Getting your booth ready for a trade show takes a lot of careful consideration and time. In any industry, you will face strong competition from other firms in attendance – so how can you ensure you stand out? Here are a few tips to think about to get you started on the road to success.
First impressions are very important and will get you noticed in a crowded hall. Trade shows and exhibitions are highly useful marketing tools that can’t be wasted. They’ll not ony give you high visibility but they can also strengthen your social network and generate sales. However, many organizations don’t genuinely understand how much of an opportunity a trade show can be and as a result, miss the mark. They may miss the mark by not employing the right trade show booth, by not selecting the best banner displays, or by not getting the right staff to run the show.
Trade shows are not cheap to attend. If you don’t create the right look, in effect you will be throwing money away. Funds allocated to attending a trade event should be included in your marketing budget. In turn, this investment can generate sales for your business. Having a successful show is all about careful planning and sculpting an effective marketing strategy.
There is a lot more to setting up a booth than just displaying a few brochures and arranging your products nicely. Brochures and a couple products probably won’t make potential customers stop by! They will more than likely pass right by your stand in a rush to get to the booth that has a crowd gathered around it further up the aisle.
To really make your event a winner, it’s necessary to create a plan that will be fresh and original. That way, you’ll be more likely to catch the attention of potential clients in a way that also sustains the image of your company. There are many ways you can achieve this – some businesses will dominate by using brash methods such as loud music, flashing signs, or lights. This can of course attract a lot of attention, but it isn’t necessarily the type of attention you want to attract. There are better ways to attract attention than by competing with the loud music from the booth next door.
The point is to stand out from all the other booths at the event; people seeing you as being unique will make them stop to see what you are offering.
One effective method is to entertain. People love to laugh and smile. You don’t have to do the entertaining yourself of course, there are plenty of funny and different acts out there that you could employ for the period of the trade show. How about a magic show? Or a game where you need contestants and hand out prizes to the winners?
Freebies are always appreciated too, and they’re a great way to get people to visit your booth. Say, for instance, if you are in the hairdressing or beauty industry, giving free haircuts or manicures will attract the type of clientele you particularly want.
Offering your services for free will immediately get people to line up. Give them a good haircut and send them on their way with a business card. The positive experience they had will achieve all the marketing via recommendations they make to others. This type of service is much more personal and effective than any music or large banner would be. You’ll be able to stand out more with freebies. Of course, large banners and the right booth are still important, but unique offerings will set you apart.
Once you have customers sitting in your booth, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to chat with them about your products or services and hopefully make some sales! If they’re relaxed after receiving freebies, they won’t feel pressured. Furthermore, they’ll be much more likely to tell other attendees about their great experience at your booth. What great marketing for you!
Remember that working at an event can be a long haul, so you’ll need to supply your staff with sufficient breaks and refreshment to keep them happy and amicable. One common complaint from staff is fatigue from having to stand all day. Invest in trade show flooring as it provides a greater comfort to feet than regular tiles or carpeting. It also has a particularly attractive look that will enhance the overall effect of your trade show booth.
Online you’ll find plenty of help and advice from companies that are experts in banner stands, flooring for exhibitions, and graphics for your displays.
Michiel Van Kets writes articles about investing in your next trade show booth. A trade show booth can be a visual representation of your company – your booth must be bold and catchy enough to lure attendees. You need those attendees if you want to give sales pitches or hand out brochures. banner stands take up very little space but are usually large enough to get you noticed. Up the ante with trade show flooring that will make attendees feel as if they are walking into a custom showroom.
