Trade Show Planning Tips
Trade shows are an amazing opportunity for a company to promote and exhibit its products. They give you an opportunity to meet and greet hundreds of potential customers and clients, show off your products and services, make contacts and connections that can lead to further business and possibly even provide free business cards and brochures. If you are a small company with only one employee or sales rep, taking part in a trade show can be a great way to grow your business. But if you are planning on attending a trade show, there are some important things you should consider before you get started. Here are four tips to keep in mind when participating in a trade show.
Trade shows are best attended by those who are knowledgeable about the specific type of exhibit you will be displaying at the show. A good way to determine which type of booth you should rent is by asking the exhibit manufacturer what type of displays they use at their shows and whether the company has experience with the type of display you are interested in exhibiting at the show. You should also research the show beforehand to find out what types of exhibits are being used at previous shows and to determine which types of products your competitors are exhibiting. This will help you plan your own booth and give you valuable information about the show.
When attending a trade show, you will definitely want to have a variety of promotional items. You will need to have a variety of brochures, business cards, and fliers in different sizes, colors, and shapes in order to make sure that everyone who is looking at your booth has something to take home. Even if you are just using one or two promotional products, having a variety of items will impress visitors and make sure that no one feels like you are only trying to sell them one product.
Trade shows are a great place to network with other business owners and showcase your product line and services. However, it is important that you establish separate lines of communication with each of your booth attendants. Make sure that every booth attendant knows precisely where your phone number, fax number, or e-mail address is so that they can easily contact you if they have any questions about your trade show appearance. It can also be very helpful to post a sign-up sheet for show attendees to sign up for your follow-up telephone call.
If you are planning on using video as part of your trade show marketing strategy, then it is absolutely essential that you plan your graphics before the show. Your graphics should be eye-catching and unique, but they should not be the focal point of your entire booth or website. Instead, have your graphics appear in the background while your most striking and interesting product or service is the center of attention. This will ensure that your message is received and your booth looks professional, without losing the attraction that your product or service is known for.
Finally, be sure that your trade show appearance goes smoothly from the day of the show until the next day. Plan to get enough rest between displays. Pack a lunch that you can bring with you if you travel a lot for the shows that you attend. Taking some simple precautions before the show will go a long way to ensuring that your trade show booth will be a successful one.
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