Exhibiting in the Age of the Corona Virus

What happens when the Expo or Tradeshow you are supposed to be at is still happening but you can’t fly?

How can you have a presence at the Expo when you can’t be present?

What can you do to show your product but not show your face?

There are plenty of options, and most of them do not include Holograms!

With many governments banning visitors from China, South Korea, Italy, Singapore and other countries, it can be a challenge to represent your brand and your company and the events that are still happening.

Sometimes, it is not the government banning the flights. Maybe it is your company, your family or you just aren’t willing to travel because you feel the risks are too high.

If you have already paid for exhibiting space, how do you take advantage of it all while not being on site?

Here are a few ideas:

1 – A Virtual Delegate

While you may not be able to get a robot or drone to carry around a table and be you at the event, it is very likely you could hire a local person to be virtually you. Have them wear a large name tag and image of you and carry the tablet around as you direct. You could then see the sessions, have the conversations and almost be there. All from the comfort and safety of your home or office.

2 A Virtual Product

Arrange with the expo or event organisers to have a smart tv or tv and tablet at your stand. You can show video, interactive website, 3D imagery of your product or service. Some remote printed posters or documentation can easily represent you.

3 A Virtual Presence

This is a combination of the first two. Set up your virtual product (or actual product if it is available locally) and then have your virtual representative on site to give the tablet to interested people so you can have decent conversations. As you are having conversations with people on the tablet, your virtual person can be booking further appointments.

4 Hybrid Convention Presence

With a Hybrid Convention, you can combine the Virtual Presence with the conference software and have meetings in break out room. Even delegate some of your teams to take the hybrid meetings while you do the live one.

5 Something Else

No doubt there are a plethora of other options available to you. These were some that came up in discussion today. Naturally each of these options is scalable. All you need is to add more members of your team or more onsite representatives with tablets to represent you.

What’s Next?

There is no doubt that face to face meetings are superior to virtual meetings. But the events industry is being disrupted by forces beyond our control. It is a great time to get creative and work WITH and AROUND our physical limitations.

If you are looking for some alternatives for your next event, expo or conference, get in touch and let’s talk about what may be possible.