6 Ways to Optimize Your Trade Show Booth with QR Codes
A Secret Weapon to Captivate Visitors & Keep Your Brand at their Fingertips.
QR codes date back to the 1990s, but they have since evolved, & are now recognized as one of the most crucial tools in marketing. QR codes give people prompt access to view nearly anything directly from their personal mobile devices. At trade shows, where a plethora of distractions come from all directions, QR codes enable visitors to focus on your brand for the moment… AND provides them a convenient way to take your brand home.
Savvy exhibitors utilize QR codes throughout their custom booths – placed on large format graphics… on small signs at your reception counter… within videos… or on printed collateral.
The key goal is to make your QR codes visible, scannable, & useful for attendees.
Simple, right? Here are a few innovative ways you can utilize QR codes to optimize your next trade show or event:
1. Create Custom Experiences
When it comes to successful marketing, relevance is key. Your QR codes should link attendees directly to the product or service page that aligns with their needs & interests.
ACTION: Create different QR codes for each product you are showcasing & place those near the product itself.
Even if you don’t have detailed product pages, you can still create a custom experience by creating a landing page specific to the event! Include pictures of your booth (to help with recall) & information about the products or services you featured. Always be sure to make it easy for attendees to reach out to you via an online form, email link, or phone number!
Pro Tip: Include a reminder to “Bookmark this Page” on your signage!
2. Expand & Elaborate Your Value
With all the commotion at trade shows, it can sometimes be challenging for attendees to remember all the products & services that each brand presents.
ACTION: Once a visitor has scanned your QR code & landed on your custom page, be sure that page includes navigation to other important pages.
For example, link navigation to your: About Us page, Company History page, Mission/Vision/Values page, etc…This gives attendees the opportunity to explore your brand at their convenience & maintains the relevance of the landing page itself.
3. Get Interactive
QR codes provide a truly distinct opportunity to engage attendees before, during, & after the show.
ACTION: Encourage attendee interaction by linking QR codes to:
- A sweepstakes entry,
- A swag giveaway,
- A trivia game,
- Your subscription/sign-up page,
- Or even allow attendees to schedule 1-on-1 appointments with you!
Pro Tip: If you already have interactive tools on your website (e.g., online ordering or ratings/reviews), QR codes will quickly point attendees to the tools that will help move them toward a buying decision.
4. Promote Social Media Platforms
One of the best ways to build a brand is to highlight its capabilities & services on social media. Attendees can gain further insight into your business when they see its interactions with the community & the way it presents itself beyond trade shows.
ACTION: Link QR codes to your social media accounts to build a deeper relationship with prospective clients.
Once a visitor opts to follow your company, they will receive content from your business with all your future posts!
5. Get Valuable Feedback
Gaining insights into what your customers value most is key knowledge that can drive your business forward. By identifying what attendees like/dislike about your booth & areas of improvement, you can enhance your strategy, and your presence, at the next show.
ACTION: Set up a questionnaire/survey asking for honest & confidential feedback.
This shows that your business is listening and willing to adapt to their needs.
6. Promote Environmental Friendliness
Although having printed resources available for attendees to take away is beneficial, using QR codes in their place can demonstrate to customers that you are environmentally conscious. In addition, this approach spares attendees the trouble of carrying brochures around the show floor or making space in their luggage to take your literature back home.
Extra points!! You save money on shipping, storage & set-up/teardown labor!
