plenary Be Awesome at Online Business + Exhibitor Product Information Sharing TIPSTER Web Cred I

n his recent book Be Awesome at Online Business: A Handbook for Succeeding on the Web, website designer Paul Jarvis offers practical, straightforward advice for creating a thriving web presence. He writes spe- cifically about commercial websites, but what he has to say resonates with any online endeavor — including confer- ence websites and apps. Below is Jarvis’ list of “12 ways to make your website more credible”:

1 Is my messaging clear, simple, and honest? Does it make sense to first- time visitors?

2 Am I showcasing what others think of me through testimonials or reviews?

3 Is there evidence that my business exists elsewhere on the Internet (guest posts or reviews on other websites)?

4 Do I have any endorsements from industry authorities or a well-known source (i.e., I’m featured in O magazine)?

5 Do all my links work? Are my social- media feeds working?

6 Do I give reasons for actionable items and not just “click here” or “buy now”?

7 Are there spelling or grammar mistakes?

8 Is my contact information easily found?

9 Do I have an email address @mycompanywebsite.com (and not a @gmail.com or @aol.com address)?

10 Does my site load quickly? Even on mobile devices?

11 Am I showcasing real-life examples or case studies that prove the benefits of what I’m offering?

12 Does my website look alive (with fresh blog posts, social-media updates, new testimonials, etc.)?

. For more information: pjrvs.com/book RESEARCH Share and Share Alike

A new report from CEIR (Center for Exhibition Industry Research) suggests that the ways exhibitors tend to share product information and the ways attendees like to receive it are well aligned — with a few exceptions.

5885 4170 3452 14+19 33+13 6 29+12 +11

COMPARISON OF HOW EXHIBITORS TYPICALLY SHARE PRODUCT INFO WITH HOW ATTENDEES PREFER TO RECEIVE IT

Attendees Exhibitors

58% 85% Printed

brochure/

catalogue at the exhibition

41% 70%

Email sent after the exhibition

34% 52% Printed

brochure/

catalogue sent after the exhibition

14% 19%

QR code attendees can scan

33% 13% USB given

to attendees 0% 6% Information

downloadable to a USB

29% 12%

CD-ROM or disk

0% 11% Other

SOURCE: Exhibitor Product Information Sharing Practices, Center for Exhibition Industry Research (ceir.org)

22 PCMA CONVENE OCTOBER 2013 PCMA.ORG