Trade Show University for Virtual & Live Events

Jim Cermak
  • 5.0 (42)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Trade Show University for Virtual & Live Events

Trade Show University is the #1 resource in the industry for Exhibitors, Marketers and Show Planners to improve their results and ROI. With over 220 podcast episodes featuring tips, training and expert interviews, and exclusive group and 1-on-1 consulting and training, you have everything you need to make your next trade show or event wildly successful! We offer a free 15-minute Discovery Call to brainstorm ideas and possibilities for your business and your show - visit https://tradeshowu.biz/services/ to schedule your call! Every idea we generate in this no-cost call is yours! And so are the results! Developed and hosted by trade show veteran Jim Cermak, Trade Show University brings proven information from Jim’s 30+ years as a professional trainer, event planner and marketer, along with industry experts and insiders to discuss topics geared to help companies really get better results. If you find yourself asking questions like these below, then this show is for you: How to prepare for a trade show? How do I design a trade show booth? How do I get attendees to stop at my trade show booth or stand? What is the best trade show marketing? What are top trade show tips? How do I set goals for my trade show? Are trade shows, trade fairs, expos, and conferences worth it? How much is a trade show? To listen to podcast episodes, get information and free tools, and to sign up for email updates, go to www.TradeShowU.biz.

  1. MAR 17

    264 - More Money & Less Stress with a Financial Reset - with Joel Bromley

    Planning for Trade Shows is stressful enough, let alone when you are overwhelmed by stress at home. Because that stress follows you to work. So in this different episode of Trade Show University, join host Jim Cermak as he interviews financial coach, Joel Bromley, who received the blessing of Dave Ramsey to launch his Financial Reset package! Are you feeling overwhelmed by financial stress? In this episode, we dive into the journey of Joel and Caitlin Bromley, founders of Bromley Financial Coaching. They turned their own financial struggles into a mission to help others achieve financial independence and peace of mind. *************************** Get your FINANCIAL RESET package here: https://www.bromleyfinancialcoaching.com/2025-financial-reset-bundle?linkId=lp_087032&sourceId=jim-cermak&tenantId=bromleyfc *************************** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show? Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://calendly.com/tradeshowu *************************** Joel shares how their personal experiences with debt, property management, and full-time jobs led them to seek a better way to handle money. They began by leading a small finance group at their church, which eventually evolved into a full-fledged coaching service. Inspired by principles from Ramsey Solutions, they crafted their own program tailored to help people understand and manage their finances without the pressure of sales pitches for investments or insurance. Throughout the discussion, Joel highlights common financial pitfalls, like the trap of comparison, unintentional spending, and the fear of facing financial realities. He emphasizes the power of knowledge, intentionality, and the impact of small, consistent changes—like re-evaluating insurance plans or meal planning—to free up cash and reduce anxiety. The Bromleys also introduce their comprehensive 2025 Financial Reset package. It’s packed with over 40 pages of resources, including financial audits, goal-setting tools, budgeting strategies, and essential questions for financial advisors. This toolkit is designed to help you build a solid financial foundation, prepare for tax season, and plan for the future, whether you're in Canada or beyond. If you’re ready to flip the script on your finances and start living the life you truly want, this episode is a must-watch. Learn practical tips, gain valuable insights, and get inspired to take control of your financial future with confidence and clarity. Connect with Joel Bromley: Website: https://www.bromleyfinancialcoaching.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelbromley/ Get your FINANCIAL RESET package here: https://www.bromleyfinancialcoaching.com/2025-financial-reset-bundle?linkId=lp_087032&sourceId=jim-cermak&tenantId=bromleyfc

