Offline lead capture at tradeshows

June 24, 2019 18:37
6 comments

Interested in setting up an Act-On form and landing page to be used on a tablet to input leads at tradeshows. The issue becomes the dependency on a reliable Internet connection in exhibit halls or having to pay the high price of in-house wifi connections. Has anyone solved this issue so that the data can be collected and then uploaded into an Act-On list (and then Salesforce) once a decent connection can be established? If there is a way to do this within A/O and SF without buying a third-party product that would be ideal, but recommendations for products are welcome if there isn't another solution.

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Paul Vrooman
Oceania University of Medicine
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Comments

6 comments

Alicia Beaubien

June 28, 2019 20:08

Hi Paul,

We use Custom Touch Points to sync our tradeshow data from Act-On to Microsoft Dynamics. Our Dynamics setup is quite different than Salesforce as we use Campaign Responses rather than Leads/Contacts. This alternative helped us import the campaign responses (as leads and contacts) directly into Act-On as long as they were also uploaded into Salesforce first. It can also provide a way to associate lead scores with these incoming tradeshow leads.

Check out this article and hopefully it can help :)

Using Custom Touch Points for Lead Scoring

Act-On Software

remove preview

Using Custom Touch Points for Lead Scoring

If you would like to provide a behavior score for marketing activities conducted outside Act-On, you can use the Custom Touch Points feature to upload the list. Note: If the Custom Touch Points feature is not enabled on your account, please contact your Customer Success Manager.

View this on Act-On Software >

Kind Regards,
Alicia

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Alicia Beaubien
Demand Gen Manager, Lakeside Software
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-06-2019 10:36
From: Paul Vrooman
Subject: Offline lead capture at tradeshows

Interested in setting up an Act-On form and landing page to be used on a tablet to input leads at tradeshows. The issue becomes the dependency on a reliable Internet connection in exhibit halls or having to pay the high price of in-house wifi connections. Has anyone solved this issue so that the data can be collected and then uploaded into an Act-On list (and then Salesforce) once a decent connection can be established? If there is a way to do this within A/O and SF without buying a third-party product that would be ideal, but recommendations for products are welcome if there isn't another solution.

------------------------------
Paul Vrooman
Oceania University of Medicine
------------------------------

James Matney
- June 28, 2019 20:08
I expect there is an app of some sort that could generate a spreadsheet that is uploadable to AO.
But we did exactly as you mentioned, with a landing page form that worked on an iPad. Our fix to the wireless problem was to bring our own wireless node, like a Verizon MiFi Jetpak. Or you could use a phone with hotspot capabilities.

------------------------------
James Matney
E Communications Specialist, TEEX - Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 03-06-2019 10:36
From: Paul Vrooman
Subject: Offline lead capture at tradeshows

Interested in setting up an Act-On form and landing page to be used on a tablet to input leads at tradeshows. The issue becomes the dependency on a reliable Internet connection in exhibit halls or having to pay the high price of in-house wifi connections. Has anyone solved this issue so that the data can be collected and then uploaded into an Act-On list (and then Salesforce) once a decent connection can be established? If there is a way to do this within A/O and SF without buying a third-party product that would be ideal, but recommendations for products are welcome if there isn't another solution.

------------------------------
Paul Vrooman
Oceania University of Medicine
------------------------------

0
Lea Johnson
- June 28, 2019 20:09
James,
You typically can't count on your own hotspot at tradeshows. Many of the larger venues will block signals other than their own that you have to pay for. Everything will be working fine until the show starts and BAM! you lose your signal.

I'm following this thread to learn if there is an offline alternative to the show's lead capture. I don't even mind uploading to AO manually after the show. My concern is also reading the barcodes that many shows are using now.

------------------------------
Lea Johnson
Unified AV Systems
------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2019 12:54
From: James Matney
Subject: Offline lead capture at tradeshows

I expect there is an app of some sort that could generate a spreadsheet that is uploadable to AO.
But we did exactly as you mentioned, with a landing page form that worked on an iPad. Our fix to the wireless problem was to bring our own wireless node, like a Verizon MiFi Jetpak. Or you could use a phone with hotspot capabilities.

------------------------------
James Matney
E Communications Specialist, TEEX - Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-06-2019 10:36
From: Paul Vrooman
Subject: Offline lead capture at tradeshows

Interested in setting up an Act-On form and landing page to be used on a tablet to input leads at tradeshows. The issue becomes the dependency on a reliable Internet connection in exhibit halls or having to pay the high price of in-house wifi connections. Has anyone solved this issue so that the data can be collected and then uploaded into an Act-On list (and then Salesforce) once a decent connection can be established? If there is a way to do this within A/O and SF without buying a third-party product that would be ideal, but recommendations for products are welcome if there isn't another solution.

------------------------------
Paul Vrooman
Oceania University of Medicine
------------------------------

0
Alicia Beaubien
- June 28, 2019 20:09
Our team currently uses the tradeshow scanners that are provided and then we upload them after through Custom Touch Points. I've also used a mobile app to scan business cards in the past - problem is not everyone has a business card at these events.

