Trade Shows… Where Social Media Comes Alive
By MarySocial media is an essential ingredient of internet marketing and is energizing the field to face to face marketing at trade shows and conferences. New media technologies make it easier than ever to create meaningful relationships prior to, during, and after face to face events.
Integrating social media and trade show (face to face) marketing is a business development strategy that will prove invaluable in the coming years. Many people are actively engaged in social marketing techniques and every few weeks new tools emerge to improve upon this process.
The Virtual Trade Show is a new social media tool that is not talked about too often. Virtual Trade Show venues are high tech through and through, combining webcasting, text, video and group chat, blogging, virtual booth space, forums and ample opportunities for brand marketing.
Virtual Trade Shows appeal to the green market because they reduce the massive carbon footprint of all of the travel and freight involved with a traditional show. They appeal to show goers because of the ease of access. Keynote addresses and conference presentations can be viewed live or on demand.
Integrating the social media technologies of Virtual Trade Shows with Live Trade Shows is already taking place, and this will continue as more people make use of these techniques. One thing is for sure, developing meaningful relationships with potential clients is getting easier than ever.

