Discover the secret to turning LinkedIn from a simple social platform into a key player in building reputation as a trade show professional. Don't miss out on effective content creation tips! 

Time Stamps

• 00:58 - Episode Intro
• 02:26 - The Importance of Social Media for Businesses
• 03:22 - LinkedIn's Growing Influence
• 04:58 - Creating Effective LinkedIn Content
• 14:12 - The Value of Sharing and Reposting
• 17:14 - Guidelines for Creating Original Content
• 17:55 - Case Study: Small Business Owner on LinkedIn
• 26:46 - Contrarian Opinions and Content Pillars
• 28:09 - Balancing Personal and Professional Content
• 31:18 - Effective Posting Strategies
• 33:36 - Engagement Tactics and Value Creation
• 37:50 - Humanizing Your Brand
• 41:50 - Episode Takeaways
• 42:39 - Avoiding Social Media Pitfalls
• 45:18 - Leveraging LinkedIn Video
• 47:05 - Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Snippets from the Episode

• "You need to make sure that you optimize the medium for the channel." - Khalil
• “You want to talk to people. You don't want to talk to companies. So talk like you're talking to people.” - Khalil
• “I think, it’s [LinkedIn] the gold standard of business social media portals.” -Chris

Resources

• Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP 
• Watch On YouTube
• Follow Us On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook
• Have Questions? Email us

More from Chris

• CrewXP 
• Email Chris
• Chris on LinkedIn

More from Khalil

• benali.com 
• Email Khalil
• Meet With Khalil
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram

Ready to discover what it takes to grow through acquisitions? Join us with Mark Taylor as he shares his journey and the strategic insights behind acquiring not one, but two companies in the tradeshow industry. Dive into the world of strategic growth today!

Time Stamps

• 00:41 - Episode & Guest Intro
• 01:18 - Mark's Strategic Acquisitions
• 02:47 - Evaluating Growth Strategies
• 04:49 - The Acquisition Journey Begins
• 10:07 - Challenges of Multi-Location Operations
• 17:56 - Navigating Deals: Asset vs. Stock Purchases
• 21:34 - Things to Do & Consider Before an Acquisition
• 27:06 - The True Cost of Acquisitions
• 29:32 - Employee Expectations and Cultural Integration
• 34:16 - Strategic Planning and Exit Strategies
• 36:32 - Brand Identity and Market Positioning 
• 39:24 - Real Estate and Location Strategy
• 40:45 - People Behind the Scene
• 44:26 - Infrastructure Investments and Technology Upgrades
• 45:14 - Final Thoughts

Snippets from the Episode

• "The worst thing you can do is just run into an organization and completely turn it over without understanding how they're working and what they're going to need to do to adapt to what you're doing or what you're going to do to adapt to how they're working, because it might be better in some cases. So, looking into that is a big thing." - Mark Taylor
• "I think we've reached a point in the recovery of the industry that I think does owners such as myself feel a little bit more comfortable looking at options for growth and for scale. But you have to also understand that the revenue growth will come naturally with the acquisition, but the profitability growth and the scale part of it might be 2, 3, 4 years down the road." - Mark Taylor

Resources

• Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP 
• Watch On YouTube
• Follow Us On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook
• Have Questions? Email us

More from Our Guest

• Apogee Exhibits
• Email Mark Taylor 
• Mark on LinkedIn

More from Chris

• CrewXP 
• Email Chris
• Chris on LinkedIn

More from Khalil

• benali.com 
• Email Khalil
• Meet With Khalil
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram

Unlock the power of SOPs with our special guest, Jason Weddle of EDE! From quality control to boosting profitability, this one's a goldmine for operational success! 

Time Stamps

• 01:00 - Episode Intro
• 01:37 - Guest Introduction: Jason's Background
• 03:18 - The Importance of SOPs in Business
• 05:08 - Creating Effective SOPs
• 06:39 - Evolution and Adaptation of SOPs
• 12:42 - Quality Control and Practical Tools
• 14:34 - Consistency in Custom Solutions
• 21:20 - Writing and Implementing SOPs
• 22:48 - The Danger of Uncommunicated Changes
• 23:51 - Reviewing and Updating SOPs
• 26:09 - Customizing SOPs for Clients
• 26:58 - Examples of SOP Failures
• 29:53 - The Role of Physical and Digital SOPs
• 32:22 - Using Videos for SOP Training
• 36:07 - The Importance of SOP Accessibility
• 36:56 - Episode Tips & Takeaways
• 39:33 - SOPs and Employee Satisfaction
• 40:34 - Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Snippets from the Episode

• “One of the best pieces of advice I received early on in my career was treat your department like it's your own company. - Jason Weddle
• An SOP should not be a book that is written once and then shut for good. It's a living document. - Jason Weddle
• The secret sauce is don't overcomplicate an SOP. Just drill down to what's necessary. - Jason
• If you want to be  profitable organization, you've got to have point guardrails in place so you don't drive the car off the road 
• SOP, it's not a glamorous, sexy topic. But if you are on a quest for profitability and running an efficient operation,  this just has to be part of your DNA. - Chris

Resources

• Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP 
• Watch On YouTube
• Follow Us On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook
• Have Questions? Email us

More from Our Guest

• Jason Weddle on LinkedIn
• EDE website

More from Chris

• CrewXP 
• Email Chris
• Chris on LinkedIn

More from Khalil

• benali.com 
• Email Khalil
• Meet With Khalil
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram

Balancing work and life in the trade show industry is no joke. In this episode, we dive deep into tackling stress, handling burnout, and maintaining a healthy work environment. Don’t miss it!

Time Stamps

• 00:46 - A Summer of Unexpecteds
• 06:32 - Work-Life Balance in the Event Industry
• 12:15 - Managing Stress and Expectations
• 24:42 - Balancing Work and Personal Life
• 27:05 - Recognizing Burnout Symptoms
• 30:15 - Maintaining a Healthy Work Environment

Snippets from the Episode

• “We live in this world of contingency plans and backup plans in the back up to a backup plan. There's a certain amount of stress that just comes with living like that.” - Chris
• “I think bench strength is one of the things you can do to lower stress.”

Resources

• Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP 
• Watch On YouTube
• Follow Us On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook
• Have Questions? Email us

More from Chris

• CrewXP 
• Email Chris
• Chris on LinkedIn

More from Khalil

• benali.com 
• Email Khalil
• Meet With Khalil
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram

From college buddies to startup founders! Listen to Jordan Walker & Hunter McKinley share their entrepreneurial journey from bootstrapping to securing venture capital. Don't miss their inspiring story!

Time Stamps

• 01:14 - Welcome Back Jordan and Hunter!
• 03:18 - The Origin Story of Backtrack
• 07:24 - The Product Hunt Breakthrough
• 10:58 - Venture Capital Journey
• 13:56 - Challenges and Lessons Learned
• 20:11 - Current Status and Future Plans

Snippets from the Episode

• “It was like the market loved our product that we built just for solving our own problems. So when the market said, "Hey, we like that too." It turns out investors wanted to invest in that product and technology as well. - Hunter McKinley
• The biggest thing that makes backtrack so unique is that we record backwards - like a car dash cam, not forwards - like some of the legacy recording tools that we all know and maybe use today." - Jordan Walker

Watch the full episode of Experience Builders Episode 031, “AI in the Business Event Space with Jordan Walker & Hunter McKinley” 

Resources

• Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP 
• Watch On YouTube
• Follow Us On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook
• Have Questions? Email us

More from Our Guests

• Backtrack
• Hunter McKinley on LinkedIn
• Jordan Walker on LinkedIn

More from Chris

• CrewXP 
• Email Chris
• Chris on LinkedIn

More from Khalil

• benali.com 
• Email Khalil
• Meet With Khalil
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram

Dive into the future of business events! Discover how A.I. is transforming the tradeshow game as Hunter McKinley & Jordan Walker reveal the magic of Backtrack and other A.I. tools in this episode. Don't miss it!

Time Stamps

• 01:03 - Episode & Guest Intro
• 03:32 - The Birth of Backtrack
• 04:31 - Backtrack's Impact on the Events Industry
• 04:58 - How Backtrack Works
• 17:13 - Recording and Privacy Concerns
• 22:39 - AI in the Events Space
• 30:29 - Future of Backtrack and AI
• 33:55 - Practical AI Tools for the Event Space
• 38:40 - Episode Outro

Snippets from the Episode

• "A.I., it's really becoming a necessary tool and resource for all of us in business." - Chris Griffin
• "People don't realize the workflows that you can put together with AI. It's like having three extra employees on the team. It's that powerful. It's crazy." - Jordan Walker
• "The biggest issue in the event industry with A.I., everybody knows that they should use it. They just don't necessarily know how or what tools to use." - Hunter McKinley

Resources

• Clay
• Zapier
• Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP 
• Watch On YouTube
• Follow Us On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook
• Have Questions? Email us

More from Our Guests

• Backtrack
• Hunter McKinley on LinkedIn
• Jordan Walker on LinkedIn

More from Chris

• CrewXP 
• Email Chris
• Chris on LinkedIn

More from Khalil

• benali.com 
• Email Khalil
• Meet With Khalil
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram

Cutting corners might feel easy, but it’s a crime in business! Check out our latest episode where Chris and Khalil discuss the pitfalls of leniency.

Time Stamps

• 00:49 - Episode Intro
• 02:21 - The Concept of Leniency in Business
• 03:44 - Objectivity vs. Subjectivity
• 07:43 - The Impact of Leniency on Hiring
• 15:05 - Leniency in Client Selection
• 25:12 - Leniency in Quality Control and Production Standards
• 30:01 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources

• Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP 
• Watch On YouTube
• Follow Us On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook
• Have Questions? Email us

More from Chris

• CrewXP 
• Email Chris
• Chris on LinkedIn

More from Khalil

• benali.com 
• Email Khalil
• Meet With Khalil
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram

Join us as we explore how leveraging strategic partnerships can be a game-changer in the trade show industry. From strategic outsourcing to building a collective, we cover it all!

Time Stamps

• 00:58 - Episode Intro
• 02:13 - Trade Show Season and NPE Event
• 03:18 - The Value of a Collective
• 11:13 - Real-World Examples of Successful Collaboration
• 13:48 - Evaluating and Choosing the Right Collective of Partners
• 21:35 - Setting Standards for Outsourcing
• 22:02 - Strategic Partner Selection & Vendor Management
• 25:24 - Client Communication and Transparency
• 28:36 - Project Management Challenges
• 30:31 - Case Study: Sammy's Island Project
• 35:45 - The Effort Behind the Ask
• 38:13 - Importance of Clear Expectations
• 41:24 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Snippets From The Show

• "A wise man once told me, anything in writing is an agreement, and agreements prevent disagreements." 
• "What do I look for in a sender partner? I'm looking for somebody that obviously cares about their customer base to the degree that they just want to make sure they're delivering a great, successful, hassle-free experience, as much the experience as the desired outcome of whatever the deliverable is."

Resources

• Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP 
• Watch On YouTube
• Follow Us On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook
• Have Questions? Email us

More from Chris

• CrewXP 
• Email Chris
• Chris on LinkedIn

More from Khalil

• benali.com 
• Email Khalil
• Meet With Khalil
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram

Ever thought about the real influencer behind customer decisions? It's not just your product or service; it's your content. If you're ready to transform how you communicate your value, this is a must-listen!

Time Stamps

• 00:54 - Reflecting on Q1 and Looking Ahead to Q2
• 01:32 - The Power and Importance of Content Creation
• 05:31 - The Shift in Power to the Informed Buyer
• 13:28 - Content Strategy: Authenticity vs. Perfection
• 18:10 - Where to Share Your Content
• 22:44 - The Importance of Right Delivery
• 28:09 - Redefining Success Metrics for Content Impact
• 30:33 - Content Resources
• 33:18 - Crafting the Ultimate Buyer's Guide
• 36:49 - Leveraging Content for Efficient Customer Engagement
• 42:07 - Content Production Value
• 48:43 - Harnessing Dark Social & The Value of Content
• 51:52 - Episode Takeaways

Snippets From The Show

• "Content isn't just the copy in your brochure anymore, or on your website. I think it's become the number one influencer that your customers are making spend decisions  with you about." -Chris Griffin
• "If you're not creating content, then you are not giving the knowledge necessary for the buyer to make the decision that they're trying to make. And so you're missing out on the opportunity to educate buyers before they even have a conversation with you." - Khalil Benalioulhaj
• "I promise you, it's probably not the physical stuff you're building as an exhibit. It is you. It's the integrity of you. It's the way you've communicated. It's the content you've put before them." -Chris Griffin

Resources

• Michael Girdley
• John Matzner
• Chris Walker
• Simon Sinek
• Seth Godin
• Donald Miller 
• Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP 
• Watch On YouTube
• Follow Us On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook
• Have Questions? Email us

More from Chris

• CrewXP 
• Email Chris
• Chris on LinkedIn

More from Khalil

• benali.com 
• Email Khalil
• Meet With Khalil
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram

Behind every smooth-running trade show, there's a meticulously planned marshaling yard operation. Dive into the world of event logistics with Chris Griffin and special guest Martin Laurel!

Time Stamps

• 01:00 - Episode Intro
• 01:56 - Intro to Martin Laurel
• 05:45 - The Essence of Marshaling Yards in Trade Shows
• 07:47 - What is a Marshaling Yard?
• 09:00 - The Six Phases of Marshaling Yard Operations
• 13:09 - The "Free For All" Stage
• 19:21 - Weighing In and Dispatch Number Allocation
• 22:06 - The Waiting Game
• 24:20 - The Complexities of Move-Outs
• 25:50 - The Critical Role of Communication
• 26:48 - The Hunt for Missing Freight
• 28:20 - Empathy and Experience in Problem Solving
• 32:56 - The Importance of Advanced Planning
• 35:14 - Advanced Warehouse vs. Direct Shipping
• 41:50 - Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Snippets From The Show

• "Having an offsite location helps with the movement of traffic. Most importantly, it's to capture the shipments and the weight coming into that venue and or that event." - Martin Laurel
• "Choosing a company that understands conventions and the process is number one. Number two, understanding your target date so you're not there too early or too late, because that'll cost you money." - Martin Laurel

Resources

• Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP 
• Watch On YouTube
• Follow Us On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook
• Have Questions? Email us

More from Martin Laurel

• Martin on CrewXP

More from Chris

• CrewXP 
• Email Chris
• Chris on LinkedIn