Exhibitions are the perfect opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with a wider number of different people and businesses, although many are not aware of the impact that social media can have on these connections. Creating and developing a website is important for any business. Along with having a website, you need to expand your online outreach to social media platforms. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are necessary for maintaining a competitive edge. Companies that do not have active social media accounts risk missing out on numerous marketing opportunities. Leveraging Social Media successfully allows endless marketing opportunities during your exhibition tradeshows in Dubai. By implementing an innovative & well – planned social media strategy well in advance, marketers can use these tools to massively raise awareness and reach to generate leads, drive website traffic and boost attendees visits for your next exhibition tradeshow in Dubai.

1.Use official show hashtags to share exhibition news with attendees

Beginning a hashtag campaign on Twitter is an excellent way to get exhibitors, guests and others interested in the exhibition to talk about it. A hashtag is simply a keyword phrase, spelled out without spaces, with a pound sign (#) in front of it. For Example: #Expo2017 and #TradeShowOfTheYear are both hashtags. You may incorporate these hashtags anywhere in your social media posts: in the beginning, anywhere in between or at the end. These hashtags tie public conversations from all different users into a single stream, which you can find by searching for a hashtag, clicking on one, or using a third-party monitoring tool like HubSpot’s Social Inbox. Note that if you want your post having a hashtag to appear in anyone’s search, the post must be public. Find out what the tradeshow’s official hashtags are for the show, and start following it 2-4 weeks prior to the show to learn trends and connect with key players. Use the hashtag and promote how you will be at the show on Twitter. Consider creating a hashtag specific to your company or campaign.

2. Follow the trade show’s Social Media pages on Facebook & Twitter

You must start following the tradeshow’s Facebook page and Twitter page. Post questions regarding the trade show, the special events at the show and other relevant information like where to stay in Dubai or best places to eat in town that will help you get more engagement and exposure.

3.Promote your participation on your company page

On your Facebook brand page, start promoting your participation in upcoming tradeshow in Dubai. Mention your booth stall number in the exhibition hall. Pin a post to the top of your Twitter page promoting your next exhibition tradeshow in Dubai with special offers or contests. Also, do not forget to “follow” fans or attendees of the trade show exhibit’s page. Also, like and share the show’s posts on your timeline as well as groups you have joined.

4. Join trade groups on LinkedIn to converse about upcoming tradeshow & share highlights of your booth stall

LinkedIn has a fantastic “groups” option, so getting everyone into a particular exhibition tradeshow in Dubai is easy. You may join groups and engage in “conversations” or start one yourself in trade groups related to the show. If you have blog posts, share them & also thoughts about the industry or market to establish yourself as an authority in your industry. Use LinkedIn “share an update…” option to show your upcoming contest, special events leading up to the tradeshow. Connect with people going to the show. Tell them where to find you at the show. Start building a relationship with them. Don’t forget to look for similar business interests/connection that you have in common with fellow attendees. That’s a powerful way to genuinely build a business relationship with a prospect or deepen one with an existing customer.

LinkedIn, for example, is the professional social network. So if you are a B2B company attending a trade show or exhibition, this is an excellent platform for you to tell your online audience about what you are up to. LinkedIn updates must always be professional, engaging and relevant to your business. However, personal updates, like smiley staff pictures, do work well on LinkedIn, these should be posted alongside more expert content such as industry news and reports. On the other hand, Twitter feeds move much faster. You must utilize this social platform to focus on real-time event updates as well as to connect with other attendees at the exhibition tradeshow in Dubai.

5. Create a teaser video

There are a lot of ways to market your exhibition tradeshow in Dubai, one of the most interesting and effective ways to promote it with a teaser video. Mostly new products or services are introduced at trade shows. Create a teaser video on YouTube to share prior to the show.

6. Create and Share a landing page for your website on social media platforms

A landing page is an excellent mode to direct your booth visitors towards information that pertains to them and have measurable web statistics as well. Your landing page could offer free material, such as an ebook or whitepaper, relating to the messaging you decided for your exhibition tradeshow in Dubai. You can share your landing page link on your social media link; this will help send trade show attendees on your website. This will also provide you with an opportunity to gather information about them.

7. Capture live streaming video & share pictures in real time

Google hangout enables you to broadcast from your exhibition (hopefully the exhibition hall has Wifi or your company has planned for it) for people who are not there to see what’s going on and what you are presenting. Google+ Circle feature gives you the chance to organize your Google contacts based on where you met them or what type of person they are: peer, partner, customer, prospect etc. Upload the Hangout video to YouTube. You can also post updates with pictures, it will allow your feed to keep moving with images, thoughts, and ideas about what’s happening at the exhibition tradeshow in Dubai.

8. Promote special offers

Organize a contest related to your product or service to collect leads for potential customers before or during the show. Giveaways or Contests can combine social media with visiting the booth in person. For instance: You could advertise a contest in your booth, have entries coming via Facebook page, and then have the winners come back to the booth to get their prize.

9. Gather feedbacks on Twitter

Use Twitter polls to collect feedback on the event that you can then publish as a separate piece of content about, or write your own post-show review. By polling your audience, you can do two things for your next exhibition tradeshow in Dubai:

You can find out relevant opinions pertaining to your brand, products or services

You can pique the interest of your followers and improve engagement.

10. Create and upload small testimonial videos from customers coming onto your show

Create quick little testimonial videos from customers. If you have a current customer visiting your booth, that’s a great opportunity to capture a quick 30-second video testimonial but that should be having a compelling effect. Upload a video of the exhibition booth at your booth stall. Show off the number of people visiting the booth. Don’t ever forget to link your company’s website within the description of the video as you upload it to YouTube. And make sure your description describes what’s happening in the video. Don’t just upload videos with no information.

Conclusion

You must post about your exhibition tradeshow in Dubai before you go, during the event and after it has ended.

Before an event: Practice social media to announce the fact you will be attending, research the official event hashtag and connect with other attendees.

During an event: Use the tips above to post updates live from the event. If somebody engages with you on social media during the event, always respond promptly!

After the event: Consider using Twitter polls to gather feedback on the event which you can then publish as a separate piece of content about, or write your own post-show review.