Welcome back to Branded: your comprehensive guide to creative branding. We are only two days away from Podfest and have been planning non-stop for the event for weeks. This year, Branded will have a booth in the expo hall for the first time and we're so excited to turn our space into an experience. As we get ready, we're sharing insights from our past expo hall experiences, the plan for this event, and some crucial tips we've learned to help make the sponsorship effective and profitable. Larry shares his sub-par booth set ups from the pre-Branded days and we reflect on the success of the Friendship Bracelet Booth from the Spark conference. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a first-time exhibitor, this episode is packed with tips to take your conference game to the next level. From planning and logistics to capturing and converting leads, we've got you covered. If you're planning to attend Podfest 2024 this week, stop by our booth, say hi, and enter our giveaway! Key Takeaways: 1. Booth Planning and Setup: When preparing for a conference booth, it's essential to carefully plan and set up the space within the given confines. This involves considering the layout, ensuring everything fits, bringing necessary items such as power strips, and ensuring adequate outlets for various equipment. 2. Engaging Experiences: Creating engaging experiences at the booth is essential for attracting and retaining visitors. We discussed how a unique and engaging booth experience, such as a friendship bracelet-making station and photo booth, can lead to more interaction, longer conversations, and building relationships with the audience. 3. Brand Representation: The importance of representing the brand well at a conference was emphasized. Making sure the booth and activities align with the brand's mission and values were highlighted to ensure a meaningful connection with the audience. 4. Lead Generation and Follow-Up: It's critical to plan a lead generation system ahead of time and ensure efficient follow-up after the event. Techniques like using photo booth apps to gather email addresses and sending information to the attendees' email addresses post-event were discussed. 5. Attention to Detail: The episode emphasized the significance of addressing small details, such as planning ahead for collateral, shipping timelines, and the need to make the booth's overall aesthetic, including the branding and taglines, consistent and appealing. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po38QDxwepI[/embed]