    36 min

  2. FEB 17

    263 - The Best Event THEMES and How to Create them - with Kimberly Kee

    Should your Corporate Event or Tradeshow have a Theme? Corporate Event Marketer & Trade Show professional, Kimberly Kee of Kee Consulting, joins Jim Cermak of Trade Show University to discuss the right way to incorporate theming at your next trade show, conference, expo and event! Please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE!! ** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show? Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://calendly.com/tradeshowu The goal of event marketing is to package a message using elements like costumes, sets, and scripts to create meaningful connections between companies and their buyers. The Importance of Themes: • Themes create a unifying experience for events like sales kickoffs or user conferences. • Themes help in planning event details, ensuring a cohesive experience that reinforces the overall message. • Themes should align with the company's or industry's current situation; they don't always need to be extravagant. ◦ A somber theme can be appropriate during difficult times. ◦ A more exciting theme can highlight company advancements. • Theming strengthens brand identity and connects with the event audience. Creating a Theme • The theming process can be quick, but it may require brainstorming and mind mapping to develop the right theme. • Consider the event's objectives and key messages when developing a theme. • A strong theme should be marketed in advance to build anticipation and excitement. • Incorporate the theme into all aspects of the event, including branding, visual elements, and themed activities. • For instance, a "level up" theme can use video game elements like leaderboards and avatars to engage attendees. Examples of Impactful Themes • "Level Up": Uses video game references to create a positive and exciting atmosphere. • "Better Together": Focuses on unity and teamwork, especially useful during times of uncertainty or change. Avoiding Themes That Fall Flat • Themes that are too abstract or lack a clear connection to the audience can fall flat. • Ensure the theme lends itself to specific activities and is easy to understand. • The theme should evoke emotion and create anticipation. Top Tips for Event Themes • Base themes on key objectives and messages. • Make the theme memorable and catchy to create a unifying environment. • Integrate the theme into every detail of the event, from keynote speakers to breakout sessions. • The goal is to create an immersive experience where the theme is evident even when attendees aren't actively thinking about it. The Importance of Food • Food can significantly impact an event. • Align food with the theme such as having a gourmet nacho station and corn dog vendor at an arcade-themed event. Kimberly's Top Takeaway • A well-executed theme is one of the most important elements of a hosted event, as it unifies the experience and makes the event memorable. Connect with Kimberly Kee: • Email: Kimberly@Keyconsulting.com • https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyakee/ Connect with Jim Cermak: • Email: jim@tradeshowu.biz • https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimcermak/ #theme #tradeshows #branding #strategy #events #corporateevents

    21 min

  3. JAN 27

    262 - Tips from Professional Magician to Maximize Trade Show Leads & ROI - Scott Tokar

    Strategies for How to take trade show lead generation to the next level from a professional Magician! Scott Tokar, owner of Corporate FX joins Jim Cermak of Trade Show University to discuss strategies to maximize ROI at your next trade show, conference, expo and event! ** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show? Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://calendly.com/tradeshowu Scott Tokar says simply drawing a crowd isn't enough; exhibitors must implement strategies to activate the audience, efficiently collect data, qualify leads, and ensure effective post-show follow-up. He advocates for moving away from linear processing and utilizing parallel processing strategies to maximize the number of quality leads. Scott and Jim discuss: - Beyond Crowd Gathering: Activating Your Audience Tokar emphasizes that attracting a crowd is only the first step. The real challenge is "what do you do with a crowd once you've got them in the exhibit?" You activate them by: - Moving the crowd to a theater-style presentation. - Engaging them in a passport-style promotion with stamps. - Using gamification, like a QR code and a prize wheel. - Understanding the limitations of traditional badge and lead scanners - Implementing Parallel Processing - collecting lead information from a large group simultaneously. --- This process allows “30 seconds to scan a hundred people.” - Quantification vs. Qualification - both are important for different reasons - Qualifying Questions – The Key to Identifying Hot Leads. We give powerful examples of these! - Automated Follow-up via Drip Marketing: - Linear vs Parallel Processing - Sales Staff Involvement and Observation Scott's Top Takeaways: -- Embrace Parallel Processing: Move beyond linear lead generation methods -- Implement Gamification: Use QR codes and games to engage audiences and facilitate quick data collection -- Leverage Data: Combine data from various sources for richer insights -- Automate Follow-Up: Use drip marketing campaigns to stay in touch with leads Connect with Scott Tokar: - https://corporatefx.com/ - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotttokar/ Get your free Trade Show Traffic Scorecard: https://tradeshowuniversity.captivate.fm/

