Have you ever wondered how a select few exhibitors manage to draw huge crowds to their trade show booths? At first, you might think they're giving away expensive promotional products - until you realize they're giving away the same items as other exhibitors.

Their "secret" is simple, and has been proven effective at trade shows around the world. The lure that tempts attendees is the opportunity to win a prize coupled with an attractive, interactive element. Digital prize wheels are one of the latest trade show attractions to address both levers.

Advantages Of Using A Digital Prize Wheel At Trade Shows

As a trade show attraction, a digital prize wheel offers several benefits. First, it drives attendees to your booth by appealing to their unquenchable desire to win a prize. What's more, it does so through an instant win mechanism. Visitors to your exhibit will know they can win a valuable prize or coupon immediately by giving the wheel a virtual spin.

Second, a digital prize wheel gives you an opportunity to collect attendees' contact information. And it happens automatically. The wheel can be programmed to require each visitor to provide 3 lines of personal information prior to their spinning the wheel. You can collect your visitor's name, email address, and one additional detail. Branded prize notifications and instructions on how to redeem them can be instantly delivered to attendees' email addresses. At the same time, you'll build a valuable email database that you can use for your future marketing campaigns.

A third advantage of digital prize wheels is that the prizes themselves can promote your company and build brand awareness over the long run. The type of prizes you offer are limited only by your imagination. If they provide long-term value to attendees and are imprinted with your contact information, they'll keep your company's name in front of your leads and customers long after the show.

2 Smart Advertising Specialties To Give Away

The promotional items that you give away as prizes should be compact, useful, and durable. Those are the 3 key factors that will help them avoid the trash bin. Here are 2 potent advertising specialties that are perennial favorites with attendees:

USB Flash Drives

Your booth visitors likely have important documents, including PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets, and passwords they would like to carry with them. Flash drives offer an ideal solution - for you and your visitors.

They're relatively inexpensive and provide lasting value. Plus, you can have them imprinted with your company name, logo, and phone number. You can even seed them with select marketing collateral prior to giving them away as digital prize wheel prizes. Small and portable, flash drives can be carried as easily as car keys.

Travel Alarm Clocks

Most people travel in order to attend trade shows. But, being away from home doesn't mean they can sleep in. Whether they need to beat the morning crowds to high-priority exhibits or meet with important vendors, a travel alarm clock will ensure they awaken in time to make their appointments.

Like flash drives, these compact, folding clocks offer practical, long-term value to attendees while they're on the road or at home. As a result, they make perfect prizes for your digital prize wheel. If you have the clocks imprinted with your company name, logo, and phone number, they can promote your products and brand for years.

Digital prize wheels are becoming more popular as trade show attractions. Exhibitors are beginning to realize the multiple advantages of leveraging them. You'll increase your booth traffic, build a valuable email database, and be able to promote your company long after the convention hall lights are switched off.

About the Author:

Jonathan Edelman provides helpful trade show marketing ideas, including advice about prize wheels, customizable scratch-off cards, and other exciting trade show attractions. With years of experience in the trenches, he is an expert on booth displays, lead generation techniques, and networking with trade show vendors to build a referral-generating system that leads to a boost in sales and revenue.