Interaction between people is where an in-person event tends to shine, and it’s the more challenging aspect for online communication.
#Online trade show booth design tool plus
On the plus side, it’s easier to recall where I’ve been and who I talked with, even if I’m not using a custom app that provides this support. I’d rather not be tracked, but it’s getting harder every day. The latter simply can take your picture and pulse rate if you have the right phone. It’s a trivial thing to do with a virtual event, though, regardless of whether you’re using a web browser or a custom app. You’re being tracked! At in-person events, the move to smart badges and other tracking tools was on the rise. Even minor differences can wreak havoc on child care, lunch, and synchronizing meetings. We ran into this issue when dealing with an event that wanted to be on California time however, some of our attendees were based in Germany. In fact, dealing with jet lag actually gets you into the time zone of an in-person event. It makes sense to run 9 to 5, but that’s not the case with a virtual event. In-person events are obviously locked to the time zone of the physical area. It allows those viewing it to rewind or jump forward, which isn’t possible with an in-person event. Likewise, “is it live or is it Memorex?” If you don’t need or aren’t providing direct interaction during or after a presentation, then why not record it. Often you can utilize these materials well after the “live events” have finished. Thus, the time you “attend” a show can be spread out significantly. Most virtual events incorporate recorded audio and video in addition to links to these and other resources. Timing is both an advantage and disadvantage, or at least a pain point. Physical events typically have apps offering maps, schedules, etc., and that’s essentially a given for virtual events. QR codes didn’t make sense until the majority of people had smartphones with cameras, but these days that’s the norm. Of course, virtual swag isn’t quite the same as something you can hold, although getting it in the mail does provide some enjoyment at a later time.Ī virtual event means that everyone needs a computer, which opens up many possibilities. One of them is remote attendance-contact information exchange is essentially automatic, and there’s no need to carry a bag to get materials. Virtual events, in theory, have lots of advantages. Advantages, Disadvantages, and Other Issues Some events have included ways to let peers congregate, with different levels of success. The exhibitors usually have some sort of “show floor” to present their wares and interact with attendees. Next, there’s the horde of presentations normally organized in tracks covering various topics. They typically have presentations including keynotes that tend to be presentation-only affairs. Online trade shows generally try to mimic their in-person counterparts. Slideshows are the norm for presentations, but they can be audio-only or include a video component. I ran into the same issues when we had to flip our science fair online.Įven session presenters and sponsors need to adjust. Oftentimes, shows are being pushed back to allow the hosts to make adjustments, of which there are many. However, many have been scrambling to replace existing shows with online equivalents. Some outfits have been doing online conferences for a while and have made refinements. It doesn’t require VR goggles, though it can add to the effect of “being there.” The problem is that you need to control an avatar, which isn’t easy, and your interaction with another avatar isn’t the same as doing a video conference. I’ll mention virtual reality (VR) only briefly. At the other end are custom apps that resemble Hotel California: “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave." At one extreme are websites with links to documents, prerecorded webinars, and Zoom conferences.
In general, online trade shows have been trying to replicate their in-person events, which isn’t necessarily a great idea. Compare this to the in-person events and you can see why lots of confusion reigns when it comes to attendance. Each has its own interface, presentation method, registration, etc.
There are many of them, and none are the same. Online trade shows are much like video-streaming services.