5 apps that can boost your trade show experience

Notability

What is the app all about?

Trade shows are packed with new products and data an owner, buyer or manager may want to bring back to their businesses. Enter Notability, a note-taking tool that makes it easy to write down your thoughts, record information, sketch a diagram or take a photograph. Have you found some trays that could make it to your greenhouse? Simply position your finger over the screen to type the relevant text with different fonts or colors. A styling pane gives options for numbered lists and bulleted sections. Robust drawing tools allow for sketching and graph creation. Or, snap a photo and record your voice describing the item, the company and other essential information.

In addition, users can import images and PDFs for later editing through Notability’s handwriting and highlighting options. Recent versions of the app have been optimized for Apple Pencil and iPad Pro, while cloud storage can save notes between iOS handhelds and Mac.

Where can I find it?

Notability is available on all iOS devices for 99 cents on the Apple App Store and $5.99 on the Mac App Store.

CamCard

What is the app all about?

Any trade show veteran can attest to the stack of business cards they pick up over the course of an event. CamCard eliminates the necessity of those pesky paper rectangles by allowing users to take a picture of the card, with the app scanning and storing appropriate contact information. Card information can sync across mobile devices and PC, and shared via email, QR code or social media.

CamCard keeps a photo of the card — a convenient touch in case a mistake is made when populating data fields. When a contact is promoted or joins a new company, the app sends an update to the user. Along with eliminating the need for a bulky business card reader, the app recognizes 16 different languages and has the ability to export leads onto any mobile-based Microsoft Office program. Each business card image is in color, and the app picks up information no matter the finish or thickness of the cardstock.

Where can I find it?

CamCard is available on Android or iOS mobile devices through the Apple App Store and Google Play. A free version lets users scan up to 200 cards. More advanced versions cost $5 or $12 per month, depending on export and integration features.

Quick Tap Survey

What is the app all about?

Growers that use tablets and phones to collect data in person can employ Quick Tap Survey, an app that delivers feedback, leads and contact information by means of customizable, simple-to-design surveys. To qualify leads, the tool creates questions with scored answers, then generates reports for analysis after the event or in real time. Unreliable trade show Wi-Fi isn’t a problem either, as the app can be used online or off.

Quick Tap Survey utilizes large buttons and easily readable text to streamline the creation process. Procured survey information can measure the happiness and loyalty of customers, or transform a tablet into an interactive kiosk for trade-show attendees.

Where can I find it?

The app can be downloaded for iOS and Android in the Apple App Store and Google Play, respectively. Quick Tap Survey comes with four different price plans — free, $19, $49 and $99 — based on complexity of features.

Evernote

What is the app all about?

Evernote is a place to record and upload notes, photos, voice reminders and other trade show minutiae, all of which are available for future reference from anywhere you have an Internet connection. While every note you take can be tagged manually, the app also geo-tags any notes or photos you create. Work Chat is one of Evernote’s newer features, permitting employees to instant message on-site representatives with shared notes. App owners can ping employees when both parties are online, an essential feature if you’re talking to multiple vendors at a trade show and want to convey information quickly.

Where can I find it?

Evernote can be found on Android and iOS devices. The basic app is free to download from the app site. The Plus version, which offers higher monthly uploads and additional options, costs $24.99 yearly. A fully loaded Premium version costs $49.99.

iCapture

What is the app all about?

This survey and lead generation app lets users design questionnaires from either a generated list of questions or their own inquiries. iCapture’s look and feel can be modified to match your business’s identity, and harnessed for custom surveys or to build an email list. For grower-retailers, asking a few gardening-related questions with an iCapture email can put potential patrons into different brackets based on interest and skill level.

Information captured on a mobile device must be retrieved on a computer at iCapture’s website. However, the initial data-gathering process works without an online connection.

Automatic emails, which can include a thank you letter or promotion, are sent to all survey participants. Leads for an email marketing campaign, meanwhile, are automatically forwarded to popular email services like Mailchimp or Constant Contact.

Where can I find it?

iCapture is available on iOS and Android through the app website. Monthly plans range from $10 to $49.