Why buy out the WiFi in your venue? So you can control where and how it’s offered to attendees. First, you’ll have a couple of options.

 

1) Organizers pay the technology provider a flat rate for a full WiFi buyout at the event and then sell it to exhibitors as a sponsorship opportunity or value-add. The sponsorship is most often sold to a single sponsor, but can also be opened up to multiple sponsors.

2) Organizers can buy out the WiFi network and offer it to attendees for free without any advertising, and determine exactly what can be accessed. For example, attendees may only be able to visit the show site in this scenario.

 

HOW IT’S DONE

Step 1: Reach out to your facility or technology provider to determine ifWiFi buyouts are available. If so, you’ll fill out an order form for it just as you would with other services.

 

Step 2:Work with the technology provider to customize the service. For example, will you only need a single WiFi hotspot near the coffee service or open it up throughout the entire facility? Even if there will be other events in your facility at the same time, service can be tuned to the location of your event.

 

Step 3:Work with a Web designer to design the splash page attendees will see when they log on. Determine what you want the page to look like, if it will promote only your show or organization or be opened up to one or more sponsors.

 

If multiple sponsors will be involved, you’ll need to decide whether each sponsor will receive a separate splash page or if they’ll all be featured on a single page. Whatever option you choose,WiFi buyouts can be beneficial for everyone involved. “Some organizers break even, others offer it as a value-add for ‘silver’ sponsors and some make revenue on it,’” Sarcinella says. “Most often, it’s used as a sponsorship enhancement.

 

It’s one more avenue where show sponsors can get further exposure with attendees.” Sponsors can also create a custom URL that redirects attendees to certain products or services on their company Web site. Scarcinella says technology providers like Smart City can also provide sponsors with stats, such as how many people clicked on their page or which sponsors attendees clicked the most. Langford says the cost for WiFi buyouts can range between “single thousands to tens of thousands,” depending on the size of the venue and duration of the event. And despite the economy, he says, the concept is gaining popularity, especially with tech-heavy, medical and religious events.