An inside look on how to take advantage of a Vendor Showcase to find the most fitting solutions for your needs.
What is a Vendor Showcase, you ask? Oh right. Allow us to explain…
Vendor Showcases are an exhibitor superpower. Through a lens of solution-seeking, Vendor Showcases are a round-up of solutions that are tackling the same challenge you may have. They consist of a series of demos designed to match community members like you with the right vendors to solve for your greatest needs.
We’ve put together some tips on how you can set yourself to get the most out of your Vendor Showcase experience as an attendee… and they go to 11 😉
Pre-Event Preparation
Tip #1: Peruse the Platform
Are you one of those people who logs into an event less than thirty seconds before it is set to begin? There’s no shame in that game, truly… So make sure that, prior to the day-of, you allow yourself a few minutes to explore the virtual space and decide which demos to prioritize attending. Each vendor’s tile is equipped with resources – everything from videos to articles to case studies – that give a window into which solutions are a potential right fit for you. Peruse through to decide which demos you’d like to attend!
Tip #2: Determine What You’re Looking For
As you’re perusing, you may start to see patterns of what you’re looking for. We recommend taking a mindful moment to write a list of the characteristics that you’re seeking in your solution, so that you can look out and compare the different demos through this lens. One of the benefits of Vendor Showcases: you don’t know what you don’t know, so throughout the days you’ll learn about a whole new set of features and opportunities that may not have even been on your radar, so you may find your list of priorities is enhanced by the end.
Tip #3: Consider inviting others in your organization
And speaking of which… you’re challenged with a big task! Are there others in the organization whose perspectives might be valuable to the decision making process? We recommend viewing with multiple people within your organization so you have the opportunity to hear from stakeholders that may be viewing the same exact demo from a slightly different lens. If there is a vendor you particularly like, this may also wind up creating buy-in to proceed with them.
Tip #4: Plan out your day
We recommend setting yourself calendar reminders to make sure you’re returning back for the demos you’re interested in. Do you prefer to have your own dedicated demo with one of the companies you come across? You can “drop a business card” or “request a meeting” in the corresponding tile, and the company will reach out to set up a meeting!
During-Event Tips
Tip #5: Consider attending the Opening Educational Session and the Closing Wrap-Ups
The opening session will provide great food for thought as you experience all the demos, while the closing session is a wrap-up of valuable themes that emerged throughout the day. Each will enhance your understanding of the solutions market, and allow you to hear from fellow attendees who are in similar decision making cycles.
Tip #6: Say ‘Hello!’ to Fellow Attendees in the General Attendee Chat
You’re not alone! Others just like you are also attending a Vendor Showcase because they are making similar decisions as you. Giving a quick hello is a great way to *feel* the community is gathering, especially as others begin to follow suit. Who knows – you may recognize fellow colleagues who you can compare notes with after the fact!
Tip #7: Drop a Business Card with the Most Intriguing Vendors
When you go into the individual tiles of the demoing companies, you’ll notice there is a “drop a business card” and “request a meeting” feature. Both are a great way to communicate to the companies you’re most interested in that you’d like a follow up. This way, you don’t have to worry about collecting contact information; as a next step, the company will follow up with you!
Tip #8: Use the Chat and/or Q&A
Are you shy to speak up in online group settings? Event technology is on your side. Let your questions be known in the live webinar demos without the stress of speaking up. The good news: if you’re asking yourself a question, likely other attendees have the same one!
Tip #9: Break the Ice!
As a vendor who is demoing their product/service, it can feel a little intimidating to demo in webinar format, as they do not have the benefit of seeing the facial reactions of listeners as they go. Pro tip: if you drop a quick hello in the webinar chat at the beginning, it will give the demoer a feeling of connectedness, and increase their likelihood of a successful demo. That’s good news as a viewer, because the demo will be more engaging, and give you the best opportunity to see what they have to offer.
Post-Event
Tip #10: Check Your Inbox for Follow-Ups
If you drop your business card or request a meeting in a vendor’s tile, the chances are high that you’ll be hearing from them quickly. Keep those eyes peeled to set up a follow-up discussion while the demo is still fresh in your mind!
Tip #11: Watch or Re-watch Demos On-Demand
Whether your wifi cut out during a demo, or you had to miss one altogether, no fear. You’ll have 90 days after the event to watch any sessions back! This gives you the additional chance to peruse all the material once again.
Interested in Hosting Your Own Vendor Showcase?
Is all this member engagement sounding like it could benefit your community? Great news! Matchbox is holding a (virtual!) info session on February 15th at 1:00PM ET to share our experiences on how Vendor Showcases work and how we help support them – both in platform support, and sharing of best practices for all stakeholders to be successful in this new format. Register for the info session here!
