New CEIR Report on Attendee Promotion Campaign Spending

DALLAS, 7 May 2014 – The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) unveils a new benchmark report for business-to-business exhibition organizers. The study focuses on spending and the marketing-mix allocation for attendee promotions and marketing tactics found to be most effective in driving attendance at exhibitions: Cost to Attract Attendees.

Cost to Attract Attendees provides statistics on the median spending levels overall as well as on a per verified attendee basis. Marketing mix by tactics is also reported. In addition to disclosing overall industry trends, statistics are reported by key exhibition metrics including gross revenue, verified attendance, net square footage of paid space, geographic scope of attendance, whether an exhibition rotates locations and type of exhibition organizer.

Exhibition organizers use a broad range of traditional and digital tactics to attract qualified attendees to their events. Direct marketing methods – both email and direct mail – are most popular with more than 90 percent of organizers using either tactic. Additionally, 40 percent or more use print magazine advertising, social media, online advertising, exhibitor complimentary tickets, trades for lists or advertising, exhibiting at other exhibitions, and telemarketing.

Though the mix of tactics varies, email (26 percent) and direct mail (30 percent) take up more than one-half of available attendee promotion dollars. All other tactics are allocated 10 percent or less of available funds.

Traditional attendee promotional tactics are considered to be the most effective methods for driving attendance to exhibitions. Direct marketing is number one: direct mail (87 percent) and email (86 percent). Other top-ranked tactics include: exhibitor complimentary tickets; exhibiting at other exhibitions; telemarketing; trades for lists or free advertising; and other referral, gift or discounts.

While these findings reflect overall industry trends, there are differences of note when looking at results by different exhibition metrics.

Click here to access the full report. IAEE members can access the CEIR library and reports at no cost – a benefit of IAEE membership.
 
About CEIR
CEIR serves to advance the growth, awareness and value of exhibitions and other face-to-face marketing events by producing and delivering knowledge-based research tools that enable stakeholder organizations to enhance their ability to meet current and emerging customer needs, improve their business performance and strengthen their competitive position. For additional information, visit www.ceir.org.

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Media Inquiries:
Mary Tucker
+1 (972) 687-9207
mtucker@ceir.org