Conventions and Trade Shows

Jeremiah the Web Prophet strikes again - this time with a post on using bloggers for conferences. The idea is to create a kind of blogger press for conventions and tradeshows, providing a man-on-the-street perspective to complement traditional marketing.

One recommendation I gave to a conference organizers of a traditional Marketing conference, was to provide a discount to well known industry bloggers (or let them attend free).

The exposure and press that a blogger would bring to the event is well worth the cost of admission. They will document the speaker presentations, connect with the community, takes notes, provide PR, and be your ‘press’. It’s worth considering extending this type of program to one or two well known bloggers of releated subject matter.

The success of bloggers at the 2004 Democratic and Republican conventions is the benchmark for success - but there's a different angle that emerges with business blogging. Business blogging can be utilized as an additional marketing angle for your exhibitors. In addition to booths, flyers, and the occasional speaker, exhibitors can be interviewed by bloggers (video, audio, and text) to improve their online presence.

All for the cost of a blogger or two. And if anyone's asking, yes, Franki and I are available, and yes, we've already pitched doing exactly this.