Boost Your Trade Show Presence with Smartphone Interviews
Recording on-site interviews with your iPhone or Android is a cost-effective way to promote trade shows, potentially cutting production costs by up to 50–70% compared to traditional methods. Follow my step-by-step guide to create professional-quality interviews.
MA
by Marco Aguilera
Shorts Pack Big Stories into Small Bites
I captured the Shorts [short-form videos] below at a B2B trade show using the marketing strategies, tech gear, and targeted content questions recommended on this site. If you like what you see, keep reading. I've provided a complimentary step-by-step guide that includes easy-to-use templates, marketing strategies, and best practices to elevate your mobile content creation to the next level.
YouTube
Georgia Pacific: A Collision of Brilliant Ideas (Speaker)
"What's wonderful about this event (Quartz Network Events) is the degree of orchestration that goes on and the collisions that are created by the professionals here that allow everybody here to come together and share ideas."— VP of Innovation, Georgia Pacific
YouTube
Stripe: AHA! Moments With Attendees (Speaker)
"There was a lot of interaction amongst the attendees. I would pose some questions and then have them share their best practices with each other. And as we were doing a debrief, some of the key takeaways, like every single person walked out of that room saying, I have an AHA! moment with this new thing I'm going to try."—Global Head of Sales, Stripe
Video Marketing Brochure
Go to page 12 to watch the video short alongside the prominent brands attending the event, highlighting the value and benefits of participation. Publish Online
Video Website Testimonials
Click on the site and scroll to watch the video shorts and observe the unique value proposition headlines drawn from their testimonials. Quartz Network - Event Testimonials
Pre-Event Strategy
A clear video strategy is vital for brands to engage with their target demographic and elevate brand awareness. It ensures that videos aligns with specific goals, optimizes content for platforms, and uses analytics to measure success. A focused approach boosts engagement, builds trust and customer loyalty, and maximizes impact across digital channels—all in an effort to increase customer conversions.
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Define Your Goals & Objectives
A video creative brief is an essential document that outlines a video project's key goals and objectives, acting as a roadmap to keep the entire team aligned and focused on a shared vision. Additionally, having a video release form protects your organization from potential legal issues, and a recording schedule can help you book interviews before the start of the event. Below are links to free templates that you can use and adapt to fit your specific needs.
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Create a list of concise, engaging questions that encourage the interviewee to talk about their experiences and the benefits of the trade show. Click on the headline to view a list of ten insightful questions to make the most of your interview.
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The iPhone is perfect for recording interviews thanks to its high-quality camera and smooth stabilization, ensuring professional results. To enhance its productivity, I listed third-party tech accessories on this page that can transform your iPhone into a powerful all-in-one tool for content creators.
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A (semi) quiet space ensures the interviewer and interviewee can engage fully, leading to clearer communication and a more meaningful discussion.
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By focusing on framing, orientation, stability, and audio quality, you’ll ensure your video not only looks polished but also engages viewers effectively.
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Demonstrate active engagement and genuine interest in the interviewee's answers to encourage more natural and insightful responses.
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Effective video post-editing is vital in producing polished, engaging content that resonates with your target audience.
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Understanding which social media channels your target demographic uses most is essential for an effective marketing strategy.
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Tracking your content to acquire metrics is a vital workflow that helps marketers and content creators understand audience engagement, reach, and effectiveness of their strategies.
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View the video examples I conducted by applying the video strategy, tech gear, and insightful questions recommended on the site.
Attendee Questions
Having a vetted list of attendee questions before conducting an interview brings clear focus, ensures relevance, and maximizes the value of your conversation. The ten questions listed below can help guide the discussion more effectively, and create a streamlined, impactful experience for the interviewee and the audience.
1
How has your experience been so far?
Pro Tip: Ask this icebreaker question before you start recording. It's a great way to explore initial impressions and identify positive experiences you'd like to highlight during the interview.
2
Please tell us your name, title, and company.
Pro Tip: Switch your phone to "airplane mode" before recording to prevent interruptions. When you're ready to record, ask the interviewee to hold their event badge below their chin for five seconds. The brief recording will help you identify the interviewee and correctly spell their name and company name in post-production.
3
What's your impression of the educational sessions?
Pro Tip: Encourage interviewees to share insights about new knowledge gained.
4
Are there any trends or innovations you're excited about?
Pro Tip: This helps understand their priorities and opens the door for discussing new developments.
5
How satisfied are you with the industry networking opportunities provided at [trade show name]?
Pro Tip: This encourages them to share insights about the networking experience offered at the event with like minded peers.
6
Which booths or exhibitors have caught your attention, and why?
Pro Tip: This can lead to recommendations or discussions about specific companies.
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How do you see [trade show name] influencing your business strategy in the next year?
Pro Tip: A strategic question that encourages long-term thinking while promoting your event.
