Put on your promotional trade show badge and join the techie parade at this weekend's SXSW Interactive in Texas. The event, held March 12-16, welcomes the brightest minds in technology to come together and share their knowledge. It's unique to the techno and trade show world, because this is no ordinary event; its' both a conference to share knowledge and a festival to celebrate music and entertainment. That's an event I'd love to check out!
         
It was only two years ago that Twitter made its claim to fame after being showcased at the event and now the talk is of what the next trend may be. There's one trend that I'm eager to follow; the SXSW trade show giveaways. Will promotional electronics be all the rage or will go green products take charge?

One item I'm interested in following is promotional stickers. Attendees bring their laptops to conferences and use their collected stickers to dress them up. It's a great way to show their support for particular companies they network with or learn from.

Throughout the packed conference room I can picture Twitter logos, Apple logos and beyond forming a massive collage over every laptop. But will promotional stickers be as successful this year? I don't believe so.

In the past year, the demand for and use of smartphones escalated. My guess is that many of the SXSW attendees will be smartphone clad and laptopless. With information at your fingertips, in the palm of your hand, laptops aren't as necessary. Infact, this years logo puts the focus on a smartphone- but no laptop is in sight. 
                                        
So what does this mean for stickers? Will they be no more? Perhaps we need to put them all in a shrinking machine. Maybe we'll see that invention at the 2011 SXSW.

Technology companies from around the world are hopeful that 2010 will bring great opportunities and an end to the financial crisis. Many trade shows were canceled or trimmed at the edges this year in hopes to obey budgets and avoid losses. However, as the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas draws nearer, a great hope for future of trade shows shines though.

Scott Heath, of Synergy Communications Inc. said, "Companies are trying to get back to business as usual. People are tired of pulling back. I think this will be the first show that companies are spending money on in a while." While consumer spending did decrease this year, these companies are confident that 2010 will bring financial stability and greater commitments.
                                 
The three day trade show will boast the best in electronics industry news, services and products. It's likely that Apple will have some world shattering new technology to share and that their trade show giveaways will be just as impressive. With companies putting more money and planning into trade shows for the upcoming year, you can expect greater competition on the trade show floor.
                                
While we're advocates of cost effective items like our promotional giveaways under $1, it's important to step it up when competition hovers. Consider some more sophisticated trade show items and pay close attention to the electronics industry trade show promos. With special guests including the original Star Trek character Data, it's assumed that electronic giveaways will be desired by all.

Autodesk, a leader in engineering and entertainment software, has successfully completed their latest trade show promotion. The growing business had over 9 million professionals using their products and continues to create innovative ideas to draw more customers.

At the Autodesk University trade show in Las Vegas last December, subscribers were welcomed into an all Autodesk event. To help promote the value of each of their services, subscription customers were greeted with special packages upon check-in. Included were some awesome promotional t-shirts imprinted with, "Experts Subscribe," and each member was welcomed into a very special raffle.

Many businesses will hold raffles to boost traffic around their booths, in the same way that trade show giveaways draw more attendees your way. With this in mind, Autodesk invited every subscriber to their subscription booth and hanged them promotional writing pads which they called "Free Idea Pads." Recipients were then asked to design a fun and smart 2 gig USB flash drive.
        
From the submissions, twelve were chosen, created, and mailed out to their respective designers. This is an amazing spin on using promotional flash drives as trade show giveaways. Senior manager of the global subscription marketing at Autodesk, Sarah O'Rourke said, "...we thought about how to make design a part of the drawing. It was all about getting back to the core competencies of Autodesk, to stimulate, visualize and use the innovation of our products."

Among the winning designs were a human shaped thumb, to put a fun spin on the term, "thumb drive," a leaping dolphin and even a space ship. While the awesome USB drives were created with a limited number set, you can order bulk after bulk amounts of our custom USB flash drives. There are even options to fully customize your USB flash drive, just like the Autodesk promotion. They're the perfect trade show products pre-loaded with your business's information or with free space for your recipient's pleasure.

As we head deeper into winter, it's clear that the holiday season is here. The turkey came and went on Thanksgiving and the Halloween decorations have been replaced with icicle lights and red bows. However, as the Christmas songs continue to blare and snowmen assemble on front lawns, a special group of people are hanging onto the Halloween spirit.

The ghost and goblin costumes may be stored away, but for the Ontario Paranormal Conference & Trade Show enthusiasts, a good scare is all they're asking Santa for. The event is to take place in May, but as a special promotion, the organizers are offering holiday decorated letters this week only.
                                 
Like the perfect holiday cards, these festive letters have space for you to write the recipient's name and are imprinted with the G.H.O.S.T. Conference's logo. These personalized letters are just the start of the trade show giveaways conjuring that will be going on for this event.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their ghost hunting equipment because there will be ghost tours, ghost hunts and séances for everyone to participate in. On their website, they're already boasting the door prices that will be given out.

This Paranormal trade show isn't your average conference which is why it's important to use extraordinary trade show giveaways. While our Halloween promos are very festive, they may be a bit too commercial for these real time ghost hunters. However, one thing's for certain, every good ghost hunter needs a promotional flashlight.

   
Likewise, the Ontario Conference may want to have cool glow in the dark trade show giveaways. The awesome custom printed glow in the dark sani-mist pocket sprayer is a smart idea because of the recent H1N1 breakouts. Meanwhile, the cool glow in the dark feature will keep it handy during pitch black ghost hunts. Who knows, maybe the anti-bacterial mist will help to detect the ghosts in the area. Until I attend a Paranormal trade show, I will not know...but maybe Santa’s mailing me that lovely Paranormal conference holiday letter just in time.

Skyline, a leader of exhibition booths in Las Vegas has just dropped a brand new batch of trade show booth accessories. "We have launched a variety of products that are both modern fully functional. They are designed to ultimately help trade show exhibitors and businesses display their products better." Michael Vekich, Executive Chairman of Skyline Exhibits continued, "Las Vegas being the central hub for many trade shows, these top quality rental displays will definitely be appreciated by trade show participants," says Michael Vekich, Executive Chairman of Skyline Exhibits.
                                               
When you need a booth that ensures quality and is visually appealing consider our great custom promoter aluminum coutnerstand. But, if you need all the bells and whistles, Skyline will send a team to assemble and maintain a high tech trade show space. That leaves you more time to focus on all of the great trade show giveaways that you'll need. Among the new trade show booth accessories is an LED lighting system that will send the right light on any booth. With professional lighting, trade show booths are more visually stimulating. The lighting system even allows you to adjust the light to highlight your products or to shine the light on your representatives.

The most effective item hitting the shelves is the DesignView presentation system. This great branding opportunity won the buyer’s choice award at EXHIBITOR2009 and will garner you the notability you need. The large screen will wear your logo for the entire trade show while a built in screen area displays slideshows of your products in action and statistics.
                       
In case you were wondering, Skyline has also launched a line of eco-friendly accessories that can be incorporated into your next trade show appearance. Now between cool new technology and environmentally friendly alternatives provided for you, focus your time on selecting equally as sought after trade show giveaways. Between our eco-friendly trade show giveaways and electronics trade show giveaways, you're guaranteed a great trade show appearance.

Tradeshows have been increasing friendly competition and helping businesses around the world to make great strides in their industry for decades. Since the days where products and services included livestock and carpentry- tradeshows have come a long way. Advances in technology and the courage of commercialism savvy leaders have helped tradeshows to become the huge industry conventions that they are today.
            
Year after year, strategists are paid big bucks to cater these events to the masses. For the satisfaction of exhibitors, tradeshow programs are laid out for them, the greatest convention centers are booked and advertising for the tradeshow is fruitful. For the satisfaction of the exhibitor, computers are utilized to show products, displays are created with portable, pop-up abilities and eye-catching tradeshow giveaways are designed in hopes of becoming helpful everyday items in all recipients’ lives.

Now, for the satisfaction of the Earth, a new advancement in tradeshow camaraderie is taking wind - sustainability. A major on-line supplier of tradeshow displays, Smash Hit Displays, is now offering eco-friendly exhibits. Their competitor, Eco Systems paved the way for this switch to eco-friendly tradeshow displays after they began promoting sustainable alternatives years ago. Operational manager of Smash Hit Displays, Matt Nixon said, "We are thrilled to step up to the plate and be able to do our part for the environment with our eco-friendly, sustainable trade show displays and products."
                 
Business are always looking out for customer satisfaction, and with the need to live sustainable lives rising, many customers are demanding eco-friendly products. Now, when tradeshow attendees visit booths pertaining to specific industries, they'll be interested in hearing about that business' carbon footprint. Therefore, using sustainable tradeshow displays and switching to eco-friendly tradeshow giveaways are both smart ideas.

Realizing that you can get the same or even better results with eco-friendly products, Nixon said, "We strive to offer our customers every option and product available at affordable prices, so providing the same options in an eco-friendly way just makes sense."
       

This upcoming January, music industry representatives from around the world will flock to California for the 2010 NAMM Show. NAMM's mission "...is to unify, lead and strengthen the global music products industry and to increase active participation in music making." That means that come January, the latest and greatest of musical and stage equipment as well as production and lighting technologies will be on display at the national music industry tradeshow.

At a huge event like this, you can expect an abundance of promotional giveaways. Band gear like promotional apparel and custom bumper stickers are always successful in making your music trendy, but this tradeshow isn't for band groupies. It's for the professionals that strive to use the best equipment and most innovative technologies in order to create an outrageous production that will impress the masses.

With such a tremendous goal in mind, visitors to this music tradeshow will need eye-catching, useful and memorable tradeshow giveaways. Instrument providers can consider promotional music stressballs that will wear their company’s name. Lighting crews can take advantage of fun light-up products like the promotional liquid activated shot glasses. These will show passersby that lighting techniques should be fun and inventive.
                           
Certainly, there are many tradeshow giveaways  that can entice visitors to the NAMM show, but the event itself needs to create its own buzz as well. That’s why on the NAMM show web-site they use a promotional product in an eye-catching ad. Designers have dressed up the traditional promotional badge holder with an original retro look that has been worked into the layout of the web-page to make it pop. This graphic is not a representation of the actual badges used at the NAMM show.

However, representatives of the 2010 NAMM show will provide promotional badge holders to all registered participants of the NAMM show. Depending on your position; buyer, exhibitor employee, artist, media or visitor, you'll receive a color specific badge. These badges are to remain visible at all times and are a great helper when it comes to recognizing potential clients as apposed to other artists or media outlets. This is a great use for promotional badges and shows the importance of promotional
products even when they lack an imprint.                  
                

Forbes Magazine recently released an article about a new perk of the social media world, Virtual Trade Shows. These planned events (lasting 3 days or up to many months) are designed to look and function like the convention centers a typical trade show would take place in. That way, when visitors enter they'll be in a lobby with entrances to an exhibit hall, seminar rooms and even social coffee shops.

                

While there is hope that the recession is coming to an end, many business' are looking for ways to cut spending while getting ahead. With a carefully planned and well manned virtual trade show, there are many opportunities to succeed. Forbes created a nine point list on "How to tackle a virtual trade show," which I've interpreted below.

1. Find an Event - You can do this easily by paying attention to industry web-sites and staying up to date with trade publications.

2. Craft a Clean, Comprehensive Presentation Strategy - With the internet literally at visitor’s fingertips, there are many media sources available. Clearly display links to your site and related information and consider a variation of videos, text and photographs to stimulate the viewer.

3. Test the Waters - Most virtual trade shows are free to attend. Stay in your pajamas and visit the virtual event to get a feel for what works and to gain ideas of how to create your booth and utilize all areas of media.

4. Set up your Booth - No strength or sweat required. Web designers can set up your booth after a simple phone call or you can create your own virtual booth by following a template wizard. Either way, remember to incorporate your logo and make it visually appealing. It's also important to buy a prime booth spot. The lobby is the entry portal, so the closer you are to it, the more traffic you'll get. It may be a few grand more but it is cost effective.

5. Mingle at the Networking Cafe - The networking cafe invites attendees and presenters to discuss industry topics while promoting their business and trade. This is a great place to talk one-on-one with possible clients and share trade secrets with business friends.

      

6. Pay for Premium Advertising - Like a billboard or poster may display information about your booth, banners can be created to adorn the virtual walls of the lobby, exhibit hall and cafe. When clicked, visitors are directed to your booth immediately.
 
7. Man your Booth - Just like your best company representatives would be ready to greet visitors with a smile, so too should your virtual representatives. Have them instant message all visitors with a friendly welcoming and they'll engage one attendee after another.

8. Follow up with Attendees - Your name and business information will come up in your instant messenger box allowing attendees to keep in touch with you. In the same way, collect the information from attendees through instant messages and follow up with them to show your appreciation for their interest.

9. Be your own Host - These virtual trade shows can last as long as months, but once the event is over, you'll want to continue creating a buzz for your business. Other sites allow for permanent booth space where you can display products and services. This is a great idea for a link from your main site.
            
Forbes created a great list that made virtual trade shows very attractive to me. However, my favorite thing about trade shows is lacking. Tradeshow giveaways. Have your business' name imprinted on promotional keychains or brand custom aluminum sport bottles to help make attendees remember you. With virtual tradeshows, the follow up includes more of a web-based strategy, so, I propose that a tenth and final point be added to the list.

10. Choose a memorable tradeshow giveaway. - This will not only satisfy attendees, but it will attract more traffic to your site. A banner reading, "Motivators Promotional Products. Visit our booth for a FREE custom keychain," will help boost your booth's visitor count. Just collect an address and send out your great promotional items. Sure postage will have to be factored in, but everyone loves promotional items. And while someone may forget about a business after Xing out of the box - your business will be remembered when past attendee’s receive a package a week later, housing a great tradeshow giveaway.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CNN) -- Every year, the International Consumer Electronics Show yields dozens of exciting, useful and just plain silly high-tech gadgets. Sometimes they're even useful and silly at the same time, like a wristwatch cell phone.

                                                                                                                                         Sony's new Vaio will allow you to put the Internet in your coat pocket.

Some products are in stores now, although many are due later this year and a few are still in the prototype stage. Which, if any, will catch on with consumers? It's probably too soon to tell.

CNN spent several days touring the booths at CES, which ended Sunday. Here are a handful of gadgets that caught our eye:

LG Touch Watch Phone

LG Electronics made a splash in Vegas when it unveiled what it claims is the world's first market-ready touch-screen watch phone. That's right, a phone you wear on your wrist.

"You want to think James Bond, 'Get Smart,' Dick Tracy. It's all that and more," LG spokesman Martin Valdez said. "You'll never have to worry about losing your phone anymore."

The tiny, 3G-capable gadget has a 1.4-inch screen but packs a host of features such as Bluetooth, text messaging, still and video camera and a built-in speaker for playing music files. 

LG hasn't decided on a wireless carrier or set a price for the watch phone, which it hopes to begin selling in Europe and the U.S. this year. But won't people feel silly talking into their wrists?

iRiver Wave-Home networking device

This minimalist, A-frame-shaped gadget wants to be your alarm clock, stereo, laptop, video-conferencing phone and digital photo frame all at once. The Wave-Home features a 7-inch touch screen, webcam, built-in speakers, Internet access, MP3 music and video player, SD slot, USB port and more.

iRiver, a Korean-based company, hopes to get the device on the American market by the end of the year at a price -- probably under $400 -- that it hopes will encourage consumers to buy several units for many rooms of their home.

Sony Vaio Lifestyle PC

Smaller than a netbook and larger than a smart phone, this sleek device combines the best features of both. For one, it weighs 1.4 pounds and is small enough to fit in your coat pocket.

"It has a cool factor," Sony product manager Xavier Lauwaert said. "You go to a Starbucks and pop this out of your jacket, and people will go, 'Ooh!' "

This Vaio has built-in Bluetooth and GPS technology and runs on Verizon's 3G network, so it's connected to the Web anywhere you can get a cell-phone signal. It also features an 8-inch screen, webcam, two USB ports and a promised four hours of battery life.

The device is available in five colors and hits stores next month. A 60 GB model will sell for $900, a 128 GB model for $1,500.

Motorola Aura cell phone

This $1,999 luxury accessory doesn't have the Web-browsing ability of a smart phone, but it has style to burn. Handcrafted from stainless steel and sapphire crystal, each one takes two weeks to manufacture. The phone opens like a switchblade on Swiss-engineered gears, and its round display screen has the look of a classic watch face.

The Aura went on sale last month and contains most basic cell-phone features, but that's not what people will want it for.

"It's a piece of art," Motorola marketing Vice President Melissa Gardner said. "We're targeting it around people who really value fashion and style." And a big bank account.

Polaroid Instant Digital Camera

If you're mourning Polaroid's recent decision to stop making film for its classic instant cameras, here's some good news. This 5-megapixel camera, due on the market in March, contains a built-in printer for producing 2-by-3-inch pictures on the go. The camera's printer contains no ink or toner; the prints pass through a thermal heat head, activating dye crystals embedded in the print paper and producing an image.

The resulting pictures are a little grainy, but they're ready in seconds and have a sticky-back feature for scrapbooking. And, unlike your old Polaroid, you can review the image on the camera's LCD screen before deciding whether to print it.

"It's not going to replace your 12-megapixel camera," Polaroid marketing associate Michael Holmes said. "It's fun. It's convenient."

The camera will retail for $199, and a 10-pack of print paper will cost about $5.

Livescribe Pulse smart pen

A finalist in a "Last Gadget Standing" competition at CES on Saturday, this writing implement is a pen and a computer in one. Thanks to an infrared camera near the pen's tip and special paper with microdots that track the pen's movement, the Pulse can digitally capture handwritten notes.

A digital recorder links the notes to audio recorded at the same time -- a lecture, for example -- while handwriting-recognition software allows users to tap anywhere in their written notes and bring up the audio that was recorded when those words were jotted down. The pen contains a USB dock that allows users to upload their notes to a laptop.

The Pulse is available in a 1 GB model for $149. A 2 GB model, which supposedly can record up to 60,000 pages of notes, is $199.

The Sharper Image's MP3 player keychain

OK, so maybe the keychain part isn't that exciting. But this affordable little MP3 player aims to please with digital photo and video capability, two sets of earbuds and two headset jacks for sharing music with your loved one. Best of all, it'll play its music wirelessly through your car's stereo.

The device comes in many colors and is expected to hit stores in April or May for $59.99.

Jensen JCR-290 alarm clock

"It's easy for just about anyone to set the alarm without pulling out the owner's manual," said Ron Shulda, design and product manager for Spectra, the clock's manufacturer. Shulda expects the clock to hit the market in the spring and retail for $29.99.