subject: Lead Retrieval Technology For Trade Show Exhibits [print this page] One of the major dilemmas of trade events and shows today is not collecting leads, but following up on them and turning these leads into actual sales.
Making The Connection
Oftentimes, there is a disparity between the actual trade show displays' success at attracting attendees and the ability of the company to turn these attendees into paying clients or customers. This sometimes can be the fault of the company's sales staff to follow through on a lead, but it could also be due to faulty methods of gathering information from attendees.
For instance, companies may rely on outdated, manual methods of gathering information. An understaffed company may not be able to handle a large number of received leads, especially if they are collected in an unorganized fashion, like a stack of business cards. Having unorganized leads may also result in businesses waiting too long to follow up with a client, which may cause these clients to look elsewhere.
Luckily, new lead retrieval technology can address all of these problems. It also enables companies to follow up easily on potentially profitable leads.
Devices For Retrieving Leads From Trade Show Displays
Identification badges that attendees receive at events are typically embedded with magnetic strips, 2D barcodes, or other types of modern technology that are able to store attendee information. When they approach a trade booth, exhibitors are able to swipe the attendee's card and store all of their information. This revolutionary method of storing information from trade show displays' attendees makes it much easier for companies to follow up with potential clients.
There are many different methods of gathering information. Special scanners can read demographic data stored on attendees' badges and sort this information for later use. Through a 'custom qualifiers' feature, exhibitors are able to program a set of predetermined qualification codes programmed into the scanners. Scanning a piece of paper with these codes or entering the codes manually into the scanner with a keypad allows the exhibitor to store this data for later processing.
The use of these devices at trade show exhibits is very convenient and highly effective. The systems are also quite reliable and rarely break. These show-provided systems are also very inexpensive when compared to other third-party systems, and usually rent for between $200 and $500 per show.
Third-Party Devices For Lead Retrieval
There are also devices made from other manufacturers that manage leads through software systems. They include programs that work on standard computers, PDAs, or iPhones. These software applications enable exhibitors to create questionnaires for trade show displays' attendees, and then it records the attendees' answers. With these applications, booth representatives can qualify each lead. The answered questions from attendees can be organized quite nicely, making it easier for sales reps to follow up on leads after the show.
Whether you choose to go with the trade show exhibits' scanners for recording attendee information or a third-party device, lead retrieval technology is an important asset that allows businesses to more easily turn leads into actual sales.
