Brokers and shippers are increasingly looking online for information about a carrier before booking...
When conference season comes around, the questions start rolling in. Which trade show should we prioritize? Where will we get the most ROI? Which events do shippers actually attend? How much can we justify spending? What size booth should we get? What swag will compel attendees to stop and talk to us?
These are all incredibly important and valid questions. Conferences, trade shows, and in-person booths have their unique selling points, the most important of which is they offer a 3-day opportunity to get facetime with your prospects. But in reality, the downsides often outweigh the benefits. They are expensive, they are only for a very limited time, and you can’t guarantee that the people who are in attendance are the right person at the company or currently in the market for what you provide.
Let’s explore how you can use your existing CarrierSource profile as your 24/7 online booth, attracting new shippers, showcasing your services, and building your brand.
Why invest in CarrierSource like you do conferences?
Your CarrierSource profile is a digital representation of your company that serves the same purpose as a physical booth at a conference. It’s a space where prospects can learn about your services, see customer reviews, and interact with your brand. CarrierSource serves as this digital booth for carriers and brokerages alike, offering a centralized place for all your business information and an unmatched audience of your ideal customers.
Benefits of CarrierSource compared to industry trade shows
- 24/7 Availability: Unlike a physical booth, which is limited to just a few days and the location of your selected conference, your CarrierSource profile is accessible 24/7. This allows shippers to find you every time they need a new logistics partner instead of hoping they find your booth at an event..
- Wider Reach: Nearly 500,000 people visit CarrierSource every single month. Included in those numbers are 80% of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) member companies and 60% of the Food Shippers of America member companies. Instead of paying for each industry event, you can hit all shippers with your single profile..
- Cost-Effective: Building a booth that looks professional is a huge investment. You need to pay for backgrounds, set up, handouts, swag, moving everything to the physical location of the conference, staffing the booth, and countless other one-off expenses. Your CarrierSource profile has none of these additional costs and is very easy to get up and running.
- Data and Insights: At a typical conference, you pay extra to purchase the lead scanner so you can capture exactly who visited your booth. With CarrierSource, you can automatically see valuable insights on what companies are looking for freight partners and where. Not just on your page, but on your competitor’s! This data is critical in helping you refine your strategies and better understand your audience.
Brand your CarrierSource profile the same way you would a booth
If you had a booth at a trade show, you wouldn’t just set up a table and folding chair. So don’t do that with your CarrierSource profile either. Follow these steps to ensure your brand can shine through and shippers want to work with you:
- Create a Compelling Profile
- Company Description: Provide a clear and concise description of your services and what sets you apart.
- Visuals: Use high-quality images and videos to showcase your fleet, facilities, and team.
- Contact Information: Ensure your contact details are correct so you can respond quickly when brokers and shippers reach out..
- Gather and Display Reviews
- Customer Reviews: Encourage satisfied clients to leave positive reviews and respond promptly to any feedback.
- Highlight Positive Feedback: Showcase testimonials that speak to your strengths.
- Address Negative Reviews: Respond professionally to negative reviews to show that you value customer feedback and are committed to continuous improvement.
- Engage with Your Audience
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- Respond to Inquiries: Answer questions and provide information promptly.
- Update Regularly: Keep your profile updated with your latest company services and contact information.
Ensure Everyone Sees Your CarrierSource Profile
Often at trade shows, you’ll bring sales reps to go out and compel people to visit your booth. You can do the same thing with additional CarrierSource features.
- Advertise Your Profile
- With so many companies listed on CarrierSource, it can be hard to break through the noise. Advertise your profile across the platform so that anytime someone visits CarrierSource, they see your brand. Contact us at support@carriersource.io to learn how you can get your name in front of nearly half a million brokers and shippers every month!
- Social Media Integration
- Share Reviews: Post positive reviews and testimonials on your social media accounts.
- Drive Traffic: Use social media posts to drive traffic to your profile.
- Email Marketing
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- Leverage your existing email list to inform clients and prospects about your CarrierSource profile. Include links to your profile in newsletters and email campaigns.
See the ROI Immediately
It’s incredibly hard to measure ROI from events. Tracking interactions with prospects is tricky and then you have to manually attribute any revenue to the event. With your CarrierSource profile, it’s easy to see exactly which companies came across your page, and directly prove the ROI in real time.
- Profile Views: Track the number of visitors who see your profile.
- Contact Views: Monitor how often visitors opted to view your contact information.
- Company Insights: View which shippers are looking at you and your competitors.
- Leads: See all leads submitted to your company
Your CarrierSource profile is an incredibly powerful tool, acting as an online booth that is always open and accessible to prospects everywhere. By creating a compelling profile, engaging with your audience, and leveraging digital marketing strategies, you can maximize your reach and build a robust online presence. Embrace the digital revolution and turn your online profile into a bustling booth that drives business growth.
For personalized advice on making the most of your CarrierSource profile, don't hesitate to contact us at support@carriersource.io or give us a call at 708-374-7144