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What challenges does your company currently face in the B2B space, and how are you addressing them by attending [trade show name]?
Pro Tip: Helps dive deeper into business challenges and potential solution finding at the event.
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What would you say if you were to recommend the [trade show name] to a colleague in two or three words?
Pro Tip: Closing Question: This question is designed to end the interview on a positive note, allowing for seamlessly editing of their answers into the conclusion of the video.
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How would you rank the [trade show name] (1 out of 5 stars, with five stars being the best)?
Pro Tip: Closing Question: This question is designed to end the interview on a positive note, allowing for seamlessly editing of their answers into the conclusion of the video.
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Download the complimentary attendee questions
Exhibitor Questions
These ten questions are designed to maximize the value of exhibitor interviews while showcasing the event's strengths.
1
How has your experience been so far?
Pro Tip: Ask this icebreaker question before you start recording. It's a great way to explore initial impressions and identify positive experiences you'd like to highlight during the interview.
2
Please tell us your name, title, and company.
Pro Tip: Switch your phone to "airplane mode" before you begin recording to prevent interruptions, and ask the interviewee to hold their event badge below their chin for a couple of seconds at the beginning of the interview. This will help you recall the interviewee and correctly spell their name and company name in post-production.
3
What makes [trade show name] the ideal platform for showcasing your innovations, and how has this event helped you connect with the right audience?
Pro Tip: This question highlights the unique value of the trade show as a platform for exhibitors to connect
with their target audience and showcase their innovations.
with their target audience and showcase their innovations.
4
How does the atmosphere, energy, and quality of attendees you connected with at [trade show name] compare to other trade shows you've attended?
Pro Tip: Encourage them to elaborate on how your trade show stands out and surpasses other industry events,
e.g., top industry educational sessions offered at your event.
e.g., top industry educational sessions offered at your event.
5
Have you established promising business leads or closed deals by participating in [trade show name]? If so, could you share a general example, such as strong prospects close to finalizing agreements, while maintaining confidentiality?
Pro Tip:: This is one my favorite questions that focuses on ROI, with returning exhibitors likely sharing positive insights that can strongly encourage future sponsors to invest in your trade show.
6
How has participating in [trade show name] helped you tackle your company's challenges?
Pro Tip: Focus on how the event helps companies grow by providing them to opportunity to meet with their target audience.
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What keeps bringing you back to [trade show name], and how has it helped you grow your brand over the years? [returning trade show exhibitor]
Pro Tip: Bring to mind the quality of attendees at the event, the opportunity to build a strong pipeline, achieve a positive ROI, and showcasing their cutting-edge industry advancements.
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How does [trade show name] help you stay ahead of industry trends and showcase your latest advancements? [returning trade show exhibitor]
Pro Tip: Bring to mind the top educational sessions offering strategy solutions to real-world industry challenges.
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What would you say if you were to recommend the [trade show name] to a colleague in two or three words?
Pro Tip: Closing Question: This question is designed to end the interview on a positive note, allowing for seamlessly editing of their answers into the conclusion of the video.
10
How would you rank the [trade show name] (1 out of 5 stars, with five stars being the best)?
Pro Tip: Closing Question: This question is designed to end the interview on a positive note, allowing for seamlessly editing of their answers into the conclusion of the video.
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Download the complimentary exhibitor questions
Essential Tech Gear
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Every purchase you make helps support my journey and passion for creating targeted content and sharing my years of video tech knowledge and marketing strategies—complimentary to you.
1. Portable Light
Use a small portable light for consistency, especially in dim areas.
SmallRig P96 LED (Amazon)
2. Lavalier Mic
In a noisy trade show, a clip-on lav mic helps ensure audio quality.
DJi Mic (Amazon)
3. Headphones
Wired headphones with a 3.5mm plug are a reliable choice for live recordings, offering a seamless connection to the DJi Lavaliers.
5. Bracket Holder for Multiport Adapter
The Neewer bracket holder supports the Belkin Connect USB-C multiport adapter.
Neewer Bracket Holder Mount (Amazon)
6. Smartphone SmallRig Cage
Features dual handles for stable video recording and vlogging, plus a 67MM magnetic filter adapter for cinematic effects—see demo photo below with an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Visit the SmallRig store to find the correct cage adapter for your smartphone.
SmallRig iPhone 15 Pro Max (Amazon)
7. Wireless Charger
Magnetic charger snaps to your iPhone for efficient charging.
Anker Magnet Battery(Amazon)
8. Bracket Holder for 1TB Storage
The SmallRig bracket holder supports the Samsung T7, 1TB external storage.
SMALLRIG Bracket Holder Mount (Amazon)
9. 1TB Storage
Make sure there’s enough storage on your phone for videos with an external storage.
Samsung T7, 1TB (Amazon)
11. iPhone
In my demo, I use the iPhone 15 Pro Max displaying a 6.7" screen, ideal for framing shots—see photo below.
iPhone (Apple Store)
12. Black Magic App (free)
The app, available as a free download, enhances your iPhone with advanced digital film camera controls.
Blackmagic App (App Store)
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Tech Gear Video Assembly
Watch the comprehensive step-by-step video guide that walks you through assembling the tech gear, and gain the confidence to move forward with future recordings.
Tech Gear Assembled
(reference numbers for assembly)
(reference numbers for assembly)
Choosing the Right Location
A semi-quiet space ensures the interviewer and interviewee can engage fully, leading to clearer communication and a more meaningful discussion.
Minimize Noise
Avoid high-traffic areas where people could interrupt or distract from the interview.
Consider Background
Choose a visually appealing backdrop to help enhance the video's aesthetic and the storytelling.
Accessibility
Ensure the location is easily accessible and make it convenient for interviewees to get back to the event.
Pro Tip: Time the distance it takes to get from your chosen location to the trade show floor so you can inform the interviewee, especially if they have a scheduled meeting to attend.
Setting Up Your Smartphone
Setting up your smartphone properly for filming is essential to capturing professional-quality footage. By focusing on framing, orientation, stability, and audio quality, you’ll ensure your video not only looks polished but also engages viewers effectively across different platforms.
Framing
Keep the interviewee centered and focus, framing from the torso up to allow space for captions.
Pro Tip: Conduct a test recording to frame yourself properly in the shot, check lighting and audio, and ask yourself if your selected backdrop helps your storytelling.
Orientation
Shoot in landscape mode to ensure your video fills the different social media formats when editing (landscape, square, portrait).
Pro Tip: Upload a test recording to your editing app and review that the framing and orientation are accurate.
Audio Check
Always test your mic before recording to ensure clear audio.
Pro Tip: Use headphones and monitor the audio levels on the Blackmagic Camera app.
Stabilize the iPhone
Pro Tip: Use Gaffer's tape (Amazon) to mark your tripod's position (and the interviewee's) so you can easily return to the exact spot if you need to relocate temporarily.
Conducting the Interview
Demonstrate active engagement and genuine interest in the interviewee's answers to encourage more natural and insightful responses.
1
Start Conversational
Make the interviewee feel at ease. Start with a light introduction and the ice-breaker question (see question 1) to relax them before jumping into the main questions.
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Keep it Concise
Aim for short 30 minute interviews to keep the content concise and engaging. Don’t feel pressured to ask all 10 questions; instead, focus on uncovering the golden nuggets of information that answer the “WHY.” The 30 minute time limit will also help keep you on track when using the recording schedule template.
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Focus on Engagement
Encourage the interviewee to expand on responses you find intriguing—once again, focus on the “WHY.” Keep the emphasis on their positive experiences and valuable insights.
Post-Interview
Creative video post-editing is vital in producing polished, engaging content that resonates with your target audience. With a range of free and paid apps, you can create high-quality edits tailored to any platform.
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Storytelling Editing
Use B-roll footage to strengthen the interviewees' responses and create a more engaging narrative by thoughtfully selecting and arranging shots. Here’s a list of both free and paid video editing apps you can consider: Adobe Rush, Canva, Veed, Vimeo, CapCut, Adobe Premiere, & iMovie.
Pro Tip: Use video templates to streamline your content creation. Template Resources: Artlist, Envato, MotionArray, Adobe Stock, & Reels Maker for Instagram.
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Incorporate Event Branding
Maintain a visual brand consistency by adding logos, graphics, and branding elements to ensure your brand is recognized across the marketing mix.
Pro Tip: When a video features multiple brands, include all the logos at the end. Place the umbrella corporate logo alongside phrases like 'brought to you by' or 'powered by' to clearly indicate to your audience that these are brand extensions.
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Add Subtitles
Subtitles in social media videos are vital for accessibility, engagement, and reach. They improve comprehension and retention by reinforcing key messages and making videos more search-friendly, aiding discoverability through SEO.
Pro Tip: Most apps, including YouTube, can generate subtitles. Customize these subtitles with your brand’s colors to strengthen brand recognition.
Sharing Your Content
Understanding which social media channels your target demographic uses most is essential for an effective marketing strategy. It enables brands to prioritize resources, tailoring content to the platform’s unique features and user expectations.
Tracking Content
Tracking your content to acquire metrics is a vital workflow that helps marketers and content creators understand audience engagement, reach, and effectiveness of their strategies. By analyzing metrics such as likes, shares, comments, click-through rates, and follower growth, businesses can gain valuable insights into what content resonates with their audience, refine their messaging, and allocate resources effectively.
Conclusion
On-site interviews with your smartphone can capture the energy and insights of a trade show, drawing in audiences even after the event. With the right strategy, effective questions, and a focus on quality gear, these interviews become valuable content to share across social channels, helping extend the trade show’s impact and keeping viewers engaged long after it ends.