If you have any questions about the information in this newsletter, please do not respond to this email. Instead, please contact Gaye Dullaghan at 202.861.2469 or, email gdullagh@the-dma.org

See you in October!

EXHIBITING ROI-Q ACADEMY™

The Exhibiting ROI-Q™ Academy™ is off to a terrific start with the first two webinars in the series, The New Science of Event Marketing™ and The New Art of Effective Boothmanship™. Thank you to those exhibitors who logged on for the “live” webcasts and also to those of who you have signed in for the replays of the program. The replays of all programs will be available up until the show and I encourage you – and your staff involved with DMA08 – to sit in on these programs.

The Exhibiting ROI-Q Academy is a multi session program, offered from DMA to exhibitors to become masters in event marketing. The webinar series, is conducted by Charles W. Allen, in conjunction with the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA). Through these highly interactive sessions, each participant will learn the fundamentals of successful exhibiting, boothmanship, the essential “do’s and don’ts” of exhibiting and more. Exhibitors will take advantage of the crucial time when prospects visit their booth.

Your participation in this program will result in:

• Dramatically increased booth traffic of your target audience
• Significantly increased sales conversions through mastery of the new art of effective boothmanship
• Greater ultimate ROI!
• Increased Show Floor Interactivity

The final webinar in the series, Today’s Marketing Makeover™, is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17th, again at 1:00pm EST. This energetic and highly-interactive session will show you how to avoid common marketing mistakes, as well as providing a step-by-step, how to view the world through your customers and prospects' eyes that will allow you to communicate your unique value proposition instantly and powerfully. The strategies, tools, and ideas you'll take away from this session will exponentially increase your ultimate ROI and trade show success. The formula known as The Marketing Equation, the how to's of the four essential steps, will be revealed in this break-through session. 1) Differentiate your staff, your organizations and your unique value propositions from all competitors 2) Expedite and facilitate the buying process 3) Enroll new customers by strategically leading them to the "no-brainer" conclusion that not doing business with you is the highest risk option.

As a reminder, if you missed the “live” program, you may access the replays via the Current Exhibitors page of the DMA08 web site.

Click here to register for the September 17th webinar or access the links to replays of previous sessions.

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MyDMA08 and SHOW DIRECTORY LISTING

To update your online and print listings:

1. Open your web browser to mydma365.bdmetrics.com/exhibitorportal/
2. The username for {CNT_COMPANY} is {CNT_EMAIL}
3. The password for {CNT_COMPANY} is {CNT_PASSWORD}
4. Click the Login button to enter the DMA08 Exhibitor Portal setup wizard.
5. Return to the wizard as often as you like to update your directory information.

The deadline for updating your listing for the Show Directory is this Friday, August 22, 2008. Changes made after August 22, 2008 will appear in your online listing only. Please contact Gaye Dullaghan at 202-861-2469 or e-mail gdullagh@the-dma.org if you have any questions about your listing.

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PREFERRED EXHIBIT HALL PASSES

Preferred Exhibit Hall Passes will be mailed mid-August. These Preferred Hall Passes may be used to invite clients and/or prospects to attend the Exhibition. Preferred Hall Passes also include admittance to conference Keynote Speakers. Use the passes to promote your participation and give your current and prospective customers a reason to attend DMA08 – and, more importantly, stop by your booth.

Important Reminders:

• Only those exhibitors who have booked all their hotel rooms through the DMA Housing Bureau are eligible to receive these passes.
• Preferred Exhibit Hall Passes are NOT valid for Exhibitor Personnel.

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MyDMA365 – The DMA Show – ALL YEAR LONG

The Direct Marketing Association is pleased to announce that the DMA Show is now online – 365 days a year. MyDMA365 is a targeted, online marketplace providing year round interaction between professionals searching for direct marketing solutions and the suppliers that provide those solutions. With MyDMA365 exhibitors and buyers will continue to engage in networking, prospecting, and commerce. MyDMA365 allows buyers to make more informed direct marketing purchases and decisions by providing pertinent information on sellers and the industry.

