Content creation is an important part of marketing, and trade show marketing is no exception. Do you, like many trade show exhibitors, have a hard time with content creation? ChatGPT and AI tools like it could be event tech game-changers. Using ChatGPT for trade shows can help you organize your thoughts; generate ideas; and come up with drafts that you can turn into polished, show-worthy content.
What Is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a language model that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate humanlike text that reads as though it were created by a real person. It was developed by OpenAI, the San Francisco AI research laboratory that previously created DALL-E, a deep learning model capable of turning text prompts into computer-generated images.
ChatGPT functions like an AI-powered chatbot. You can converse with the AI and can also feed it text prompts and receive computer-generated text written to match those prompts.
How to Use ChatGPT for Trade Shows
There are lots of ways to use ChatGPT in the event world. And there are plenty of options for using ChatGPT for trade shows in particular. Are you tearing your hair out in frustration, trying to write a series of pre-show emails or a script for your new product demonstration? If content creation is difficult for you, it’s worth trying ChatGPT!
1. Promotional Emails for Your Trade Show Marketing Campaign
ChatGPT can generate text on command. But, more important than that, it has the contextual understanding needed to write text that’s aimed at different audiences. However, it doesn’t have that contextual understanding all by itself. Your prompts need to be specific enough that the AI technology can write to the audience you’re targeting.
In a way, this is an advantage because you can use similar prompts—altered in different ways—to craft promotional messages for different audience segments. For instance:
Sample Prompt #1: Write an email to invite [COMPANY NAME] clients to visit [EVENT NAME], a healthcare administration trade show happening on June 6, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Cover the key event opportunities, and then write about the opportunities at the [COMPANY NAME] booth.
Sample Prompt #2: Write an email to invite [EVENT] attendees to visit the trade show booth of [COMPANY NAME], a healthcare software development company. Cover the key event opportunities and the key opportunities at the [COMPANY NAME] booth.
2. Social Media Posts for Your Promotional Campaign
ChatGPT can assist you in writing promotional content for social media updates on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and any other social media platforms you use. Make sure to direct ChatGPT to write in the style of a specific platform, and add to your prompt any key details you want to emphasize.
Sample Prompt: Create a Facebook post for [COMPANY NAME] to promote its trade show booth at [EVENT]. The event takes place on June 6, 2023 in Los Angeles, California and showcases products for healthcare administration. The [COMPANY NAME] booth features a hands-on demonstration of our latest software.
3. Scripts for Product Demonstrations and Promo Videos
Product demonstrations are definitely easier when you have a script to follow. Having a script ensures you cover all the main points and gives you well-prepared answers to common audience questions. With the right training and preparation, you can direct ChatGPT to write a product demonstration script to help you connect with your targeted audience.
Similar kinds of prompts can also generate video scripts for promos and any other filmed content you want to create. Make sure to specify in your prompt the purpose of the video; any key features you want to highlight; and any other relevant information, such as the event or industry field.
Sample Prompt: Write a script for a product demonstration for a healthcare software product named [PRODUCT NAME]. The product has the following key features: [FEATURE 1] [FEATURE 2] [ETC].
4. Content Ideas for Blogs, Press Releases, and More
Content ideas can be generated by ChatGPT. Simply write a prompt that directs the AI tech to come up with a number of ideas for a specific objective. For instance, titles or content ideas for blog posts, sample press releases, and anything else you can think of. With these kinds of prompts, it’s often necessary to specify the perspective of the writer, as well as that of the targeted audience.
Sample Prompt: Suggest six titles for blog posts about the [EVENT/TRADE SHOW] from the perspective of a company that is exhibiting at the show. The audience for the posts is comprised of people who attend the event.
Sample Prompt: Write a press release for [COMPANY NAME], a company that develops healthcare administration software. The press release should be about [COMPANY NAME] attending the [EVENT] on June 6, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
ChatGPT Does Have Limitations
ChatGPT is a powerful text-generating tool for events like trade shows, but it’s not magic, and it does have limitations. Like any other event tech, there are pros and cons.
The biggest potential drawback to ChatGPT for trade shows is simply that the tech is new. In its current iteration, it’s capable of delivering information that isn’t 100% accurate. The main reason for this is that the primary information source for ChatGPT is the internet. Both accurate and inaccurate information is freely available on the web, so ChatGPT isn’t able to distinguish one from the other. That means there’s no way to guarantee its responses are completely accurate. Some types of content may therefore require significant fact-checking to ensure it’s based in fact.
Another key limitation is that the content ChatGPT delivers can feel generic and “samey.” AI for trade shows is great for writing preliminary text and rough drafts, but to get the best results, it’s always important to edit and refine the AI’s text output. Use ChatGPT to write your rough draft, then rewrite—or hand it off to your content creator—to build on the draft.
As a result of these issues, using ChatGPT has to be done with care. You have to first train the AI technology heavily on the kind of content you want. You must also write prompts that are detailed and thorough to get the results you’re looking for.
ChatGPT Is a Powerful Tool for Trade Shows, When Used with Care
There’s no doubt using AI for trade shows can deliver powerful and useful results. Is it part of the future of events? Quite possibly, but it’s also important to be mindful when using leading technology at trade shows because event tech like ChatGPT has limitations and potential pitfalls. Providing you’re aware of these and can work around them, the potential exists to save time and money by using AI for trade shows.
