Use the badge reader to get the maximum benefits
If you want to get the maximum benefits from having an exhibition stand it is advisable to use the badge reader. This is the easiest and cheapest tool in your exhibition participation, and one that will serve you for many years.
Effective exhibiting starts with the most elementary tool available: the badge reader. This is a convenient piece of equipment that you use to scan the badges of the stand visitors. Just one swipe instantly gives you all the information on your visitor: what company he works for, what his position is, what he plans to invest.
It is useful to make a note of what kind of follow-up is necessary per visitor – e.g. ‘make follow-up appointment’or ‘extra information about new product’. Another option is to indicate up to no fewer than 99 action codes that can be pre-programmed into the Databadge Reader. You will then find these codes on the contact form and in the data file.
The Databadge reader is programmed with 10 standard Qualifiers:
1. send information; 2. needs technical data; 3. add to mailing list; 4. decision maker; 5; just investigating; 6. send quote; 7. have rep. call; 8. ready to purchase; 9. will purchase in 30 days; 10. special action required
Here are all the benefits: 
• At the end of the exhibition day you can get a simple download of all your stand visitors.
Action: your in-house sales team can start the after-sales process that very same day.
• Immediately after the exhibition you will have a list of everyone who has visited your stand. This list can be downloaded.
Action: you can significantly expand your relation database.
• You can see which of your business relations were planning to visit your stand, but didn't do so. Interesting marketing information.
Action: check with your customers why they did not manage to visit your stand and schedule an appointment.
• You will have an overview of visitors who are not yet in your customer base.
Action: thank them for their visit and inform them about your company; try to make an appointment at the same time. In the current economic climate, extra customers are worth their weight in gold.
• You can update your own customer database using the most recent name & address details.
Action: synchronise your own database with the database you have built up during the exhibition. Around 12% of your name & address details are likely to contain the wrong e-mail address.
• A few days after the exhibition all exhibition visitors will receive a thank-you e-mail. This will contain their personal list of stands they have visited. This overview is based on the badges that have been scanned.
Action: ensure that your salespeople are aware they may receive phone calls as a result of the thank-you e-mail containing your name.
The Client Portal
All exhibitors now have their own, personal Internet page. This Client Portal is the hub where marketing information, actions, statistics and follow-up actions come together.
You will get the maximum benefits from the Client Portal when you use the badge reader.
If you have not ordered your badge reader yet, do so now. Go to the Client Portal and log in with the username and password you have received from VNU Exhibitions. Is your Internet access temporarily unavailable? Then call the Customer Service Department on tel.: +31 (0)30 – 295 2999 (option 3).
More detailed information on the badge reader? Click here
