Tradeshow Games: How to Use a Mobile Text Messaging Scavenger Hunt to Engage Attendees

I had quite a revelation over the past couple of shows and events I’ve done. I’ve included QR codes on signs in my booth since, well, they’re a pretty big deal with the event professional crowd I run with. But with the average attendee I’ve encountered? Um, not so much. Even scarier is a study in Britain showing that 72% of 1,000 11-18 year old teens don’t have the QR code reading software on their phones, with only 43% believing that their phone can read the codes. They are way behind Japan where the codes have become common. So it doesn’t appear to be just a generational issue; it’s more of an educational issue. As well, QR code scanning apps are often not automatically installed on phones when purchased which is also hampering the adoption of QR codes.

However, with rare exception, ALL of my booth visitors, whatever their age, have had texting capabilities with the phones they’re using, often texting or checking their text messages while they’re in my area. So that got me thinking. How could we use mobile texting to engage attendees since it has become such a natural activity for almost all of them?

Scavenger hunting has become a natural and fun use of QR codes for games at shows. But with many either not knowing what QR codes are or not having a clue on how to use them, this becomes a wasted effort. So how about doing it with mobile texting instead? Here’s how it would work…

Instruct Attendees to Opt In to Your Game with their Phone – Set up an opt-in list with your mobile marketing provider. Then post the keyword(s) and number your attendees will need to dial to opt in at show entrances and on pre-show marketing materials. This way you can keep them informed of game updates and instructions along the way. (See our “AlertMe” or “RewardMe” List Builder packages as examples.)
Set Up Check-in Points – At designated check-in points, you would post more keyword(s) and numbers for attendees to dial to get instructions for the next activity in the game. These check-ins should merely return information to the participants’ phones since they have already opted into your game list. (See our “AlertMe” Reply Only package for an example.)
Reward Them When They Finish – Then, after they’ve finished all the activities, post a final check-in which advises on how to get a prize or other freebie for their participation. Since they’ve already opted-in to your list, send a thank you message at the end of the show to acknowledge them for playing.
Connect With Them Prior to the Next Show – If you’ll be doing the program again in the future, you now have a ready-to-go texting “mailing” list of engaged attendee prospects.

In addition to scavenger hunt type games, I see this set-up as a greener alternative to those “passport” type promotions which require cards, stamps, and other paraphernalia (not to mention booth personnel who actually understand the point of the program). A game such as this would also trump social media gaming options since those do require people to be registered on their platform to participate.

Got more ideas on how to use text message marketing to play games with your attendees? Share them with us in comments.

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