    29 min

  4. JAN 9

    261 - 13 Trade Show Secrets you Need to Know in 2025

    There are 13 Secrets to win at trade shows you and your business need to know! These are things most businesses don't do, and they can multiply the results, leads and sales at every event.  More than ever before, you need to go all in on trade shows and events to grow your business and promote your products and services. Now, I'm not saying to  drop all your other marketing,  but you need to commit to trade shows, to expos, to conferences, to in-person face-to-face events. And You have got to commit to doing them and then doing them right. ** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show? Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://calendly.com/tradeshowu Here are the 13 Secrets - mind-blowing things most businesses do not do at trade shows, expos and events. I guarantee 99% of businesses need to add at least 1 of these areas to their strategy. 1) Effectively fill your lead/sales pipeline 2) Share your story 3) Get into deep meaningful conversations 4) Get immediate feedback on product/service 5) Get assets for social media posts 6) Do competitive research and Spy on your competition 7) Find prospective vendors, partners and suppliers 8) Learn industry trends and insider info 9) Learn new skills / CEUs 10) Network like crazy to unlock new opportunities 11) Become a speaker and Position your company as an expert and thought leader 12) Talk to same buyers as big guys 13) Get press and media coverage for Free! ** Want to know HOW to Pick the Right Trade Show? Check this out! https://youtu.be/9zMd_sJzvZA

    12 min

  5. 12/18/2024

    Ep 260 - Entrepreneur SUCCESS STORY Case Study - LESSONS from First BIG Trade Show -

    Innovative New Product entrepreneur and small business owner, Lauren McLaughlin of ChangeUp Kids (https://www.changeupkids.com), shares her story of how she found huge success at her very first BIG Trade Show! Her product for Parents of Kids was perfect for the Event she chose. ** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show? Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://calendly.com/tradeshowu Lauren is a mom of three adventurous boys, and we are constantly on the go. I always desired a place for them to get changed with privacy without having them go into public bathrooms after a sandy day at the beach. Change Up Kids is a portable changing station that gives kids and families Dignity, Privacy and Convenience. Lauren attended the MomCon expo (https://www.momcon.co/) for a couple of years as an attendee and saw this event as the perfect place to launch her new product. Thousands of moms attend each year. She realized being at the right show wasn't enough, so reached out to Jim Cermak of Trade Show University. Jim coached her as she prepared for MomCon and the 5,000 moms that were going to be there. She ultimately made changes to her signage, displays, offers, and engagement questions. You will love her energy and her story as she shares what worked well and what needs to be improved for the next show! Connect with Lauren: ChangeUp Kids: https://www.changeupkids.com/Email: lauren@changeupkids.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/change_up_kids/ Training Videos & Tips - Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity Email Jim: jim@tradeshowu.biz

    19 min

  6. 11/25/2024

    259 - Award Winning Event Marketer talks Success Tips & Strategies - with Laura Woods

    Today you are going to learn from an Award Winning event and marketing manager about Goal Setting, Sourcing, Networking and more. So excited to have Laura Woods, Event and Marketing Manager for Jamis Software join Jim Cermak, host and founder of Trade Show University for this impactful interview. ** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show? Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://calendly.com/tradeshowu Laura and Jim discuss: Goal Clarity for Event Success: Like trade show exhibitors, event planners must define clear goals for each event to ensure smooth execution and meaningful outcomes. "If you don't have a clear goal, the event is not going to run smoothly." Leveraging the Power of Networking: Facilitating connections between attendees is crucial for a successful event. Woods highlights the importance of dedicated networking time, icebreaker activities, and creating an environment that encourages interaction. "That's the lifeline of events is the connections in the networking." Sourcing for Success: Woods emphasizes the need for strategic venue selection, considering factors like attendee location, accessibility, cultural relevance, and adequate space. "You need to make sure you have enough space and hotel rooms." Continuous Feedback and Improvement: Pre- and post-event surveys provide invaluable feedback for improving future events. Woods encourages event planners to be receptive to criticism and to view feedback as an opportunity for growth. "Never take anything to heart of what you get back from these surveys." Theming and Engagement: Creating a memorable event with a strong theme enhances the attendee experience. Woods shares examples of incorporating popular culture references and aligning the theme with the event's purpose. Connect with Laura: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurab90/ Email: lwoods@jamis.com Email Jim: jim@tradeshowu.biz 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

    7 min

  7. 11/18/2024

    258 - 8 Tips to Hit Your Goals when the Trade Show is SLOW

    You're an exhibitor working a trade show or conference when all of a sudden, the traffic stops. What happened to the Attendees? Where is everyone? What do you do? I'm going to give you 8 TIPS you need to make the most of the slow times! 8 of them to be exact! ** Please SUBSCRIBE to the Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity ** So when the show gets slow, what i see is people pulling out their phones and start scrolling. Please stop that! When attendees start coming around again, they won't want to stop at your booth. So here's what you do - create a strategy! So that means before you go to the show, you have to do your research and figure out what you are going to do when the show is slow. And for those of you at larger shows in the end aisles and the back corners, that means when the show opens! You may not see anyone for a while! So before I go into the 8 things I recommend being prepared to do when the show is slow, you have to find and research the show floor layout. This is NEEDED for the first 3 Tips: #1 - Look for booths that can be potential customers #2 - Look for competitors - spy on them #3 - Look for potential vendors or suppliers - reach out to purchasing and see what their needs are. #4 - What breakout sessions should you attend? Anything else you do before the show? Drop that in the comments. And please subscribe if you're getting value! #5 - Have someone walk the floor and take pics of other booths for ideas - design, activations, more #6 - Review with your team goals, scripts, and roles #7 - Make time to network! #8 - Give people breaks! ** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show? Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://calendly.com/tradeshowu #strategy #tradeshows #events 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

    7 min

  8. 11/04/2024

    Sell MORE Event Tickets & Keep More MONEY - with Ashley Stanford

    How to attract More Attendees to your Trade Shows, Conferences and Events, Sell More Tickets, and Keep More Money! Get the Tips on using the right Marketing and Ticket Platform. ** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show? Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://tradeshowu.biz/services Join Jim Cermak of Trade Show University and Ashley Stanford, a Digital Marketing Consultant and Freelancing Expert. With 20 years of experience in the digital marketing space, she specializes in building strategic marketing plans, mapping strategy execution, and collaborating to optimize tactics that drive increased performance for clients in the Events & Entertainment space. Her app Ice Cream Social is backed by Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech, which invested in the company in early 2022. We Discuss: Effective Event MarketingWhat should organizers consider when choosing a ticketing platform?What are the most effective ways to boost ticket sales for trade shows? How to make sure the right audience attends?Trends in the trade show industry that planners and exhibitors should keep an eye on? Ashley's Top Takeaway: The importance of choosing a flexible ticketing system that aligns with their trade show's needs, combined with effective marketing and networking strategies, to drive attendance and maximize the value of their event. The message should be that strategic decisions in both technology and personal interactions are key to a successful trade show experience. Connect with Ashley Stanford: ashley@ashleyncline.comTicketSocket.com AshleyNStanford.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashstanford/ 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

    21 min
See All (267)

Trailer

5
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

Trade Show University is the #1 resource in the industry for Exhibitors, Marketers and Show Planners to improve their results and ROI. With over 220 podcast episodes featuring tips, training and expert interviews, and exclusive group and 1-on-1 consulting and training, you have everything you need to make your next trade show or event wildly successful! We offer a free 15-minute Discovery Call to brainstorm ideas and possibilities for your business and your show - visit https://tradeshowu.biz/services/ to schedule your call! Every idea we generate in this no-cost call is yours! And so are the results! Developed and hosted by trade show veteran Jim Cermak, Trade Show University brings proven information from Jim’s 30+ years as a professional trainer, event planner and marketer, along with industry experts and insiders to discuss topics geared to help companies really get better results. If you find yourself asking questions like these below, then this show is for you: How to prepare for a trade show? How do I design a trade show booth? How do I get attendees to stop at my trade show booth or stand? What is the best trade show marketing? What are top trade show tips? How do I set goals for my trade show? Are trade shows, trade fairs, expos, and conferences worth it? How much is a trade show? To listen to podcast episodes, get information and free tools, and to sign up for email updates, go to www.TradeShowU.biz.

Information

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada