You only have 27 seconds to make a positive first impression. With so little time and so much at stake, how can your business make the most of its upcoming trade show, impressing attendees and building new relationships?
There’s a lot of pressure when attending trade shows, as you want your business to stand out and get noticed. However, in a huge conference or trade show, it’s not always easy to get results.
The key is having a plan and knowing exactly how to maximize your time and budget. To learn more, keep reading to find eight tips to ensure your next trade show is successful.
1. Work Out Your Goals in Advance
If your business is investing serious time and money in attending a trade show, how can you make the most of it? Your first step is to work out why you’re attending in the first place!
Before you plan your trade show, give some thought to your goals. Why do you want to attend and why is this money well-spent for the business?
You might need the trade show for a product launch, for example, or to generate new leads. Once you work out your needs, you can tailor your plan of attack to meet your goals.
2. Invest in an Amazing Trade Show Booth Design
At the average trade show, there can be hundreds, if not thousands, of vendor booths. With so much competition, how can you help your company get noticed?
One of our top tips is to invest in a custom booth design and avoid the stock-standard setups that other businesses will be using. With a unique and innovative design, like one from Nimlok Orlando, your business will turn heads and get noticed.
3. Make Sure Your Graphics Are Easy to Read
Think about your graphics, logo, and design choices for your trade show—they not only need to be eye-catching, as mentioned above but also easy to read!
Attendees will be scanning the room, looking for companies and booths they want to seek out, so your signage needs to be clear, large, and simple.
It can be easy to get carried away with elaborate and fancy signage, but if it’s not legible from across the room, then you’re not doing your business any favors.
4. Create a Booth Roster
Time management is another big consideration if you want to maximize your trade show attendance. To achieve the best results, create a schedule of who from the business will be attending the trade show—and when.
Think also about bump-in and bump-out, which often happen the day before and the day after the event. By being organized, your booth will be more successful and you won’t need to scramble to find coverage each day.
5. Network With Other Stallholders
A trade show isn’t just about networking with attendees—it’s also about networking with other businesses! Trade shows are an amazing opportunity to connect with other companies (who might even be potential clients themselves).
Be sure to bring along some business cards and walk around, introducing yourself and your business to other stallholders. You never know who you might meet!
6. Stay Hydrated
When you’re attending a trade show, it can be exhausting! You’re on your feet all day, running around, and talking with people nonstop. To feel your best and keep your energy up, make an effort to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Conferences and trade shows tend to offer plenty of coffee and alcohol, which can leave you feeling dehydrated, so bring a water bottle with you.
7. Think About Promotional Items
It’s cliche, but true—everyone likes a freebie! Giving away promotional items is an effective way of attracting people to your booth.
Ideally, the item you give away should contain your company name and logo, as this can act as a marketing tool. If you select your items wisely, the attendees will take it home or back to their office, helping your business reach a new audience.
Just be sure to select promotional items that are useful to your attendees. You can never go wrong with things like USBs, pens, or notebooks.
8. Stay Calm
Our final tip to make the most out of your trade show—try your best to stay calm! We know months of work and planning have gone into the trade show, so it’s normal to feel worried and anxious.
However, take a few breaths and remind yourself that you can do it. Staying calm and focused will make it easier to chat with attendees, promote your business, and deal with any issues as they arise.
If it’s possible, it helps to form a trade show committee within your company, so that all of the responsibility doesn’t fall on one person.
With These Tips, Your Next Trade Show Will Be a Huge Success
If you’re starting to think about your next trade show, the tips above can help you make the most of it. Yes, a trade show is a big financial investment, but if done well, it can help your business grow and attract new clients, quickly recouping your cost.
To get started, come up with a plan for your upcoming trade show, thinking about your goals, who will attend, how your stall will look, and other key details. It’s best to start months in advance, so you have plenty of time to prepare.
Make the most of your next trade show and see what it can do for your business!
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