Virtual trade shows and virtual events are a popular promotional strategy amid the ongoing pandemic, and it looks like the trend will become an industry standard.
Virtual trade shows offer many benefits. Attendees can participate from all over the world, businesses can collect valuable audience insights, the overhead is significantly lower than in-person events, there are no capacity limits, and various forms of media can enhance the customer experience. For more insights, read this case study on successful virtual conference attendance. 
Just like in-person trade shows, virtual trade shows need to employ compelling strategies to attract, engage, and sustain audiences. Trendy and unique booth ideas can set your business apart from the competition.
To learn five ways to pivot event content into a virtual platform, visit this link. Once you learn how to pivot your event, read on to learn how to make your virtual trade show booth stand out.
What makes a good virtual show booth?
A good virtual show booth is attractive, fun, communicative, educational, entertaining, interactive, easy to navigate, true to your brand, creative, and more. The best virtual show booths offer memorable and meaningful experiences that generate measurable leads, sales, and business growth.
Games
Gamification is a fun and exciting virtual booth strategy. There are many different types of games, and every variation presents endless opportunities for customization. Games can also encourage attendees to explore the virtual exhibit. Games can be accompanied by prizes that inspire increased engagement. Quizzes and trivia activities can connect with participants’ desires for education in a playful manner. These fact-based games can boost community through fun competition. Scavenger hunts can be used to lead participants through a journey of discovery, mystery, and fulfillment. Puzzles are fun, ice-breaking challenges that encourage collaboration. Puzzles can facilitate problem solving and position your product as the solution. Spin the Wheel games are classic and timeless. When awaiting the outcome, there is a rush of excitement. Branding guidelines and information requests can leverage the fun of the game for your business needs.
Photo Booths
Virtual photo booths can build upon the real life stations and provide enhanced experiences with branded filters and collage templates. Attendees can create on their own, collaborate with other participants, and share their images on social media platforms.
Panoramic Environments
Digital, 360 degree environments can put visitors directly into spaces to explore products. This strategy can be used to enable self-guided tours that incite curiosity, set the stage for discovery, connect with education engagements, and prompt action. Virtual spaces can include embedded videos, distinctly themed-areas of interest, marketing collateral, calls-to-action, and more. Visit this link to see a panoramic environment in action.
Dynamic Integrations of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The technological innovations of VR, AR, and AI are excellent tools for enhancing online communication and collaboration in impressive ways that make your booth stand out. These technologies can activate and enhance panoramic environments. Simulated scenes and objects can closely resemble real life and illustrate for visitors how your product functions in real life. Additionally, VR, AR, and AI technologies can deliver the “wow” factor that ensures your booth stays prominent in the minds of the participants.
Live-Chats and Video Streams
Live chats and video streams can facilitate connections between visitors and sales representatives or between visitors and other fans. Through live chats and video streams, valuable customer insights can be gathered, leads can be generated, and sales can be closed. Customers can also converse with one another. This cultivates brand loyalty and vitality. To learn more about live chats in action, review this example.
Customizable Content
Virtual trade show booths present a unique opportunity to customize the experience for each user. Suites of content can be designed for various audience demographics, and the programming can lead attendees to the content that best fits their needs. Self-guided experiences can allow visitors to explore their areas of interest, and personalized web applications can take attendee experience to the next level.
Content in Multiple Languages
If your audience spans the globe, offering content in multiple languages can further your market impact and show customers that you care.
Virtual Workshops
Virtual booth workshops can enhance visitor engagement and understanding of your products. They can also facilitate opportunities for visitors to ask questions and interact with other attendees.
How to Achieve the Best Virtual Trade Show Booth
Your business has a core area of expertise that deserves to be showcased in the most compelling and effective virtual trade show booth. Any of these tips can help you stand out, but the most valuable recommendation is to partner with an expert who can bring your vision to life.
Hamilton’s core area of expertise is event marketing and immersive brand experiences for companies worldwide. Hamilton designs, produces, and executes award-winning integrated experiences such as exhibits, proprietary events and conferences, corporate environments, outdoor events, mobile tours, and digital solutions. Their in-house capabilities include fabrication, animation, video, programming, and more. With Hamilton EXTEND®, you can extend your brand reach and customer engagement strategies beyond the physical space, and with this eBook, you can learn valuable strategies to go beyond a standalone event. Hamilton’s extensive range of solutions drive meaningful connections between your brand and your audience. To take your virtual trade show booth to the next level, contact Hamiton today!