Why you should utilize MyDMA365
Attendees will be able to use MyDMA365 as a powerful resource to find the solutions to the direct marketing challenges they face every day. Or, to contact those exhibitors they met at DMA08 that they are now ready to move forward with. Exhibitor information from DMA08 will continue to be available online for industry professionals to search on. And, exhibitors will be able to update product information real time to deliver the valuable solutions to their prospective buyers.

Check out MyDMA365 now at MyDMA365. Be sure to bookmark MyDMA365 so you can come back often for your direct marketing business solutions.

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SmartBooth™ & EventKeywords™

Learn How To Increase Qualified Lead Count By As Much As 100% And More With SmartBooth and DMA08 Event Keywords
SmartBooth is the powerful, web-based marketing tool for exhibitors tied to MyDMA08. As attendees perform searches, view company profiles, evaluate products, and schedule their sessions – attendees are building a personal profile on themselves. This enables Exhibitors to identify those attendees going to DMA08 looking for what they sell.

As an exhibitor – YOU - define your target audience in SmartBooth - you actually set your own criteria for a qualified lead. SmartBooth enables you to deliver a targeted marketing message (or booth invitation) directly to those registered attendees that are going to the show looking for products and services like yours. SmartBooth identifies your top prospects (the attendees that meet your criteria AND are searching for your stuff) and drives these prospects to your booth.

EventKeywords are the most powerful way to reach customers in the direct marketing community.  Search marketing is now linked to a database of highly qualified registered attendees of DMA08.  Your business is guaranteed to appear at the top of the first page and in the featured link section of search results whenever your keyword is searched on.  More than 12,000 attendees will be searching and planning their time at the show – make sure their searches end in face-to-face meetings with you!

To learn more about SmartBooth and the various Brand Awareness Packages available for DMA08 exhibitors, contact Chaz Willmann via email chaz.willmann@bdmetrics.com.

Join us for one of these complimentary online seminars to learn how to put SmartBooth and EventKeywords to work for you!

August 28th at 12:00pm EST
“Get More Leads From DMA08!”

September 9th at 3:00pm EST-
“Maximize Your Presence at DMA08!”

September 23rd at 2:00pm EST-
“Get Leads Online From DMA08!”

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TRAFFICMAX LIST RENTAL SERVICES

In our first webinar program. The New Science of Event Marketing, Charles Allen cited trade show industry research that over 76% of show attendees have a pre-conceived “Buying Agenda” prior to the show. Add to this statistic: attendees at trade shows visit between 9.6% and 21.4% of their “target exhibits”. TrafficMax List Rental Services, an online, self-serve system, allows you to target pre-show mailings, and in turn ensures that you will see the key people at your booth. For as little as $350.00, TrafficMax can offer:

• Targeted list generation – customize your list to identify buyers by industry segment, demographic profile, or geographic area. Once you’ve defined your criteria, your mailing list is e-mailed to you within seconds.
  
  
• Label Printing – view and print 5160 Avery mailing labels in PDF for the list you select.

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LEAD RETREIVAL SERVICES

On-site: CompuLEAD lead retrieval products help you quickly and effectively capture and qualify sales leads on the show floor. The CompuLEAD Desktop II is a convenient and reliable tool for recording and managing your leads. Leads are provided in printed form as well as in an electronic format! The CompuLEAD Mobile is a lightweight, hand-held device that requires no electricity (ideal for those exhibitors who do not have an electrical drop in their booths). And, the CompuLEAD Desktop Pro allows automatic transfer of sales lead information to your computer, real-time editing, unlimited note-taking, qualifiers, and survey questions.

Post-show: BuyerConnect allows you to quickly and easily follow up on the sales leads you capture at the show. It allows you to:

• Manage your leads through the Internet
• View, sort, and print your leads
• Print your leads onto mailing labels

Make the most of your investment in exhibiting at DMA08, and turn your leads into sales!

