naturally as people await their turn, creating meaningful connections. 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Seamlessly gather leads while providing attendees with top-notch headshots. It’s a win-win, simplifying follow-ups for everyone. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱: Show your commitment to excellence by featuring our headshot booth. It’s a powerful way to enhance your brand and create a memorable experience for all. Ready to elevate your event experience and engage your audience like never before? Reach out to us today and let’s transform your event together! Let's make your event unforgettable! Pictured here is the 15+minute line waiting for their headshot. The MOST popular booth at the expo!