Trade Show Games: A Game-Changer for B2B Events

Statistics suggest that 84% of trade show attendees have the authority to specify, recommend, and make final purchase decisions. So, if you play your cards right, your B2B exhibition outing could prove highly rewarding.

But we all know too well that this is easier said than done.

Competing with hundreds of other booths to grab the attention of your target audience is never easy. And with product demos and multimedia losing their shimmer, you need something new and unique to attract traffic to your booth.

Trade show games could be that distinctive feature you’re looking for. If done correctly with the help of an experienced gaming partner, ‘gamification’ could infuse a new life to your exhibition booth, making it stand out from the competition.

What are Trade Show Games?

B2B exhibition games or booth games are exactly what they sound like. These are games exclusively designed for companies to help them boost foot traffic and generate more leads. Generally, these gaming elements include-

• Rules of play
• Ability to score
• Competition with yourself and peers

Tablet kiosks, large screens, and smartphones are commonly used for running these games during events. Some of the most popular game options include custom trivia, virtual prize wheels, and scavenger hunts.

Why Games for B2B Trade Shows? 

While we generally associate games with fun, it is also an excellent way to generate interest. Gamification at trade shows encourages attendees to stop at your booth and engage with your brand. Not just that, these games also help in better brand recall. 

Here are some of the top reasons why games can be the game-changer you need for your B2B events-

1. People Love Playing Games 

Adults don't play games! 

Women are typically not interested in games!

Senior executives don't play games!

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Heard these statements before?

Well, it’s time to bust these myths.

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According to a recent study, there are nearly 227 million gamers in the US. And no, it’s not just kids. The average age of a gamer is 31, and almost 80% of them are above 18. 

Moreover, 45% of the gamers are female.

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Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Larry Page - all of these highly successful people are avid gamers. 

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There are plenty of reasons that make gaming such a popular activity. For instance,

• Games are joyful and exciting
• They can inspire
• Offer mental stimulation
• Relieve stress
• Create a sense of community and connection

Interactive games for trade shows like custom trivia tap into our love for games to influence and engage people at B2B events. They appeal to basic human instincts, eliminating the initial barrier for the exhibitors to communicate and captivate the attendees.

2. Games Help Generate Leads

An average-sized booth display at CES, Las Vegas, costs up to $50,000. This is just the booth rental. There are other significant expenses like booth design, set-up, staff expenses, giveaways, and travel and lodging that could easily be up to 2x-3x of the rental.

And not to forget all the time and effort that goes into planning such events. A significant investment like this should help you generate a decent number of leads.

Unfortunately, this is seldom the case with most exhibitors, no matter how impeccable their exhibition plan is.

Gaming at trade shows can help you in this endeavor. Attendees can play the games and submit their contact details.

Compared to traditional methods such as paper forms, business card collection, or scanning, games prove to be much more effective in helping B2B exhibitors capture leads.

3. Enable Better Quality Follow-ups 

“Hey, Rick,

How are you? 

You rocked at our booth's trivia game, and you finished 9on the Leaderboard. 

It was really fun having you at our booth, and we'd like to thank you for your time. Your prize awaits to be claimed. 

Also, we’d like to take the discussion forward and share some amazing insights about our new product launch……..”

Isn’t this better than the traditional and impersonal- "We collected your details at the trade show booth, and let's set up a meeting….."

While tools like badge scanners work very well and make it easier for your reps to collect leads quickly, they are also very impersonal and impact the quality of leads generated negatively. This significantly lowers the chances of conversion.  

Leads generated from trade show games are more personal and help you take the conversation forward from where you left.

They can help smoothen or even fasten the sales process for your team. 

4. Custom Games Boost Brand Awareness and Educate

Improving brand awareness is surely a key objective of a trade show booth. But it isn’t that easy when the average attention span is only 8 seconds. 

With hundreds of trade show booths vying for attention, you need something to stand out from the crowd. 

A fun and interactive game could be the solution. As the custom trade show games are built around your business and your exhibition objectives, they’re highly effective in attracting the attendees and making them stay at your booth longer.

This provides you with an excellent opportunity to make people aware of your brand and educate them about your products and services.

5. Gamification Aids Cross-Selling

Existing customers are as important as new prospects at trade shows as it provides you with the opportunity to cross-sell, especially when you’ve launched a new product or service.  

Trade show gamification can deliver highly positive results if you’re aiming for repeat sales through cross-selling your existing clients.

For instance, if it is trivia, the questions can revolve around your new product or service to tickle the inquisitive bone of the customers and make them want to know more about the recent launch.

Once the customers are introduced to the new product through the game, your booth staff can take things further by conversing with them and helping them know more about the new release. 

Activate Booth Visitors at B2B Events with Interactive Games

Trade show games boost motivation and encourage participation, making the mundane task of strolling through the booths more enjoyable and rewarding for the attendees.

Apart from the fun and frolic, customized games also effectively make prospects know more about your brand, products, and services, thereby boosting brand awareness and lead generation.

If you’re searching for an innovative way to engage attendees and boost traffic at your booth during B2B events, gamification can definitely help.

Contact us to know more about how our custom quizzes help our clients make their booth unique and attention-grabbing.

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