Most of us in 2022 were very glad to get back to in-person events. Trade Shows, Expos, and other events have made a steady return in recent years. In 2023, this trend looks to continue, with more businesses looking at investing in attention-grabbing experiences that capture new leads and deepen existing client relationships.

Events have been largely put on pause in the recent pandemic years. Even as economies started to return to ‘normal’, many have remained relatively low-key in 2022 when compared to their pre-pandemic height.

The trend for 2023, however, is a marked return to in-person events and a commitment to making them worthwhile for everyone. This means more hybrid events are on the menu.

Hybrid events are becoming more frequently integrated into the design of venue spaces, and research shows that attendees are actually drawn to physical events when they include a hybrid component, feeling that they get more out of it by being there ‘in person.’

The financial risk of in-person events has always been a fundamental part of the equation, however.

Investments must deliver lasting value, even when they are made for a short-term installation. Digital media, hardware and hybrid events can seem like an extravagance for just one or two trade shows, however some 86% of companies (B2B) who host a hybrid event still see positive ROI, even 7 months after the original event.

Digital storytelling software is perhaps the most important piece of the puzzle. It deploys all your digital stories and other digital assets across all the AV hardware, and can handle the challenge of hybrid or immersive digital experiences. It can also do a lot more things besides; all of which makes it essential for a return to in person events, and taking your brand story on the road.

 

How Digital Storytelling Software helps adapt your brand to regional contexts

 

If you’re going to bring one tool with you when you take your brand story on the road, it should be digital storytelling software. As with every worthwhile investment, it takes a little time to get everything set-up beforehand, but with good preparation your digital storytelling software will become one of the most valuable assets your company has.

With digital storytelling software, businesses can create and maintain tailored messages that are perfectly suited for each audience. This is especially valuable to companies that trade across a variety of sectors and regions. Distinct pain-points and regional contexts are easier to accommodate when the digital storytelling software keeps it all well-organized and accessible with a tap on a tablet or click of a mouse.

It can also be hard to coordinate brand messaging across a global organization. Digital storytelling software can become your company’s ‘single source of truth,’ with all the content assembled and organized in a central library. Full editorial control means that a global company can create and use regionally produced content in a fully branded way, and distribute these stories in whichever way has the most impact.

With a powerful cloud-based solution, multiple teams can work on digital content from their own locations around the world – and then add it to the library. It makes it easier to combine digital assets from a variety of sources and homogenize them when needed. Each team can also draw from the same content library (from diverse locations) too – meaning you can provide simultaneous, yet tailored experiences, for audiences in different regions around the world.

And best of all, these can be organized and deployed everywhere – from a single point.

Digital Storytelling Software is critical for spreading your message around the world

There are numerous tools or AV hardware options for displaying or deploying your digital stories. As already touched upon, audiences have gained a taste for digital experiences such as hybrid events – even when they attend them in-person. A distinctive digital experience can be a critical factor in standing out at a tradeshow or expo, and these can be easily used to capture customer information that helps retain potential leads with additional digital touchpoints much later.

One such tool with immense impact is digital signage. When you can use interactive digital signage effectively, you’re offering a low-threshold gateway for customer interaction. This can pave the way for a deeper brand experience, such as an Immersive Experience Room.

These have gained much attention in recent years; Immersive Experiences have demonstrated a remarkable ability to capture attention and create special experiences. Immersive experiences (IXs) are remembered long after the event, and are a durable trigger for future interactions. They’re usually employed as a fixed installation, but there are now exciting mobile options available that can arrive and be installed at a tradeshow (or other event/location) within hours.

Using a cloud-native digital storytelling software solution, you have the full breadth of options available. You can create multiple variations of content, and use different ones at each location. It also enables your teams to create instantaneous updates to the content library everywhere, because they use a single content library accessed via the cloud.

With good-quality digital storytelling software it becomes easier and more cost-effective to create mind-blowing experiences. It enables an agile and modular approach to building cohesive digital stories and ensures that digital assets can be adapted and re-used time and time again.

 

ROI: It’s payback time

The adaptability and reusability of content when using digital storytelling software ensures you have the most impact with a maximum ROI. With this software you can craft targeted digital stories that harmonize perfectly with each audience. By being able to adapt these and reuse them, you can ensure that investment in digital assets can pay dividends for many years.

Considering the expense of preparing for events like expos and trade fairs, it makes sense to get the most long-term impact from the digital assets after the event. It also makes good sense to ensure that these investments are worthwhile, by hitting the right target at each stop on your journey. With the right software tools, all this becomes possible.

For more information about this subject contact Purple.

 

You feel strongly about becoming part of the cleanup and restoration industry. In fact, you’ve been looking at several franchises, including what Spaulding Decon franchise opportunities have to offer. How can you determine if this is the franchise that you want to pursue? Look closely at the following and see what you think.

Take a Look at The Startup Costs

Any franchise is likely to have startup costs. Some have to do with local expenses associated with setting up the business. Others are focused on what you will need to pay directly to the franchisor in order to get the local business rolling.

Ask yourself two questions when you consider the average setup cost: can you afford the expense, and what do you get in return for the amount paid to the franchisor? If you’re satisfied with the answers to those two questions, then it makes sense to look into the opportunity a little further.

As Well as The Initial Franchise Fee

There’s also an initial franchise fee that will apply. That’s also paid directly to the franchisor and ensures you have access to training materials, the right to use franchisor branding, and a number of other benefits. Take a close look at the fee, and ensure you can make it without undermining the ability to cover the costs of starting up the franchise.

Remember that the initial franchise fee is a one-time thing. There will be other fees that must be paid to the franchisor, especially when the franchise begins to generate profits. Remember that you want to be able to cover this initial fee and have reserves to cover other fees as you build the business.

Think About the Cost of Supplies and Equipment

Supplies and equipment will be one of your ongoing expenses. The good news is that choosing to go for one of the Spaulding Decon franchise opportunities means that you can likely secure what’s needed at discounted rates. Think of how that would help to improve your overall costs and possibly result in more net profits.

Make sure you have an accurate assessment of what your monthly costs for supplies and equipment will likely be. This type of projection will help you determine if being able to keep within a reasonable operating budget is something that you can do.

Explore the Royalty Program

Take a good look at the royalty program and what it means for you. Is the royalty calculated using gross sales for the period, or is it based on net sales? Perhaps there’s a minimum royalty that applies even if the sales drop below a certain level.

Knowing how the program works in advance allows you to project income and expenses for the first year. That’s crucial since this is the time frame in which you will be building the business and securing your reputation within the community.

There are other aspects to consider before you decide whether this franchise opportunity is the right one for you. Weigh all the factors carefully, and make sure you can honor your obligations. If you feel good about the way the program is structured and think that this is something you can do successfully, contact the franchisor and get the ball rolling.