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How to: Using the Apple iPad at Trade Shows

Posted by Alexis Exhibits on Thu, Jan 28, 2010
  
  
  
Add to delicious  delicious  
  

Apple iPad New Cutting Edge Techology

Apple introduced their latest product the iPad with much fanfare yesterday. As a person who buys new technology the first week that it is available – this was pretty exciting.

apple ipad for trade showsApple products are consistently on the cutting edge of technology. The iPhone and iPod touch have sent millions of people to the iTunes store and given them access to over 100,000 free or low cost applications.

Now those applications will be able to work on a much more versatile platform. Unfamiliar with this new device, check out Apple’s demo on youtube.

How will trade shows benefit from new iPad technology?

  • Trade Show Attendees Armed with iPads
    At tech-oriented shows, you can expect to see many trade show attendees carrying iPads on the show floor. This presents an opportunity for video demonstrations of products, literature and other sales related info in a digital format – loaded onto the attendee’s iPad right in the trade show booth.
  • Video and Photos
    Here is an opportunity to include multiple photos and video clip e-versions of pre-tradeshow emails that attendees would bring to the show floor. Once you have set up the connection with attendees, you can easily send updated information or invitations to presentations, hospitality suites or social events.
  • Lead Retrieval and Demos
    With the iPad, trade show exhibitors have the ability to create electronic lead cards on the same device that’s playing a demo. The entire interaction between booth staff and prospect could be scripted with lead card questions inserted into the presentation. Information gathered can be immediately sent to the marketing or sales department for fulfillment.
  • Attendee schedules
    Most tradeshow websites provide an attendee schedule function. The iPad will provide a way to enhance this feature and allow promotional messages to be included when attendees add an exhibit to their schedule.
  • In the Exhibit
    Install an iPad in information kiosks or product information stations to allow prospects to read detailed information or watch promotional videos. Here again, touch screen capability would allow for attendee interaction.
  • Promotions
    Technical and medical exhibitors can provide electronic journals or white papers as booth giveaways providing additional promotional opportunities.

 

As the use of the iPad becomes more common, attendees will start expecting the technology in your exhibit to keep up! Find out the Top 10 Trends in booth design and marketing. Download our FREE trend report. What do you think? Will the iPad work for trade shows?

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Comments

Interesting points, and, as an iPhone user and having watched the keynote speech yesterday, really like the ipad.  
Though there is a bit of a downside as a potential ipad user. Anyone twigged yet? 
It SIZE! Yes, it looks great and interactivity will be fabulous, but it is just not PORTABLE!! One knock on that huge glass plate will make it, er, broken. It will be slippery, I have seen sooooooo many iPhones bounce because of the slippery nature of their cases. Day one I bought q silicone sleeve and it's sooo useful. Even stops it slipping out of a breast pocket when leaning over, say, the sink... 
It may as well be a netbook, in size, and do you see people carting them about? No. You need a case, rucksack, man-bag(!) or whatever. Has it got a camera? Not sure, don't remember that, so at a trade show, the iPhone wins hands down. I use mine for video and photos at events as it's so quick to take a snap of, say, an exhibit or brochure, to follow up later. What I would really buy into would be a larger iPhone. Pockets are big enough to cope with a phone/tablet about twice the size of an iPhone, and this would make usability and creativity, but above all, portability, much more of a proposition.  
Written on an iPhone 3gs in the pub.  
Would I have had my ipad here?? No way.
Posted @ Friday, January 29, 2010 1:28 PM by Richard Lycett
While the iPad will certainly lend itself to increased interactivity between exhibitors and attendees at shows, it might not be until the 2nd or 3rd generation that we see attendees letting their new devices see the lighting of a busy tradeshow floor.  
 
Richard's comment touched on an important point: the fragile nature of the device. It's no Toughbook, and sporting your iPad around the exhibit hall along with all your great swag seems like a bit of a chore. Rather, it would be much simpler to pull our your iPhone, or similar smart phone device, to interact with the web2.0 features that exhibitors are affording and simply transfer all the information to your iPad in the comfort and safety of your own living room.  
 
However the possibilities the iPad affords exhibitors is very exciting, allowing virtually any exhibitor, large or small, to increase interactivity within their environment and capitalize on that "wow" factor.  
 
With all this being said... there will always be early adopters. We'll be sure to find exhibitors and attendees alike using the iPad in 2010.
Posted @ Monday, February 01, 2010 9:49 AM by Justin Schmitter
iPads will provide a very interesting opportunity for exhibitors to allow attendees interact with their digital marketing content 'within the booth'. But if you think attendees are going to carry these devices around, I would highly doubt it. You touched on some of the important features that can truly enhance tradeshow experience but it can already be done using iPhones, Blackberries and Android phones. We have been doing R&D in this area for almost a year and recently launched our product for the conference and tradeshow industry.  
 
Here is a one minute youtube video that showcases the basic features and benefits: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC6YhUppHr4 
 
 
would appreciate to hear your comments about our product.
Posted @ Wednesday, February 03, 2010 12:53 PM by Bob Vaez
Could the iPad be used as a video booth/kiosk?,if you could attach a web cam and have the right app it could fit into a fabricated stand with the main button covered so that users can't mess with other features. I'd like a video messaging device to use at weddings where guests could leave a message for the couple and think the touch screen capabilities could be the answer. any ideas?
Posted @ Monday, March 15, 2010 3:51 PM by mike flannery
Our company has developed a trade show sales lead retrieval app for the iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad, so I am biased. But of these three platforms, I am partial to the iPad for use at trade shows, although I do believe that you are well served to use one of the other two iDevices, as well. The iPad is so useful at trade shows for everything from collecting leads to showing product videos and video testimonials to conducting surveys. It is just a great trade show tool.
Posted @ Tuesday, June 22, 2010 8:46 AM by Lew Hoff
thanks for the great comments. I will continue to watch for IPADs in use at all of the shows that we produce. 
 
 
 
Mike
Posted @ Tuesday, June 22, 2010 10:29 AM by Mike Smith
I believe you really hit the nail on the with using the iPad for demo's and subsequent lead capture. Right now, any use of the iPad will certainly be fresh, probably until everyone starts doing it.
Posted @ Monday, July 26, 2010 5:05 PM by Adam Sokoloff
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