What happens after the trade show?
You collect hundreds of badge scans, business cards, and contacts… take them back to the office… dump them into your CRM… and then start following up a week or two later?
If so, you may be losing some of your best opportunities before the follow-up even begins.
In this episode of Trade Show University, Jim Cermak talks with Horacio Rilo, founder of BOOP, about one of the most overlooked—and most important—parts of trade show success: fast, effective follow-up.
Horacio has talked with hundreds of trade show exhibitors and has seen firsthand how often companies wait weeks to follow up—even after investing hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in their trade show programs.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why the best time to schedule a follow-up meeting may be right at the trade show
• Why Horacio believes the decay of buyer intent can happen almost immediately
• Why waiting until you get back to the office may already be too late
• Why simply scanning badges and dumping contacts into an automated email sequence isn't enough anymore
• How your trade show follow-up actually starts BEFORE the show
• How pre-show outreach can make your booth conversations warmer and make follow-up easier
• Why exhibitors should focus less on selling and more on identifying genuine interest
• How to "maintain control" of the follow-up process instead of leaving it up to the attendee
• Why qualified meetings and pipeline are better measures of trade show ROI than simply counting leads
• How being a better listener can make you more effective on the trade show floor
Plus: Horacio explains BOOP
BOOP is designed to make booking post-show meetings incredibly simple. An attendee can scan a QR code, send a text, and receive available meeting times—without downloading an app or relying on a complicated process.
The system integrates with calendars and meeting platforms including Google Calendar, Outlook, Zoom, and Google Meet.
Horacio also shares BOOP's current offer of $500 per event with unlimited scans and meetings, including setup.
The Big Takeaway
Don't make the attendee responsible for remembering you.
You've invested heavily to get them to your booth. When someone shows genuine interest, don't simply hand them a business card and hope they'll follow up.
Book the next step while the conversation—and the interest—is still fresh.
And remember: your follow-up doesn't start after the show. It starts before the show.
Connect With Horacio
Learn more about BOOP and see the product in action at boop.me.
You can also connect with Horacio Rilo on LinkedIn.
Connect With Jim Cermak
Jim Cermak is the host of Trade Show University, helping exhibitors turn trade show investment into better results.
Visit tradeshowu.biz for more trade show tips, resources, and strategies.
** Want More LEADS, More SALES and More PROFITS at your next Trade Show?
Book a free 15-minute strategy call here: https://scheduler.zoom.us/jim-cermak
