It's one thing to have an idea for a unique tech-forward trade show display that will grab attention. It's another thing to see that idea realized in time. Trade shows sneak up quickly and putting together an effective display is a matter of overcoming a set of ever-present challenges. These include limited budget, limited time, and limited help. Unless each impediment can be successfully cleared, the display won't meet its potential. If you have an idea to leverage new technology for your next trade show - say, virtual reality, for example - it can be discouraging to peek at the calendar and see the days before showtime dwindle.

How can you build the experience you need on a limited timeline? 

Using virtual reality for trade shows can set your business apart. While many displays will utilize some technology, few can hope to offer the immersive experience that VR provides. Though it sounds too good to be true, you can build a virtual reality experience for your trade show display on a shorter timeline than you'd expect. With some solutions, the turnaround time can be as short as two weeks. Using some pre-built components (like a customizable platform), some solutions take less time to build, but look and feel comparable to most experiences built on a longer timeline. The quality of the experience matters most. You just need to find the right partner and right product to make it happen.  

The right partner can turn your project around quickly. But, what does the right product look like? Here are the few things to keep in mind:

Complete Branding

Your VR trade show experience needs to have complete branding for your business and product. Part of what will make your VR display memorable is your recognizable branding. It allows you to take true "ownership" of the experience and ties what the customer sees and hears with your company and product. If you run into a proposed solution with flimsy branding or one that features your partner more than you, consider other options.

Lead Capture and Analytics

While giving potential customers an experience that makes them say 'Wow!' is a victory in itself (think of the word-of-mouth that will follow), it's even more important to capture those leads at the trade show. Good lead capture is going to be subtle, have a low barrier for entry, and seamless integration with a CRM or similar platform. That integration piece is critical for gaining insight into your captured leads using analytics. When considering a solution, make sure that lead capture functionality is included. 

Immersive Experience 

It should be a given that your VR experience will be immersive. However, not all VR experiences are equal and depending on the software and hardware used, it can feel like less of an escape than you expect. Trade shows are hectic and an immersive experience gives potential customers the chance to get away and focus solely on your product. Make sure that you find a solution that truly transports your potential customers and your product to a new place.