Astrid Geel
You are at a trade show among dozens of other stands, and most visitors just walk past. An interactive trade show stand turns that around. Instead of handing out flyers, you draw people onto your stand by letting them do something themselves, and that gives you more conversations and more leads.
What is an interactive trade show stand?
An interactive trade show stand is a stand where visitors actively take part instead of just watching. You give them a game, a choice or an experience they help shape themselves.
The idea is simple. People remember what they do far better than what they hear. A stand that invites people to join in stands out in a busy hall and holds visitors longer. That gives you more time to tell your story.
Why does an interactive trade show stand work so well?
An interactive trade show stand works because visitors stop and stay when they get to do something. It is about behaviour, not gadgets. You want people to invite themselves into a conversation.
A playful activity lowers the barrier. Someone who has just played a game on your stand is far more open to a question or a demo than someone who only takes a flyer. You will find more ideas on stand interaction in this overview of tips for an eye-catching trade show stand.
Which interactive elements can you use?
For an interactive trade show stand you can choose from touchscreens, games, a physical choice set-up, a short live demo, a photo wall or an interactive floor. The best element suits your brand and can be understood in a minute.
The interactive floor is a strong eye-catcher here. At Apollios it consists of a 3 by 3 grid of illuminated panels on which visitors play a game. The floor stands out from the aisle, invites passers-by to join in and can be fully dressed with your own logo and colours. In the games overview you can see which games run on it, from reaction games to a team competition.
A floor has an advantage that a screen or tablet does not. People have to move on it, and people moving naturally attract other visitors. Where a touchscreen keeps one person busy, several people can play on the floor at once, often in a little competition. That makes it accessible and social, exactly what you want on a busy show floor.
Want to use this at your next show? Then you can rent the interactive trade show stand.
How does an interactive trade show stand generate leads?
An interactive trade show stand generates leads by linking play to a leaderboard with registration. Before a visitor starts, they enter their name, company and email address.
At the end of the day you receive the full list of participants. Playing automatically becomes a way to collect qualified contacts, without having to get anyone to fill in a form. A leaderboard also adds competition, so people come back and bring others along.
Suppose two hundred visitors a day play the game. By the end of the show you have a complete list of names and email addresses. That is a far more tangible return than a pile of flyers handed out with no idea where they end up.
What does an interactive trade show stand cost and can you rent one?
An interactive trade show stand does not have to be expensive, because you can rent the interactive elements per day. For a one-off show, renting almost always makes more sense than buying.
At Apollios, renting the interactive floor starts from 750 euros per day for the entry package. That gets you the complete floor with a game of your choice, including delivery, set-up and dismantling. More extensive packages add the leaderboard with lead registration and your own branding. Want to know what it costs for your stand? Request a tailored proposal via the request a quote page.
What should you look out for with an interactive trade show stand?
With an interactive trade show stand, pay particular attention to play time, brand fit and lead capture. Keep activities short, from one minute to a few minutes, so visitor flow stays high.
Make sure the game or experience fits what you sell, otherwise you will attract people but not customers. Also check that your brand is visible in the activity, for example on the floor or on screen. And agree in advance who delivers and sets up the stand, so on the show day itself all you have to do is network.
Getting started with your interactive trade show stand
An interactive trade show stand is not a gadget, but a way to get visitors to stop, take part and leave their details. The Apollios interactive floor brings all of that together in an eye-catching, brandable centrepiece.
Want to discover what an interactive floor can do for your next show? Take a look at the Solar Playground or request a no-obligation quote, and we will be happy to help you plan.
