Let’s kick exhibitor value up a few notches.
So you’re looking to host an online Vendor Showcase series. You’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re running the show as an individual or alongside a team, you serve as a guiding hand to both vendors (who we like to call ‘solution providers’) and attendees (who we call ‘solution seekers’). You have the power to build an authentic bridge between seekers and providers that will bring value beyond the scope of your showcase alone.
Does that feel like a lot of pressure? Fear not; we’ve rounded up best practices to help you achieve a successful online Vendor Showcase digital initiative.
Before Your Event Begins:
- Provide a brief training session for providers in advance. You would not believe the power a single training session can have in helping providers meaningfully prepare high-quality demos. Plus, this will do a lot to alleviate any anxiety about the tech. Pro tip: focus your training not just on the technology features, but on best practices to be successful (including how to put together a great presentation!). At Matchbox, when we run solution provider training for online vendor showcases, we make sure to preface the training in this way so that the providers feel well supported.
- Provide tips for those attending several days prior to your showcase so they can get the most out of their experience. And guess what? We’ve already curated a list you can send to them directly. It’s available as part of our Vendor Showcase module resources.
- Open up your virtual environment in advance so your solution seekers can decide which providers they are most interested in exploring. Within our Matchbox platform, attendees are able to easily navigate through sets of visually intuitive tiles with features allowing them to drop a business card or simply read about each provider! Allowing some time prior to your showcase for perusal will also prepare your solution seekers to ask all the necessary questions and use each demo to the fullest.
On The Big Day
- Include an education session and a wrap-up. Holding a kick-off session to start with an overview of what to expect for the day and some key things to keep in mind, along with a closing session highlighting key takeaways can help your solution seekers remain focused on problem-solving and further encourage provider-seeker interaction post-event. Make sure to get your attendees talking; get their input! It will serve to set the tone for a collaborative culture the rest of the day, and remind attendees they aren’t alone in the experience!
- Help support your solution providers by fostering a “green room”. At Matchbox, we provide a fifteen minute window before every session during which speakers may test tech, ask questions, and go through their run-of-show with our experienced live event support staff. What we’ve found is that this time is pivotal in allowing vendors to grow comfortable with the virtual format. We’ve noticed that the opportunity to connect with a human before giving a presentation also makes the whole experience for the provider feel…well…more human!
- Consider introducing each demo company before they begin. Allow a subtle ice breaker for providers to feel that they are supported by you and your event’s purpose. They will instantly understand the significance of their presence, as will your solution seekers. Hype up your vendors! Don’t forget to remind attendees that they can drop their (virtual) business card to request a meeting with the provider.
Once Your Event has Ended
- Use your event data to inform the design of your next Vendor Showcase. This is how you determine the success of your digital initiative and decide what elements to iterate to design an even more successful experience for the next time! Here are some things we look for ourselves in the data:
- Average watch time. Analyzing your average watch time can inform how long you choose to run your demos in future Vendor Showcases. At what point did you start to see attendee drop-off, and how can you curb that loss of engagement next time? Work with your audience!
- Monitor your chat conversation. Are there any emerging topics that seem to be of interest? Use attendees’ thoughts and ideas to shape future discussions, or ways you can provide value to them.
- Feedback from both the demo companies and the attendees. How did participants feel about their experience? What could be improved in the future?
It’s time to host your own Vendor Showcase!
Now that you’ve got all the insider tips & tricks, it feels only natural that we guide you along the path of hosting an online Vendor Showcase and watching the magic unfold yourself. Schedule a meeting with us, using the form below – no strings attached – and we’ll see what we can do to bring value to your seekers and providers alike!
