In one of those conincidences that can happen in business, the technology and will to develop online exhibitions came at the same time as businesses were looking to make significant cost reductions - and participation at exhibitions is a significant cost.

Live exhibitions are expensive to take part in, whether you're exhibiting or visiting, and many of the things that are key goals for businesses at live shows are also achievable with the online version. Nowadays, companies spend as much time researching information and solutions on the internet as they do at live exhibitions - and for a fraction of the cost. It seems sensible to take this trend and develop it into and interactive, year-round exhibition offering, where exhibitors can launch new products, give out information, update their news and product information and maintain contact with customers and prospects on an ongoing basis.

That's the theory that lies behind an online exhibition. Virtual shows can generate sales leads and make sales. They increase brand awareness and offer a continuous marketing platform to those who take part. Most importantly, they are truly international, attracting visitors from across the world, thereby expanding the available market for your product or service.

There is some consolidation in the live exhibitions market. The trend seems to be for ever-larger exhibitions, which either swallow up the smaller versions, or leave them far behind. An online exhibition can work in two ways: Firstly, in partnership with exhibition organisers, we can run an online show alongside the live event, promoting it beforehand and wrapping up afterwards. We can also create a show which will run all year, allowing exhibitors to maintain their presence at the show long after the live event is over. We can also create an entirely new virtual exhibition, allowing you to recruit exhibitors who may not have the resources to book a stand at the live show. Secondly, online exhibitions can be created for a single company, creating separate stands for each product line. This allows you to promote your product on an individual basis online, specifying the correct sales contacts, updating on product information and hosting online seminars or conferences for customers.

Built-in search engine optimisation can help to improve your exhibition's rankings in the search engine results, which should encourage searchers to view and register with your exhibition, gaining more sales leads for you. If you're interested in how a WebEvent could help your business, or an exhibition you run, get in touch with us.