By Bob Speyer, Web Success Team

The biggest exhibitor and the biggest hit at the Natural Products Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center March 9-11 didn’t have a booth or push out product.

I’m talking about Social Media. It was the main ingredient at the natural foods trade show and kept everybody interconnected – exhibitors, attendees, media, marketers and bloggers. Here are a few examples how Social Media played a major part of the show:

Phone App:  Easy and convenient, this free downloadable Mobile app was your show guide. It allowed you to find exhibitors (very useful with 6 giant halls of booths on two floors, 3,000 exhibitors and 58,000 participants); featured exhibitors; show specials; education; “my show” where you can personalize your experience – short lists, notes, suggestions, etc.; and view special events.

Twitter: @NatProdExpo, #bloggerati, #expowest all allowed Twitterers to communicate their experiences, reflections, and push out content to attendees and followers, along with tweetups to promote products and specials.

Bloggerati: Major influencers were invited to this exclusive, invitation-only event that connected elite and influential bloggers with leading Expo West exhibitors. It started with a Press Showcase and Gifting where bloggers went to see the newest products from the top brands in the natural, organic and healthy products marketplace and sampled 60 new products across every category. It was a full day of keynote and panel discussions about the state of the industry; educational sessions about better business blogging; and of course lunch, food and cocktails throughout the day where bloggers could mingle and mix with manufacturers.

Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube: To complete the grand slam of Social Media Marketing, Expo West has a healthy and active Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube presence, pushing out content about the pre-show, show and post mortem.

Some exhibitors made excellent use of Social Media, promoting their own fan pages and offering free or discounted opportunities to purchase product. One company we know of went viral in their Facebook promotion, gaining an amazing 10,000+ likes. The only thing left to do after this foodfest is to go on a natural foods diet!

Follow our Pinterest Natural Products Expo Board to see our favorite products.

If you liked this article you may also like:

• Super “Social Media” Bowl
• The Importance of Coordinating Your Online Marketing Mix
• The Marketing Value of Images