The Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, takes over Las Vegas every January with more than 6,600 reporters, 4,400 exhibiting companies and thousands of the latest, most innovative consumer products. While last year’s event was a huge success for Uproar’s clients, with more than 300 total pieces of coverage secured, CES 2019 is set to be even bigger. Capturing media attention at one of the industry’s largest events requires careful planning and strategic pitching. With seven CES events in the books, we’ve learned a few things about making the event a success for any brand – here are a few of our best tips and tricks.
Pre-Show Opportunities are Key
As CES has grown, the strategy for members of the media has evolved. In addition to walking the show floor, reporters now seek pre-show opportunities to experience and learn about new products. Participating in events like Unveiled provide a chance for brands to get their products in front of media members before the show begins.
Recognizing the increased interest in pre-show opportunities, Uproar hosts a happy hour and product showcase before the official start of CES. This allows the press to experience the exciting technology from our clients, in a stress-free environment. At last year’s happy hour events, reporters from CNBC, Digital Trends, Engadget, TechRadar, and more attended.
Pitch to a Targeted List
While it can be enticing to pitch as many media members as possible, being selective and taking the time to find the right reporters is a tactic any brand should use. One of our clients, OPTIS (later acquired by ANSYS) attended CES last year to announce two partnerships – one with LeddarTech and the other with Lucid Motors. After pin-pointing the appropriate reporters, Uproar was able to secure coverage for OPTIS in national outlets, like Engadget, and industry verticals like Digital Engineering, Engineering.com and just-auto.
Keep a PR Rep on the Show Floor at All Times
From coordinating sample drop-offs to organizing pre-arranged media meetings, having a dedicated PR rep on the show floor will help keep things running smoothly during CES. Keeping a PR rep on the show floor will also help maximize press traffic to your booth by identifying reporters on the show floor and inviting them into the booth. Essentially, this individual should be your eyes and ears on the floor, while you focus on the booth’s attendees.
Beyond bringing media to your booth, a partnership with a PR firm can help you identify opportunities to capitalize on the event’s nuances and surprises. At last year’s event, CES experienced a wide-spread power outage, aptly documented on Twitter as #CESblackout. One of our clients, powered by Energizer batteries, stood as one of the only lighted booths on the floor – a beacon to wandering reporters. We also worked with our client to craft a tweet about the #CESblackout that went viral, reaching more than 500,000 people and receiving nearly 100 responses and 82 retweets.
Partnering with an experienced PR firm ensures your brand stands out during CES 2019. Contact our team today if you’d like to learn how Uproar can help you navigate through CES.
