What is a Trade Show Abstract?

Trade Show Abstract: Understanding presentation summaries, or session abstracts, for events.

A session abstract is a concise, written overview or summary of a presentation or educational session at an event. For conferences and trade shows, the abstract highlights the key points, goals, and insights the speaker will cover, helping attendees decide if the session aligns with their interests. It also assists event organizers in selecting presentations that match the event's overall theme and goals.

Why are presentation summaries important?

Session abstracts play a crucial role in helping event committees choose speakers who offer valuable expertise and insights. These summaries are often included in event programs or on the event’s website, giving attendees a preview of what they’ll learn. A well-crafted abstract not only attracts the committee's attention but also draws in attendees interested in the specific skills or knowledge the session offers.

Recommended length and structure of a presentation abstract?

Typically, a session abstract is around 150 words, though length may vary based on event requirements. Many organizers suggest including a short paragraph summarizing the main points, along with 2–3 bullet points that outline key takeaways. This format helps ensure clarity, making it easy for readers to understand the session’s core topics and what they will learn.

Once the final list of speakers has been selected based on this abstract submission, it is common for each speaker’s abstract and bullet points to be printed in the show guide that is given to every attendee.

Are references needed in your presentation summary?

In most cases, session abstracts don’t require formal references, as they focus on the speaker's expertise and insights. However, using relevant industry statistics or recent findings can help build credibility and attract attendees interested in timely, data-backed content. This approach provides added depth and can enhance audience engagement.

How to format and submit your session abstract

To maximize the impact of your abstract, follow all specific formatting guidelines provided by the event organizer. Use a single paragraph for the summary, and, if allowed, include 2–3 key points in bullet format to make the content easily scannable. Remember to double-check submission instructions, including word count limits and deadlines, to ensure your abstract meets the necessary criteria.

Avoid common mistakes in writing abstracts.

When drafting your abstract, avoid common mistakes like being overly general or failing to specify the audience benefits. An abstract that lacks focus can make it harder for attendees to gauge its relevance. Instead, ensure your summary clearly states what attendees will learn and how it’s applicable to their needs. Additionally, avoid using overly technical or industry-specific jargon unless you’re presenting to a specialized audience.

My speaker abstract example for you.

Here is an example of a speaker presentation conducted by me, Lisa Masiello, at a technology sales conference - the Channel Partners Conference & Expo.

Ninety-five percent of the original abstract sent to the speaker judging committee for review and acceptance was ultimately used on the event’s website, in promotional materials, and in the attendee guide.

Parts of the abstract

As you can see, the content:

• makes a statement of fact, backed up by a statistic

• provides interesting information the attendee may be unaware of or may be aware of but is unable to overcome themselves without help or insight

• explains what the attendee should expect to learn and how it will benefit them

Let’s break it down into its individual parts:

• Reaching the Hidden IT Buyer - this was selected as the title of the presentation because it is something many sales professionals strive to do but have difficulty accomplishing.

• While business technology spending will rise by 9% in 2019, the IT managers and CIOs many partners are accustomed to working with control only a portion of that spend, often for “keep the lights on” line items. - statement of fact

• Today, line of business influencers are the new technology power brokers, researching, purchasing, deploying, and managing IT services. Yet, they are frequently overlooked or ignored by vendors and channel partners. And, even when partners understand this new dynamic, they often don’t know how to get in front of LOB leaders. - information the attendee may be unaware of or may be aware of but is unable to overcome themselves without help or insight

• In this session, we’ll talk about who these buyers are, why and how they buy, their relationship with their IT departments and how non-technical buyers can become a significant growth factor. - what attendees should expect to learn and how it can benefit them