To order lead retrieval and list rental services visit www.compusystems.com/order. You’ll also find the CompuLEAD information and order form in the online service kit under the Facility/Other Contractors section.

To learn more about our products and services, contact a product specialist at 708.786.5565.

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EXHIBITOR SERVICE KIT

The DMA08 Exhibitor Service Manual is now available online via MyFreemanOnline:

DMA08 Service Kit

This link is also available on the Current Exhibitors page of the DMA08 web site – www.dma08.org.

Please bookmark this page in your web browser for easy access to information on all show services. The online service kit includes information and order forms for your show services – shipping, labor, electrical, Internet, lead retrieval, and all other specific vendor services.

You may easily navigate though the online kit by using the links on the left side of the main page
of the kit:

• Show Information
• Forms & Brochures
• Order Freeman Services
• Material Handling
• Exhibit Transportation
• Facility/Other Contractors

Exhibitors will need to create an account with Freeman Online (if you do not have an account already) before downloading order forms or placing orders. This applies to ALL order forms, not just Freeman services. There are instructions on the home page of the kit to create your account. If you do not want to place show orders online, you may print out any necessary order forms, complete these and send via fax or mail for processing.

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DMA08 HOUSING

Click on the Hotel & Travel page of the DMA08 web site to make individual reservations or reserve a block of rooms (up to 25 rooms). Listed below are the hotels and rates for the DMA08 block.

Rates are flat for Single/Double unless otherwise noted. Rates do not include current tax of 9% or applicable surcharges; subject to change.

Suites are available at most DMA08 hotels. See the DMA08 Suite Request Form for more information or to reserve a suite.

Make your hotel reservations by Wednesday, September 10, 2008 to secure the special Conference hotel rate.

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REGISTRATION

The completed space application registers your company; however it does not register the individuals from your company who are attending DMA08. To register staff for badges, you must either register online or complete the Exhibitor Personnel Registration & Housing form.

Online registration via the DMA08 web site: www.dma08.org

If individual staff from your company plan to register on their own please let them be aware of the assigned user name and password for your company:

Through the online registration system, exhibitors have the ability to:

• Add new registrations
• Check to see who from your company is already registered
• Make corrections/changes/cancellations to existing registrations

Complete the Exhibitor Registration Form and return via:

Registration Reminders:

• For every 100 square feet of booth space, exhibitors are entitled to 3 complimentary and up to 2 paid Exhibitor badges. If you have additional staff attending just to work as booth personnel, there is the “Exhibitor Hall Only” badge available at $150 per person.
  
  
• Not sure what your badge entitles you to? Click here for a handy reference.
  
  
• For registrations received by September 12th, badges will be mailed to the designated Primary Contact. Registrations received after September 12th will be available for pick up at the Exhibitor Registration Counter at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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DMA08 Promotional Opportunities

DMA08 is less than 2 months away! What pre-show promotions have you planned? If you’re looking for some ideas, there are many advertising and promotional opportunities exclusively available to DMA08 exhibitors.

The following list should help you get started – but I encourage you to get creative within
your own team.

• Preferred Exhibit Hall Passes*: Use your Preferred Exhibit Hall Passes to invite key customers and prospects to walk the exhibit floor. Admittance to the exhibit hall with the Preferred Hall Pass is just $30 – and is valid for all 3 days of the Exhibition. Preferred Hall Passes also include the added value of admittance to the Keynote Speakers beginning with the Monday General Session featuring Ty Pennington, 2-time Emmy Award winner and host of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”.
  
  
• DMA08 banner ads on your web site: Does your home page list upcoming events that your company is part of? This is a simple but effective way to let current and potential customers know that your company is exhibiting at DMA08. By adding a link to the DMA08 web site, they simply “click” to find out more details on the show.
  
  
• Pre-show Attendee List from TrafficMax: Offered exclusively to exhibitors, the pre-show list includes registrant name, title, company and mailing address. Use this list to send a pre-show mailer to every registrant, or, better yet, go through list and select a targeted list of attendees you’d really like to have stop by your booth. You will find the order form in the online service manual – under Promotional Opportunities.
  

Note: The pre-show list will be available after September 8, 2008.

• Company listing on the DMA08 web site – www.dma08.com: Conference registrants and prospective attendees can search the exhibitor listings by company, keyword or product category for companies that offer the types of products/services they’re looking for at the show. Be sure your company listing is current and complete.
  
  
• Conference Directory Ads: Purchase an ad in the directory and drive traffic to your booth. Conference attendees use the directory as their onsite guide for the exhibit hall – and then it becomes a resource tool for long afterwards.
  
  
• Sponsorship Opportunities: There’s no doubt about it. Sponsorships increase booth traffic – period. DMA08 offers a variety of sponsorships at all price levels. Some of the sponsorships still available include networking events such as receptions, exhibit hall breaks, hotel room drops, tote inserts and signage inside and outside the Las Vegas Convention Center. We can work with you to determine which sponsorship best ties into your DMA08 objectives.

For more information on sponsorships and directory ads, contact Donna LoPorto at dloporto@the-dma.org or Katie McEvoy at 212-768-7277 x1685 or email kmcevoy@the-dma.org.  

*Exhibitors must book all their hotel rooms through the DMA Housing Bureau to be eligible to receive Preferred Exhibit Hall Passes.

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EXHIBIT HALL HOURS & EVENTS

Please note the following exhibit hall hours for DMA08.

In addition to networking events taking place in the exhibit hall, DMA08 brings Vegas alive with the Exhibit Hall Extravaganza! Each day of the Exhibition, attendees will have the opportunity to win big prizes including Gift Cards, Flat Screen TV’s, iTouch, iPhone’s and so much more. Plus, Vegas-style entertainment will perform on stage in the exhibit hall. These special events are scheduled for:

Sunday, October 12th, from 3:30pm-4:30pm
Monday, October 13th, from 12:15pm-1:15pm
Tuesday, October 14th, 11:15am-12:15pm

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REMINDER!  PRIVATE EXHIBITOR EVENTS POLICY

There are many opportunities during DMA08 to “mix and meet” with conference attendees – on the show floor, in conference sessions, over lunch and impromptu meetings. Many exhibitors also host events, whether these are small meetings with customers or private receptions/dinners. We know exhibitors want to maximize their time with attendees; however it is in the interest of all exhibitors that conference attendees not be asked to choose between spending their time at the convention center or at an offsite meeting or event.

With this in mind, DMA is re-instating the policy regarding space release requests at hotels within the DMA block. DMA will not authorize events that conflict/compete with the official conference program and will not release space at the official conference hotels for that purpose.

Official conference hours are:

For the past several years, DMA has been providing meeting rooms on the show floor for exhibitors to meet with customers. The request form will be included in the online service kit. These rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

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DMA09 SPACE SELECTION

Planning for DMA09 is already underway! DMA09 is scheduled for October 17-22, 2009, at the San Diego Convention Center. Onsite space selection will be held while in Las Vegas this October and selection order is based on the Priority Points System. Exhibitors accrue priority points for each Annual Conference as follows:

• 2 participation points
• 1 point for every 100 square feet of contracted space
• DMA Members receive an additional 5 points

As an added incentive to book hotel rooms through DMA, exhibitors who do so receive a 10% bonus on their total priority points.

Also, DMEF Priority Points are awarded based on individuals from exhibiting companies who contribute to DMEF during the year. DMEF Priority Points will be awarded as follows:

Tier 1
# of priority points: 1
DMEF contributions: $500 - $5000

Tier 2
# of priority points: 2
DMEF contributions: $5,001 - $10,000

Tier 3
# of priority points: 3
DMEF contributions: $10,000+

Priority Space Selection packets will be mailed mid-September and will include the DMA09 Space Application, Exhibitor Terms & Conditions, Exhibit Hall Floor Plan, the priority point schedule and a list of all active companies with priority points.

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DATES TO REMEMBER