If there’s one thing we miss more than anything in our working lives, it’s connecting with promo products industry folks like you at our ASI Shows. Thankfully, our amazing events team at ASI is busy building our first-ever all-virtual trade show (if you aren’t signed up for ASI Show Digital Expo, what are you waiting for?!) so you can get the promotional product sourcing and networking you love, all from the safety of your home or office.

To get us all prepped for the big event, we’ve come up with a few pros, cons and expert tips for you to get the most out of your virtual trade show experience.

 

The Good

Virtual events like the Digital Expo offer an incredible opportunity for the business connections that we all miss. Suppliers will be there ready to show off their latest product trends, chat about upcoming specials and discounts, and discuss the future of the ad specialty industry. So how can you be best prepared? Check out the exhibitor list ahead of time and plan out which booths you absolutely can’t miss. This will help you stay focused and avoid skipping over suppliers you know you want to chat with. You can also create a pre-event game plan with another colleague attendee so you can be sure all bases are covered.

We all know one of the best parts of an ASI Show is getting access to a ton of free education opportunities hosted by field experts. But here’s some great news – most event platforms (including the Digital Expo platform) allow for virtual education sessions! You can continue to grow your knowledge of business and the promo products industry at dynamic sessions throughout the exhibit days. Get the most out of these education opportunities by checking out the education schedule ahead of time and planning which sessions you want to attend. Show up to each session ready to jot down notes so you can leave with a few actionable items.

 

The Bad

No hugs from Promo, our lovable ASI Show mascot.

But seriously, we all know that virtual trade shows can’t offer the in-person connections our industry runs on. However, they do offer an exciting opportunity to connect with industry businesses that normally don’t attend our trade shows due to geographic limitations or budget constraints. ASI Show Digital Expo will allow you to make connections you may not have made at a physical show. Our best advice is to prepare as best as you can and stay open-minded – virtual events are largely brand new for most industry professionals, so there is bound to be a bit of a learning curve.

 

The Unmuted

One of the best ways to prepare yourself for a virtual trade show, or any virtual event for that matter, is to be sure you have some basic knowledge of the platform. Most virtual event platforms offer video demos so you can get the lay of the land before the event kicks off. Here’s a video from Hopin, the platform hosting our Digital Expo. Make sure you have a grasp on things like: how to mute and unmute yourself, how to turn your video on and off, and how to enter/leave booths. This will save you a ton of time and headaches. Additionally, it might be a good idea to log in to ESP during the event and keep it open. This way, when you see a product you love from a new supplier, you can instantly add it to your clipboard to save for later. 

 

ASI Show Digital Expo will feature supplier promo products you’ve never seen before, new education events and a few opportunities to let loose and just chat with colleagues and friends. We’re so excited to connect with everyone in a new way and help you thrive in 2021 and beyond. If you’re not registered for the Digital Expo, sign up ASAP and get your name on the list!