Exhibitors play a very crucial role in any event's success. They aid in increasing a conference/seminar's funds. However, with events moving to an online platform, many exhibitors may be hesitant to invest in virtual events. Exhibitors are keener on taking over a physical booth over a virtual conference platform. This is where, as an event organiser, you need to step in to help them understand the benefits of a virtual event. Help them get a good return on investment (ROI) online. Demonstrate how a virtual platform gives them wider exposure and engagement than an in-person event.

Here are a few tips on how you can show your exhibitors that a virtual event can be a valuable investment:

Allow Exhibitors to Set Up Their Virtual Booths

Aim at giving your attendees a central location to browse multiple exhibits through a virtual booth setup. An exhibitor profile promoted on your website can enable your exhibitor to engage with the audience directly and thereby collect more leads.

A virtual exhibitor booth can get as explicit as possible. Encourage them to use different branding techniques to help them make a long-lasting impression on the attendees' minds. Support them through this entire procedure and recommend them to feature a booth staff who can help in audience interaction.

Make the Exhibitor's Profile Page Creative & Interesting

Help your exhibitor take a creative approach to gain more engagement on their virtual booth. Leverage live streaming or interesting videos to demonstrate their product. Encourage them to take an extraordinary route to promote their product-it could be through gamification, audience interaction. This helps grasp the attendees' attention while giving them a clearer picture of what's being sold.

Enhance their Presence through Social Media

While promoting your event through social media, make sure to include your exhibitor's name too and keep your audience informed. Featuring exhibitors on your social media promotions helps your audience stay connected to the exhibitors they are interested in and, at the same time, gives exhibitors confidence about their decision to be a part of your event.

Educate Your Exhibitors about Virtual Lead Generation & Analytics

The absence of in-person interactions devoid them of the opportunity of exchanging business cards. They are concerned that this could lead to limited lead generation. Therefore, it is crucial to help them explore virtual lead generation methods to get them to participate in your virtual event. Let them know about the benefits of virtual lead generations through emailers, social media, and other digital promotions. Make them understand how the hot leads collected through virtual events can be easily analysed and categorised as interested prospects.

Boost Your Exhibitors ROI through E-Mail Marketing

You already have an email marketing list and strategy in place to promote your event; it's time to leverage it to promote your exhibitors. E-mail your audience a full-fledged brochure of your exhibitors and what they have to offer. Ask your exhibitors to compile all the necessary information, including their brand, product, logo, and why the audience should visit their stall. Send a well-drafted email that would intrigue your audience about the exhibitor.

Arrange Virtual Workshops with Exhibitors

Collaborate with exhibitors to organise a virtual workshop for your event. In case you don't wish to host a workshop, encourage them to organise one for their virtual booth. This would help them in connecting with the interested audience on a personal level. The information exchanged during the workshop will aid people to know more about the exhibitors' service and help exhibitors collect leads.

Surge their ROI through Traditional Marketing Tracking Methods

Inform your exhibitors about the digital marketing tracking methods-cost per visit, cost per click, impressions, cost per lead, and the benefit of its analysis. These methods can help them instantly trace the profit they gained through virtual events.

Bundle Multiple Sponsorship Offerings for Your Exhibitors

Build up an entire package of different tiers of sponsorship for your exhibitors. Create specific marketing slots/funnels solely to promote them. These could include dedicated emails/newsletters, blog posts. An allotted speaker slot and targeted announcements can also be grouped together with the exhibitor booth to enhance their ROI.

Designate a Time Slot to Let People Explore the Exhibitions

Unlike in-person events, where people utilise break time to explore the setup exhibitions, virtual events need a scheduled time slot for the same purpose. Attendees prefer to use the in-between break to cut down their screen times; therefore, a designated schedule can increase the chances of them visiting your exhibitors' booths.

Keep Exhibitor Pages Active Post-Event

Keep your exhibitor's profile open even after the event completion to help them gain more revenue. Your audience can always visit the exhibits they missed out on when the event was live. This opportunity would enable your exhibitors' to reach their maximum promotion potential in your virtual event.

Build Confidence through Testimonials

Leverage your past success stories from other exhibitors to establish the credibility of your event. Share and publish testimonials from your other partners, customers, and attendees to convince the exhibitors about the success rate of your virtual events. It's easier to convince them if you have the social proof to show how your events have benefitted others in the past.

Virtual events are new to your exhibitors, and their fear and scepticism about participating are entirely valid. This is where you need to jump in to help them look at the benefit of being a part of your event. Walk them through your plan and guide them to set up the perfect exhibition at your virtual event. Your assistance can help them accelerate their ROI faster than traditional events.

The author Director of Marketing, Airmeet

DISCLAIMER: Views expressed are the author's own, and Outlook Money does not necessarily subscribe to them. Outlook Money shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly.