250 episodes

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.

Trade Show University for Virtual & Live Events Jim Cermak

    • Business
    • 5.0 • 42 Ratings

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.

    247 - Retired Air Force Transporter of Presidents give top Travel Tips - with Michael Lynn

    247 - Retired Air Force Transporter of Presidents give top Travel Tips - with Michael Lynn

    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

    • 30 min
    246 - 3 Tips for Small Businesses to FIX Trade Show Sponsorships

    246 - 3 Tips for Small Businesses to FIX Trade Show Sponsorships

    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

    • 7 min
    245 - A Rant ABOUT Exhibitors and FOR Exhibitors - You're Wasting Money

    245 - A Rant ABOUT Exhibitors and FOR Exhibitors - You're Wasting Money

    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

    • 4 min
    244 - Creating Community at Events - with Evan Babins of Intuit

    244 - Creating Community at Events - with Evan Babins of Intuit

    Are you Creating Community at your trade shows and events? Building communities for your business is one of the hottest trends for good reason - it works! In this episode we discuss how and why you should incorporate this powerful tool into your strategy!
    ** Watch the video of this interview - https://youtu.be/be07vkLCfMs
    Joining host Jim Cermak for the second time is Evan Babins, Event Manager for Intuit.
    Evan has close to 10 years’ experience in corporate event production. Throughout his career, he has managed event logistics and production for world class clients like: Nissan Canada, Equitable Bank, Kia Canada, Novartis, and TD Bank, and now Quickbooks. Evan has worked in live, virtual and hybrid event spaces, becoming a top tier event industry trendsetter. Evan has been named one of BizBash's Top 250 Event Professionals, Eventex's Top 50 Most Influential Event Technology Professionals, Bizzabo's Top 55 Event Experience Leaders and Special Event Magazine's Top 20 Young Event Pro's to Watch lists. 
    We discuss:
    What does creating community at events look like?What are the benefits?Can exhibitors build communities?How the benefits last far after the event has endedAnd more!
    Listen to Evan's first interview on Trade Show University:
    Innovative Best Practices for Exhibitors: https://tradeshowu.biz/episodes/ep-138-innovative-best-practices-for-exhibitors-with-evan-babins/
    Connect with Evan Babins:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanbabins/Instagram: @evanbabinsTwitter/X: @evanbabins
    SUBSCRIBE! Trade Show Tips, tricks and strategies at https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity
    *** Listen to 100's of episodes of the Trade Show University podcast at your favorite Podcast Platform!
    Mentioned in this episode:
    Add Greater Value to Exhibitors & Sponsors with EVA Event Tech Hub
    Visit www.evareg.com/TSU to get started on adding greater value to your Exhibitors and Sponsors at your next Trade Show or Event!
    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
    243 - Podcasting Options you NEED to Check Out for Events - with Carey Green

    243 - Podcasting Options you NEED to Check Out for Events - with Carey Green

    You should be Podcasting from your Trade Shows and Events! We discuss podcasting Options you need to check out to get More Leads, build your Brand, and increase Attendee Engagement!
    Trade Show University founder and host, Jim Cermak, interviews Carey Green. Carey founded Podcast Fast Track - a full-service podcast production agency in 2018 and in 2023 launched "Mobile Podcast Studio" a full-service on-location recording solution for events, conferences, trade shows, and more. He is also host of his own daily podcast which averages over 10,000 listeners per day.
    We Discuss:
    * Podcasting and the Mobile Podcast Studio option for events and trade shows.
    * Why should every event organizer or trade show operator consider podcasting as part of their strategy?
    * What kind of events or event-topics are best-fit for using a mobile podcast studio at their event?
    * What are the different use cases for an on-site podcast recording studio at an event?
    * What about sound issues at live events? Isn't the noise level inherent in public spaces difficult to overcome?
    * How can trade show organizers afford a mobile podcast solution?

    Carey's Top Takeaways:
    * Leverage the portability and accessibility of audio to enhance your attendee experience.
    * Find creative ways to get your event attendees talking about your event (both during and after).

    Connect with Carey Green:
    Email: carey@podcastfasttrack.com https://TheMobilePodcastStudio.comhttps://PodcastFastTrack.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/careyngreen/

    SUBSCRIBE! Trade Show Tips, tricks and strategies at https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity

    *** Listen to 100's of episodes of the Trade Show University podcast at your favorite Podcast Platform!
    Mentioned in this episode:
    John Lee Dumas book giveaway - join newsletter list
    John Lee Dumas book giveaway - join newsletter list
    The Common Path to Uncommon Success

    • 20 min
    242 - Do this ONE THING in 2024 to DOUBLE your Leads

    242 - Do this ONE THING in 2024 to DOUBLE your Leads

    There is ONE CHANGE, one SHIFT you can make, which will make all the difference in your trade show results in 2024.
    This is a message specifically for small businesses. I'm talking about any business that has a small booth at a big show, or even you're doing a tabletop booth somewhere.
    One thing I know about you is that trade shows are just one part of everything that you're doing.
    You don't have a person dedicated to trade show management and planning and all, doing all that stuff, and that's all that they do. You're wearing a bunch of different hats or have a lot of other things on your plate.
    If that sounds like you, I'm in your corner. I know what it's like. So here's what you need to do. You need to change your mindset about trade shows.

    What does that mean? Well, listen, trade shows are the most powerful marketing tool you have available to you, and it can pay off in a big way. If you have the right mindset, if you're planning like it is the most powerful marketing tool, if you plan like I'm going to have the most Awesome opportunities at this show. If you plan, like you're going to be able to land the biggest customers and fill my pipeline for the year.

    But if you don't plan for that, you will get mediocre results.

    You're in control. And it starts with your mindset.

    The right mindset is that trade shows are worth investing the time and the effort to do them right first. You need to make a commitment that you will take these shows seriously. You will get out of them what you put in.

    You have to be efficient. You have to plan like this show is going to make your year. This show can fill up your sales lead funnel. Like you never thought that is the way you've got to approach it because that is the truth that can happen for you if you plan it correctly, but only planning with that mindset is not enough.

    You've got to execute with the same mindset and now that you've got to instill that mindset to your entire team, who's going to be there or helping you plan the event. Take this seriously.

    Once you get to the show, it is not a nuisance. It's not just a vacation. It's not just a time away from the office.

    You got to WORK THE SHOW. That's why you're there.

    I have worked with people who did not give it their all. Okay. We were not focused, not engaged. The results suffered, but if you're locked in on your goals, you have that strategy and make sure everybody's on the same page and then you work it.

    You work that strategy, you engage with the attendees and you make things happen. The results will be double or more than if you don't. DOUBLE or more. So you take a little bit extra time and you do it right.

    It's all about your mindset.

    Now, if you're a one person company or you're in charge of planning and everything all by yourself, consider bringing a professional into help.

    You want to see what that looks like. I am more than happy to jump on a free 15 minute phone call with you. I have to do is go over to https://tradeshowu.biz/services Click on that big blue "BOOK MY DISCOVERY CALL" button, and we will jump on for 15 minutes and discuss the possibilities and see what it looks like for you.

    I am looking forward to helping you make 2024 your best year ever and trade shows can power your year, bringing in more leads, more sales and more profits than you ever thought possible!

    Check out all our videos with tips, tricks and strategies at https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity

    *** Listen to 100's of episodes of the Trade Show University podcast at your favorite Podcast Platform!
    Mentioned in this episode:
    Subscribe to the new Trade Show University YouTube channel!
    Check out...

    • 6 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
42 Ratings

42 Ratings

LeShayneM ,

Informative and personable!

Jim is great, he has a ton of history working in varying marketing capacities and brings so much information to the table but also he’s personable and friendly and an easy listen! If you are preparing for a trade show I highly recommend you listen to some of his podcasts in preparation. This guys the real deal!

Deirdre Tshien ,

One to add to your rotation

Trade Show University offers a unique blend of practical advice and lively discussion, making it a valuable resource for anyone involved in the trade show industry. The way it addresses real-world challenges with actionable insights makes for an engaging and informative listen. Deirdre

riffking ,

Excellent resource for everything tradeshows

Love the format and the feee flow of information about thighs that matter everyone participating in live events. It's so important to continue to learn and expand your network. This podcast does both!

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