PR giant Edelman asks Hugh MacLeod of Gaping Void to give a talk on the reality of corporate blogging in a post-Cluetrain Manifesto era. A very insightful piece that is well worth reading.

I remember endless hours of my youth spent playing Monoploy, gleefully bankrupting friends and relatives alike while I had visions of being the next Trump. I always wondered what playing the game would feel like if those colorful pieces of Monoploy money were real instead. Now a new venture out of Montreal called Weblo promises to fulfill my childhood longings.

Weblo is hoping to strike it rich by staking its claim in the cyber gold rush to build and populate virtual worlds and massively multi player online games (MMOG’s). Hoping to cash in on the same trend that has turned Second Life and World of War Craft into the phenomena that they are, Weblo has created a virtual world that is essentially a carbon copy of the real world.

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Seeing as conference and trade show season is upon us, I thought it appropriate to share some of my favorite “killer” trade show tips. Here are 10 great trade show tips we’ve come across that are sure to make your organization stand out at that next trade show. What are some of your favorite tips? Let us know in the comments.

1. Market your trade show exhibition.
   Depending on your budget allocation, market to target customers before the trade show. Use a short clear direct mail/email piece letting target companies know your company will be exhibiting, what the booth number is, where your booth is physically located at the show and what their benefits will be if they stop by your booth. Even better, send out personalized email invitations and get responses on who will be attending and who won’t.
2. Establish a Gender Balance in Your Booth
   Some people may feel more comfortable approaching your booth if it’s not just full of one gender. It mixes things up, and allows visitors to your exhibit to choose to relate on different levels. How often have you seen a booth full of all men, arms folded, and ready to hit you with their carefully rehearsed sales pitch? It doesn’t work for them and it won’t work for you.



3. Stay put.
   Make sure there’s always someone manning your exhibit. If you absolutely need to leave, make sure you have someone to cover for you. You can always wander around in the early morning before trade show delegates arrive, or later after everyone leaves.

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