Trade Show University for Virtual & Live Events Jim Cermak

If you are a franchise, a franchisor or a franchisee, you're in the right place today. Especially if you've been looking to figure out how to get better at marketing and trade shows.
Jim Cermak, trade show consultant and founder of Trade Show University is pleased to interview Susie Liberatore, who is the owner of Visions2Images, a marketing agency with a focus on Franchises.
Jim and Susie discuss:
Why Franchises should be using trade showsHow franchises can promote a tradeshowWhy we should consider Franchisees like a local small businessHow to best be prepared and be creative Why Tradeshows are a great investment for brand awarenessAnd so much more
Connect with Susie Liberatore:
Visions2Images - https://visions2images.com Franchise Clarity - https://franchise-clarity.comSusie's Personal site - https://susieliberatore.com

Want help creating your strategy? Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://tradeshowu.biz/services
Join the Trade Show University weekly update newsletter: https://tradeshowu.biz
Mentioned in this episode:
Exhibitor Expert Review - exclusively from Trade Show University
Ready to exhibit at your next Show? Don’t make the mistake of waiting until you get to the show to learn lessons on what you can do better and tweaks you can make for next time. You can do that BEFORE this next show and accelerate your results!
I can help you get locked in for Success with an Expert Review!
• Having a professional set of outside "eyes" is important because You Don't Know what You Don't Know!
• 30+ year Trade Show expert will review:
o Design
o Messaging
o Goals & Metrics
o Engagement Questions
o Attendee journey
• Identify the Gaps and Opportunities you don’t even know exist!
• And get you capturing more Qualified Leads than ever before
• Visit Tradeshowu.biz/services

You're thinking about exhibiting at your very first trade show and want to make sure you crush it! But what do you do? For me, having worked and planned 100s of shows, you want to know what I would do?
There are 6 things you need to do to ensure you will look like a PRO and not a Rookie, and get fantastic results at your very first trade show! Before you even get started, you need to make sure you picked the right show! Check out THIS VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ILcbnClb2Xc?si=utrEz2vq5FizNzN9

And if you know you picked the right show, here's the 6 things you need to do to get ready for that show so you come back with more leads, sales and profits than if you just go in blind.

1 - Research the show, and especially the audience!

2 - Figure out your budget. What will the show cost, and all the expenses around it. Don't be caught off guard!

3 - Set goals to have success! You want to make money, and if you do it right you can fill your lead pipeline for a long time! But that starts with knowing what you need to accomplish!

4 - Focus your message to the audience so you attract them to your booth

5 - Figure the Questions you want to ask to everyone

6 - Practice! Practice! Practice!

Now that you know the 6 things you need to do to rock your very first show, click on this video to level up your game even more! https://youtu.be/Nn52LsBmBeE?si=96M7cjOhpWwUMMoW

Want help creating your strategy? Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://tradeshowu.biz/services
Mentioned in this episode:
Subscribe to the new Trade Show University YouTube channel!
Check out the new Trade Show University YouTube channel where we feature a growing number of training videos to help businesses get More Leads, More Sales and More Profits through the power of Trade Shows! Many videos are exclusive to YouTube and not found on the podcast.
Visit, Subscribe and Binge! https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity

If you’re a small business, you may have plans to work an upcoming show by yourself or maybe you've done it in the past. Happens with bigger businesses too! And let me tell you, having worked many expos and shows solo, it can be frustrating.
Here's 9 Tips to help you Survive and Thrive at your next Expo, Event or Trade Show!
Being by yourself does not allow you to be efficient, maximize your ROI, or put you in the position to get the best results possible.
The biggest issue is that you can only have indepth discussions with one person at a time.
Let me give you one big piece of advice – Don’t work by yourself! If at all possible, convince a co-worker, trusted colleague, family member or friend help you out for a few hours or few days. It will definitely be worth it!
( 1 ) Set up your booth as early as possible to allow for the unknown.
( 2 ) Get to shows early to walk the show floor and meet people.
( 3 ) Make friends with people in the booths around you.
( 4 ) Simplify and Minimize
( 5 ) Use other methods to help capture information and make you more efficient
( 6 ) Practice!
( 7 ) Get out front of your table/booth
( 8 ) Try group presenting
( 9 ) Pack snacks, water, mints to help you avoid having to leave your booth

AND...The next video you NEED to watch so you don't Unknowingly kill your results...
https://youtu.be/ftHlxygrPFw

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL! https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity
IMPROVE YOUR NEXT TRADE SHOW!
Get a Professional Booth Review or the **RIGHT Training** for your staff: https://tradeshowu.biz/services

Get the Trade Show University email newsletter for weekly tips, tools, and expert advice to maximize the ROI for your next trade show or event – all for FREE -- Visit https://tradeshowu.biz and drop your email on the home page!
Mentioned in this episode:
Exhibitor Expert Review - exclusively from Trade Show University
Ready to exhibit at your next Show? Don’t make the mistake of waiting until you get to the show to learn lessons on what you can do better and tweaks you can make for next time. You can do that BEFORE this next show and accelerate your results!
I can help you get locked in for Success with an Expert Review!
• Having a professional set of outside "eyes" is important because You Don't Know what You Don't Know!
• 30+ year Trade Show expert will review:
o Design
o Messaging
o Goals & Metrics
o Engagement Questions
o Attendee journey
• Identify the Gaps and Opportunities you don’t even know exist!
• And get you capturing more Qualified Leads than ever before
• Visit Tradeshowu.biz/services

Travel Tips and Advice for getting to your next Trade Show or Event from Michael Lynn, Retired Air Force member who transported Presidents, Dignitaries and World Leaders, and is the author of the book Travel Etiquette.
Michael joins host Jim Cermak, trade show coach and founder of Trade Show University in this enlightening interview!