Another option is Cvent which is a company that helps with events as a whole. I've used them for registration and mobile apps. But they also provide a lead scanning system that you can use at any show. They might be worth looking into.

Best of Luck!

------------------------------
Alicia Beaubien
Demand Generation Manager, Lakeside Software
------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 03-08-2019 09:05
From: Lea Johnson
Subject: Offline lead capture at tradeshows

James,
You typically can't count on your own hotspot at tradeshows. Many of the larger venues will block signals other than their own that you have to pay for. Everything will be working fine until the show starts and BAM! you lose your signal.

I'm following this thread to learn if there is an offline alternative to the show's lead capture. I don't even mind uploading to AO manually after the show. My concern is also reading the barcodes that many shows are using now.

------------------------------
Lea Johnson
Unified AV Systems
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2019 12:54
From: James Matney
Subject: Offline lead capture at tradeshows

I expect there is an app of some sort that could generate a spreadsheet that is uploadable to AO.
But we did exactly as you mentioned, with a landing page form that worked on an iPad. Our fix to the wireless problem was to bring our own wireless node, like a Verizon MiFi Jetpak. Or you could use a phone with hotspot capabilities.

------------------------------
James Matney
E Communications Specialist, TEEX - Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service

Original Message:
Sent: 03-06-2019 10:36
From: Paul Vrooman
Subject: Offline lead capture at tradeshows

Interested in setting up an Act-On form and landing page to be used on a tablet to input leads at tradeshows. The issue becomes the dependency on a reliable Internet connection in exhibit halls or having to pay the high price of in-house wifi connections. Has anyone solved this issue so that the data can be collected and then uploaded into an Act-On list (and then Salesforce) once a decent connection can be established? If there is a way to do this within A/O and SF without buying a third-party product that would be ideal, but recommendations for products are welcome if there isn't another solution.

------------------------------
Paul Vrooman
Oceania University of Medicine
------------------------------

0
Paul Vrooman
- June 28, 2019 20:09
This was very helpful and thanks to everyone. So here's the solution I think I have as a result: Since my client does not want to use a scanner in order to allow the lead the opportunity to use their personal email to stay in touch (versus the one that their employer may monitor), they need to have the input go into a tablet manually. Then, the issue becomes sketchy or expensive Internet connections at trade shows. So I found out that Survey Monkey has an offline version that should work. Then, (thanks to you guys) I will upload that csv file into AO using the Custom Touch Points in AO. I haven't tested it yet, but the logic all seems to make sense.

------------------------------
Paul Vrooman
Oceania University of Medicine
------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 03-06-2019 10:36
From: Paul Vrooman
Subject: Offline lead capture at tradeshows

Interested in setting up an Act-On form and landing page to be used on a tablet to input leads at tradeshows. The issue becomes the dependency on a reliable Internet connection in exhibit halls or having to pay the high price of in-house wifi connections. Has anyone solved this issue so that the data can be collected and then uploaded into an Act-On list (and then Salesforce) once a decent connection can be established? If there is a way to do this within A/O and SF without buying a third-party product that would be ideal, but recommendations for products are welcome if there isn't another solution.

------------------------------
Paul Vrooman
Oceania University of Medicine
------------------------------

0
Alicia Beaubien
- June 28, 2019 20:09
Sounds like a great plan, Paul! Feel free to connect with me if you have any questions along the way! :) Good luck!

------------------------------
Alicia Beaubien
Demand Gen Manager, Lakeside Software
------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 03-08-2019 13:48
From: Paul Vrooman
Subject: Offline lead capture at tradeshows

This was very helpful and thanks to everyone. So here's the solution I think I have as a result: Since my client does not want to use a scanner in order to allow the lead the opportunity to use their personal email to stay in touch (versus the one that their employer may monitor), they need to have the input go into a tablet manually. Then, the issue becomes sketchy or expensive Internet connections at trade shows. So I found out that Survey Monkey has an offline version that should work. Then, (thanks to you guys) I will upload that csv file into AO using the Custom Touch Points in AO. I haven't tested it yet, but the logic all seems to make sense.

------------------------------
Paul Vrooman
Oceania University of Medicine
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-06-2019 10:36
From: Paul Vrooman
Subject: Offline lead capture at tradeshows

Interested in setting up an Act-On form and landing page to be used on a tablet to input leads at tradeshows. The issue becomes the dependency on a reliable Internet connection in exhibit halls or having to pay the high price of in-house wifi connections. Has anyone solved this issue so that the data can be collected and then uploaded into an Act-On list (and then Salesforce) once a decent connection can be established? If there is a way to do this within A/O and SF without buying a third-party product that would be ideal, but recommendations for products are welcome if there isn't another solution.

------------------------------
Paul Vrooman
Oceania University of Medicine
------------------------------

0