How To: Trade Show Marketing Tips

This “how to” article will outline how to get the most out of your booth set-up at any sort of trade show or convention. Trade shows can be an excellent way to inexpensively market your business. Or they can be a waste of your valuable time. It all depends on your execution. Here are some tips to make sure that you are getting the most out of your trade show experience.

Appeal

· First and foremost, you need to make sure your booth is presenting your company well. Make sure to have signage behind the booth table that is visually appealing and gives a brief description of your services.

· The signage should be professionally designed to draw customers in and convince them to come to your table to ask questions about your business. The signage must give the prospects a glimpse into your business but not give away all the information. Engaging with the prospects is the best way to turn them into potential clients, so try to draw them to your booth.

Staff

· Probably the single most important aspect of your booth is going to the people you have behind your table. The staff does not have to be your best sales associates or even your most experienced employees. They just have to be friendly and inviting. If you have ever been to a trade show and walked around and spoke to vendors, then you know that this is important. Some booths have employees working who are unhappy and uninviting. This deters anyone from stopping and talking about your business. Remember that these potential customers are seeing many different booths at this trade show. The best way to separate yourself is to have them remember how friendly your company was. You will stay in their minds even after the trade show is over.

· Make sure to rotate your staff at your booth as well. Many trade shows can last all day and your staff can get very tired standing behind the table all day. Try and rotate out your staff so that they stay fresh and happy the entire event. You never know when a potential customer could come to your table.

Marketing Materials

· Now for what items to have at your table. You must have some sort of promotional product. Many people walk around trade shows to collect all sorts of free giveaways. You need to have an inexpensive item at your table to giveaway to everyone who stops by. Keep in mind that these people will be stopping at countless other booths throughout the day so you need to somehow separate yourself. Pick a promotional product that is relevant to your business and is functional to your target market. A cheap pen will just be thrown away within hours of receiving it, so these are not worth having. Consider items like USB drives, headphones, business card holders, and things of that nature. While these items might be a little more expensive, it is worth it to be separated from your competition.

· Next you will need to have a handout that explains what your company does. In fact, you will need two different types of handouts. First you should have a postcard sized brochure that briefly explains your services offered. This postcard will be inexpensive and handed out to every person that comes to your table. Second you should have a much more detailed handout that is professionally prepared. This handout will be more expensive but will detail all of your company’s services. You will only give this handout out to people that you feel you had a good conversation with and actually have a genuine interest in your company. This tip will save you money on your trade show expenses.

· Finally, your company should consider having a giveaway of a higher priced, more popular item. You should have anyone who stops at your table enter their contact information to be entered into a contest to win this prize. This will help you collect even more business cards at the trade show. And after the show is over you will be able to follow up with these new leads.

Follow all of these tips the next time your company has a booth at a trade show and you will see much better results.

Originally posted at:

http://www.inkwellstl.com/2016/10/trade-show-marketing-tips/