We discuss:
Preparation / Before you go.How to get through TSA faster / better.Boarding tipsSome of the Do's and Dont's of air travelThe "Elephant" in the PlaneAnd much more!

Connect with Michael Lynn:
Email - mdlspeaks@outlook.comLinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/mikelynnspeaks

IMPROVE YOUR NEXT TRADE SHOW!
Get a Professional Booth Review or the **RIGHT Training** for your staff: https://tradeshowu.biz/services

Get the Trade Show University email newsletter for weekly tips, tools, and expert advice to maximize the ROI for your next trade show or event – all for FREE!

-- Visit https://tradeshowu.biz and drop your email on the home page!
Mentioned in this episode:
Exhibitor Expert Review - exclusively from Trade Show University
Ready to exhibit at your next Show? Don’t make the mistake of waiting until you get to the show to learn lessons on what you can do better and tweaks you can make for next time. You can do that BEFORE this next show and accelerate your results!
I can help you get locked in for Success with an Expert Review!
• Having a professional set of outside "eyes" is important because You Don't Know what You Don't Know!
• 30+ year Trade Show expert will review:
o Design
o Messaging
o Goals & Metrics
o Engagement Questions
o Attendee journey
• Identify the Gaps and Opportunities you don’t even know exist!
• And get you capturing more Qualified Leads than ever before
• Visit Tradeshowu.biz/services

Small Businesses have to STOP Wasting Money on Trade Show and Event Sponsorships! In fact, businesses of ALL sizes need to do this!
I know I'm going to ruffle some feathers here, but stick with me.
I'm NOT telling you to Stop sponsoring, but to do them right! I'm going to give you the 3 ways to fix your sponsorships so you get the maximum return!

Look I'm not against sponsorships - they help fund the events and can be a tremendous investment. Problem is Most companies that invest in sponsorships at trade shows, conferences and events don't know how to get an ROI.

First things first - you have to know your reason for sponsoring in the first place! Maybe it's to support the show or the association in some way, and this is how you choose to do it. Fantastic!
Maybe the show is offering some added freebies or bonuses to sponsors, and you feel it's worth it. Okay great!
But maybe you're investing in a sponsorship to get your company name, logo and brand in front of a bunch of attendees and exhibitors. You are who I am talking to today.
Think about this - sponsoring something like a lanyard or a tote bag everyone gets definitely gets your logo out there in a big way! And some people even keep these things!
But ask yourself - have you ever bought from a company, or even changed your perception of a company, because their logo was on a lanyard or backpack? If you want to support the show or association putting on the show, then go ahead and sponsor the lanyard, the backpack, the disposable water bottles, or the other products.
Then there's sponsoring events inside the events - lunches, breakout sessions, after-hours networking events. For most of these events I attend, even while in the middle of them I can't tell you who the sponsor is.

Okay - so what do you do? What is a good sponsorship? HERE'S YOUR 3 TIPS!

1 - Look for a sponsorship that will bring attendees to your booth. Bingo Card, Scavenger Hunt. But do it right!
2 - If you sponsor an event - lunch, networking event - make sure you maximize your branding AND get everyone's attention by either speaking from stage, or having a team of people going around and spreading your brand.
3 - If you sponsor a product - have a message on the product to bring that product to your booth for a free gift.

Want to MAX the ROI on your Sponsorships?? Let's jump on a FREE Discovery Call!
-- Go to tradeshowu.biz/services and click on the blue "Book My Discovery Call" button!
Mentioned in this episode:
Powerful Data Analytics with BearIQ from Bear Analytics
I want to take a second to cover one of the hottest topics in the events industry right now:
Data Analytics
If you are a show organizer, you’re probably trying to gain a leg up on how to return to
revenue.
One company leading the charge for growing events is Bear Analytics.
With their cutting-edge platform, Bear IQ, easily aggregates, cleans, and measures, event
performance – showing you exactly where to focus your marketing, sales, and education
team’s energy. The best part is – it’s powered by the data you’re already collecting.
It means you can use their predictive tools to grow audience, increase exhibitor and sponsor sales, and easily measure engagement across your education and certification programs.
If you even a little curious, reach out to them at WWW.BearAnalytics.com and tell them Jim sent you!
Mention code “TSU” to let them know Trade Show University to unlock a free post-event
report

Hey Exhibitors - I gotta Rant because you're missing out. You're not doing enough. You're not putting in the work.
Not that you're not working hard - I get that. You are.
But you're not doing the right things.
Ready to turn things around and Max Out your Leads and Opportunities?
Go to Tradeshowu.biz/services
Subscribe to https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity
Mentioned in this episode:
Subscribe to the new Trade Show University YouTube channel!
Check out the new Trade Show University YouTube channel where we feature a growing number of training videos to help businesses get More Leads, More Sales and More Profits through the power of Trade Shows! Many videos are exclusive to YouTube and not found on the podcast.
Visit, Subscribe and Binge! https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity