Best Trade Show Lead Retrieval & Capture Apps For 2024

Trade shows are a valuable opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services to a targeted audience. However, with an effective lead capture strategy, all the time and money invested in attending these events can be well-spent. Lead capture collects contact information from potential customers who show interest in your offerings. This information can then be used for follow-up and nurturing leads into customers.

At trade shows, where countless vendors are vying for attention, capturing leads becomes even more crucial. It allows you to establish a direct line of communication with potential customers and continue building a relationship after the event. With a proper lead capture system, you can take advantage of valuable opportunities to grow your business. Thus, you need an efficient system that can be used through your smart devices like laptops, tablets, and even smartphones .

By utilizing cutting-edge technology and innovative trade show apps, you can significantly enhance your lead generation strategies and maximize the potential of your events. Learn how to optimize lead capture with these powerful trade show apps.

These apps allow you to gather essential information about your leads using a smartphone or tablet, streamlining the lead-collection process. With many of these apps integrating directly with CRM systems, you can save time and ensure accurate data entry. This comprehensive guide will explore the top lead capture apps available for trade shows, their features, pricing, and more. Let's dive in and discover the best tools to maximize your event success.

The Rise of Lead Capture Apps for Trade Shows: The Benefits

Traditionally, lead capture at trade shows involved manually collecting business cards or writing down contact details on paper. Not only is this time-consuming and prone to errors, but it also makes it difficult to track and manage leads effectively. With the advent of technology, lead capture apps have revolutionized how businesses collect and manage leads at trade shows. Stay ahead of the curve by navigating the latest emerging trends in event technology. These apps offer numerous benefits over traditional methods, including. This is where lead capture apps come in.

Lead capture apps streamline the lead collection process by allowing exhibitors to digitally capture and store lead information on their smartphones or tablets. These apps offer a range of features, such as scanning badges, customizing lead forms, adding notes, and even integrating with CRM systems. By using lead capture apps, businesses can experience the following benefits:

• Efficiency: Lead capture apps streamline the lead collection process, allowing exhibitors to quickly and accurately capture lead information without the need for manual data entry.
• Integration: Many lead capture apps offer seamless integration with CRM systems, ensuring that leads are automatically synced and organized within your existing database.
• Accuracy: By eliminating manual data entry, lead capture apps reduce the risk of errors and ensure that contact details and lead information are captured accurately.
• Customization: Lead capture apps often provide customizable forms, allowing you to gather specific information tailored to your business needs.
• Organization: With lead capture apps, all lead information is stored in a central database, making it easy to manage and access. This enables exhibitors to segment and prioritize leads, ensuring timely follow-up and personalized communication.
• Analytics: Many lead capture apps provide analytics and reporting features, allowing businesses to gain insights into their trade show performance. Exhibitors can track metrics such as the number of leads captured, conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI), enabling them to make data-driven decisions for future events.

Features to Look for in a Lead Capture App When selecting a lead capture app for your trade show, it's essential to consider the following features:

	Badge Scanning: Look for an app that allows you to scan attendee badges and streamline event badge printing process accurately. This feature eliminates manual data entry and ensures seamless lead capture.
	Customization: A good lead capture app should allow you to customize lead forms to gather the necessary information. This customization ensures that you capture relevant data for effective lead nurturing.
	Integration: Enhance lead capture with an event app by integrating with your existing CRM system that offers a seamless way to export leads. Integration eliminates manual data transfer and ensures a smooth transition from lead capture to follow-up.
	Analytics and Reporting: Look for an app that provides detailed analytics and reporting features. This will help you track your trade show performance, measure ROI, and make informed decisions for future events.

How to Choose the Best Lead Capture App for Your Trade Show

With several lead capture apps available, choosing the best one for your trade show can be overwhelming. Here are some considerations to help you make an informed decision:

1. Define Your Requirements: Start by identifying your specific lead capture needs. Consider factors such as the size of your trade show, the number of attendees, and the information you want to collect. This will help you narrow down the options that align with your requirements.
2. Read Reviews and Compare: Research different lead capture apps and read reviews from other exhibitors. Look for apps with positive feedback, robust features, and good customer support. Make a shortlist of apps that meet your needs.
3. Request Demos and Trials: Reach out to the shortlisted app providers and request demos or trials. This will allow you to test the user interface, explore the features, and evaluate the app's overall usability. During this evaluation process, pay attention to ease of use, data security, and customer support.
4. Consider Pricing: Evaluate the pricing plans of the shortlisted apps and consider your budget. Some apps offer tiered pricing based on the number of users or leads captured. Ensure the pricing structure aligns with your trade show goals and expected ROI.
5. Seek Recommendations: See recommendations from other exhibitors or industry peers who have used lead capture apps at trade shows. Their insights and experiences can guide you in choosing the right app for your business.

Case Studies: Successful Lead Capture at Trade Shows Using Lead Capture Apps

Case Study 1: Company X

Company X, a leading technology provider, attended a major industry trade show to generate high-quality leads. They implemented a lead capture app called "LeadGenius" that offered advanced features like badge scanning, lead qualification, and real-time lead updates. Their booth staff received thorough training on using the app effectively.

Company X captured over 500 leads during the trade show using the LeadGenius app. The app's intuitive interface and seamless integration with their CRM system allowed them to follow up promptly with personalized communication. As a result, they converted 30% of the captured leads into paying customers within three months of the event.

Case Study 2: Company Y

Company Y, a startup in the healthcare industry, participated in a regional conference to showcase their innovative product. They chose the lead capture app "LeadTrack" for its user-friendly interface and robust analytics capabilities. Their booth staff used the app to scan attendee badges and collect contact information.

With LeadTrack, Company Y captured more than 200 leads at the conference. The app's analytics and reporting features helped them gain valuable insights into attendee engagement and identify areas for improvement. By analyzing the captured leads and their post-event follow-up efforts, they optimized their lead capture strategy for future conferences and increased their conversion rate by 20%.

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The Top 7 Trade Show apps for the best Lead Capturing

1. Eventify: The Best All Round Lead Capturing with Best Data Analysis

Eventify is a Complete trade show app that includes features such as live polling, attendee networking, personalized calendars, event planning tools, lead tracking, and social media integration. With a single click, you may generate self-check-in registration with the option of bespoke badges and QR codes. Your attendees can check in for the event without rushing or waiting in large lines. As a result, it is perfect for in-person events, hybrid events, and virtual events.

Eventify's dashboard is simple and can be integrated with any existing CRM program or marketing tool. The app's compatibility is an exception; you can use it whenever and wherever you want on your PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones without regard for the operating system. This high compatibility is amazing and allows you to update with live analytics such as live polling, surveys, and data security. Exhibitors can generate high-quality leads with Eventify by exchanging contact information or scanning business cards.

The app also includes email templates that can be customized for seamless email marketing and RSVP capture. Exhibitors can also track event data in real-time, export data for future use, and customize event branding elements to promote their brand successfully.

Eventify helps businesses make the most of their trade show experience. Supercharge lead generation using event organization software by Eventify.

Key Features Of Eventify

• User-friendly interface
• Event planning tools
• Agenda and speaker management
• Exhibitor and attendee directories
• Quality Lead, generation, tracking, and management
• Social media integration
• Live polling and attendee networking
• Personalized schedules
• Event registration, Custom Registration badges, and check-in system
• 24/7 Customer Support

It Was Easy To Use And We Received Really Positive Feedback About The App From Our Attendees. Really Like The Interactive Schedule Feature. - Will Wray(Admin)‍

2. WebMOBI: Enhancing Lead Capture and Retrieval

WebMOBI is a powerful lead capture and retrieval platform designed to optimize your trade show experience. With WebMOBI, you can create customizable registration forms, promo codes, and landing pages to attract and capture leads effectively. Webmobi allows integration with registration app so attendees can easily check-in using QR codes, e-tickets, or onsite check-in, elevating lead capture with registration software. WebMOBI offers quality lead generation through contact exchanges or business card scanning. It also provides customizable email templates for efficient email marketing campaigns. With real-time event data tracking and analytics, you can measure the success of your trade show efforts and export data for future analysis. Additionally, WebMOBI offers event branding options, allowing you to customize the app's appearance to align with your brand identity.

Key Features of WebMOBI

• Event registration and self-check-in
• Quality lead generation through contact exchange and business card scanning
• Interactive presentation layouts with many in-built themes
• Audience engagement tools like live polls, quizzes, and Q&A
• Seamless integration with CRM systems like Salesforce
  

3. Social Tables: Streamlining Lead Capture and Event Planning

Social Tables is a comprehensive event planning platform that offers a lead capture feature to streamline your lead collection process. With Social Tables, you can easily create lead capture forms and collect valuable information from potential customers. The app allows you to score leads based on your criteria, helping you identify high-potential prospects. Customizable guest labels and easy-to-use search filters make managing and tracking your leads simple. Social Tables also provides a seamless guest check-out process, ensuring a smooth experience for attendees. While the app doesn't directly integrate CRM systems, you can easily export leads as CSV lists and import them into your CRM software.

The only drawback is for the andriod user since Social Table is compatible with iOS only. Otherwise, it is one of the best options out there.

Key Features of Social Tables

• Lead capture forms for gathering customer information
• Lead scoring to identify high-potential prospects
• Customizable guest labels for efficient lead management
• Easy-to-use search filters for quick lead retrieval
• Seamless guest check-out process
  

4. Leadature: Advanced Lead Capture and Qualification

Leadature is an advanced lead capture app that allows you to pre-qualify leads at trade shows and exhibitions. The app connects directly with Salesforce, enabling automated lead acquisition, nurturing, and conversion processes. With this, you can streamline lead management and save valuable time. The app offers features such as quick scanning into different sessions and meetings, instant updates on session availability, and access to up-to-date information post-trade shows. It also provides barcode and NFC scanning for efficient lead capture. While it is a powerful tool, it may be more suitable for medium to large-sized businesses due to its higher price point. People might not know about it because of its less popularity but we found it a decent app that will handle all of your trade shows and exhibits in a heartbeat.

Key Features

• Quick scanning into sessions, meetings, and other trade show activities
• Fast check-in for a seamless attendee experience
• Real-time updates on session availability
• Barcode and NFC scanning for efficient lead capture
• Direct integration with Salesforce for automated lead management

5. iCapture: Offline Lead Capture with Accurate Data Transcription

iCapture is an offline lead capture app that provides accurate data transcription for business cards and trade show badges. Unlike OCR-based apps, iCapture sends the captured images to a real person who transcribes and verifies the data, ensuring accuracy. The app organizes all lead data into a convenient spreadsheet accessible on their website. iCapture offers seamless integration with popular CRM and marketing automation platforms like Salesforce, Pardot, and HubSpot. With iCapture, you can efficiently capture leads, eliminate manual data entry, and ensure your contact database is up-to-date. It is the best one we have found so far for small businesses and enterprises. So do keep in mind your business and its demands.

Key Features of iCapture

• Offline lead capture for reliable data collection
• Accurate data transcription by real people for error-free information
• Seamless integration with leading CRM and marketing automation platforms
• Event badge capture for quick lead retrieval
• Personalized and relevant follow-up through automation
  

6. Xpress Connect by CDS: Offline and highly Customizable Lead Capturing System

Xpress Connect by CDS is a versatile lead capture app that allows exhibitors to collect data from attendees by scanning barcodes or QR codes on their badges using their smartphone's camera. The app ensures quick and efficient lead capture, providing options for adding notes, conducting surveys, answering questions, rating leads, and scheduling follow-up appointments. Xpress Connect also offers offline functionality, allowing exhibitors to capture leads without an internet connection. The app can be used with personal mobile devices or rented Android mobile phones from CDS.

People often say that Xpress Connect might be challenging initially; for example, setting up an account needs lots of details entered, and the interface may need to be more friendly. But once you have started using it, it is a great app.

Key Features of Xpress Connect

• Quick and efficient lead capture
• Offline functionality
• Barcode and QR code scanner
• Mobile phone rental option for events

7. On Spot Social: Customizable Lead Capture App with Email Marketing Integration

On Spot Social is a highly customizable lead capture app that allows you to collect various customer information using your smartphone or tablet. The app offers offline functionality, making it suitable for trade shows with limited internet connectivity. On Spot Social seamlessly integrates with popular email marketing software like AWeber, Constant Contact, Mailchimp, and iContact. This integration enables efficient lead nurturing and email campaigns. With its intuitive user interface, On Spot Social ensures a user-friendly experience for both attendees and businesses. The app also offers features like real-time analytics and data syncing, providing valuable insights into your trade show performance.

Key Features of On Spot Social

• Customizable lead capture forms for gathering customer information
• Offline functionality for trade shows with limited internet connectivity
• Integration with popular email marketing software for efficient lead nurturing
• Real-time analytics for evaluating trade show performance
• User-friendly interface for a seamless attendee experience

Setting Up and Using a Lead Capture App at a Trade Show Setting up and using a lead capture app at a trade show requires careful planning and execution. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

	Pre-Event Preparation: Before the trade show, ensure your booth staff is familiar with the lead capture app and its features. Customize the lead forms to collect the necessary information and set up any integrations with your CRM system. Test the app thoroughly to ensure it's working correctly.
	Booth Setup: Position your lead capture devices strategically in your booth to maximize visibility and accessibility. Make sure they are fully charged and have a stable internet connection. Train your booth staff on how to use the app and handle any technical issues that may arise.
	Engage Attendees: Encourage attendees to visit your booth and engage in conversations. Use the lead capture app to collect their contact information and capture relevant details about their interests or needs. Remember to offer incentives to increase participation.
	Follow-Up Plan: Have a well-defined follow-up plan to nurture leads after the trade show. Use the lead capture app to export leads to your CRM or email marketing software. Personalize your follow-up communication based on the information captured to increase engagement.
	Post-Event Evaluation: After the trade show, evaluate the effectiveness of your lead capture app and overall strategy. Analyze the captured leads, conversion rates, and attendee feedback. Identify areas for improvement and make adjustments for future trade show participation.

Tips for Maximizing Lead Capture at Trade Shows

While using a lead capture app is a great start, maximizing your lead capture efforts at trade shows is essential. Here are some tips to help you make the most of this opportunity:

1. Train Your Staff: Provide thorough training to your booth staff on using the lead capture app effectively. This includes scanning badges accurately, customizing lead forms, and adding notes or qualifiers to leads. Well-trained staff will ensure a seamless lead capture experience for attendees.
2. Offer Incentives: Encourage attendees to share their contact information by offering incentives such as exclusive discounts, free trials, or valuable content. This will increase the likelihood of capturing leads and nurturing them into potential customers.
3. Follow Up Promptly: One of the critical advantages of using lead capture apps is the ability to follow up with leads quickly. Ensure you have a well-defined follow-up plan and promptly reach out to leads after the event. Personalize your communication based on the information captured to make a lasting impression.
4. Leverage Social Media: Use social media platforms to promote your presence at the trade show and encourage attendees to visit your booth. You can also create buzz by sharing live updates, photos, and videos from the event. This will help attract more visitors and increase your chances of capturing leads.
5. Monitor and Refine: Continuously monitor and analyze your lead capture efforts to identify areas for improvement. Monitor lead conversion rates, engagement levels, and attendee feedback metrics. Use this data to refine your lead capture strategy and optimize future trade show participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is lead generation important?

Lead generation is the process of increasing the visibility, credibility, trust, and interest of a certain set of people (possible leads). Thus, focusing on lead creation can drive traffic from high-quality prospects. High-value customers follow high-quality opportunities.

2. How many leads can you get from a trade show?

If your staff maintains this discipline, each person at your booth can effectively generate an average of 4 to 6 leads per hour, which means that during 6 to 8 hours of show day, they can develop between an average of 40-48 qualified leads.

3. Is lead generation a marketing strategy?

Inbound marketing is an essential approach for generating leads. It is the process of increasing interest in your company via creating and promoting content. information creation is a marketing technique that entails providing relevant information to attract prospects that are wanting to solve a certain problem.

4. How long does it take to prepare for a trade show?

Most trade show experts advise you to plan your trade show and exhibit program at least 6 to 9 months in advance. It could be longer, depending on the nature of your industry and organization.

5. What type of promotion uses trade shows to make sales?

Trade exhibitions, conferences, event marketing, trade allowances, training, and special incentives offered to merchants to sell specific products and services, such as extra money, in-store displays, and awards, are examples of trade promotions. Trade shows are among the most common B2B sales campaigns.

Conclusion

Trade shows and exhibitions provide excellent opportunities for businesses to capture valuable leads. With the right lead capture app, you can streamline the lead collection process, eliminate manual data entry, and ensure accurate and organized lead management. This guide explored some of the best lead capture apps for trade shows, including Eventify, WebMOBI, Social Tables, XpressConnect,  iCapture, and On Spot Social. Each app offers unique features and pricing plans, allowing you to choose the one that best fits your business needs. Whether you're looking for seamless CRM integration, offline functionality, or advanced lead qualification, there's a lead capture app to enhance your trade show success. Invest in Eventify lead capture app for your next trade show and maximize your event ROI. Start with the demo here.

Remember, capturing leads is just the first step. Effective lead nurturing and follow-up strategies are crucial for converting leads into customers. Combine the power of lead capture apps with targeted marketing campaigns to drive success for your business at trade shows and exhibitions. Happy lead capturing!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based on research and does not constitute endorsement or promotion of any specific lead capture app. Prices and features may vary, and it is advisable to explore each app's website for the most up-to-date information.‍‍