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It is important to make connections in real life. For many, handshakes and eye contact are necessary for building trust and creating a strong client base. Trade Shows are one of the best ways to network and create relationships in person, and they are still a critical part of a successful B2B or B2C marketing campaign. Trade shows give you the chance to market your products to vendors and consumers. If you’re planning to attend a trade show, here are four things to keep in mind.

Network

Most exhibitors focus on marketing to the attendees of a trade show, but don’t forget to network with the other vendors as well. Does the business owner in the booth next to you have shelf space in his shop that you can use at a discount? Does the person behind you have a complimentary product? Can you partner together for referrals? Arrive early, set up your booth quickly, and network with the other exhibitors before the crowds arrive.

Pay Attention to the Booth Experience

Forbes narrows down a successful performance at a trade show to one thing: the booth. You will be surrounded by trade show booths that are full of interactive, multimedia equipment and expensive furnishings. However, you don’t need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to compete with these flashy displays. A portable banner stand displays your logo and a business description to anyone who walks by your booth. These stands are an effective and professional alternative to more expensive designs.

Entice attendees to come to your trade show booth display with giveaways or fun activities in your booth. Once you have them, make sure that you keep them. You need your most articulate sales team on hand, as they are just as critical as having the right decorations. Your sales team needs to simultaneously convince every single person who enters your booth that they need your product while also appearing low key and not pushy.

Find the Right Show

Virtually anyone can put on a trade show. Before handing your hard earned money over to a random show producer, investigate the options. Is the show affiliated with a professional organization? What was last year’s attendance? How will the show benefit you? If the show producer can’t answer those questions satisfactorily, you shouldn’t buy a booth.

Use Social Media Strategically

Trade shows may be as old school as an ancient marketplace, but there’s no reason to ignore modern technology while you are there. Social media should be an integral part of your trade show plan. Use your social media accounts to build awareness and excitement around the show. Plug giveaways and convince your followers that they need to visit your booth. Before the show, find out if there is an official hashtag and begin participating. Also, create your own hashtag to promote your contest or your conversations and include it as well.

For more information on trade show booths, contact The Exhibit Source.

B2C

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If your business growth is based on networking, relationships, face-to-face, and word-of-mouth then trade show marketing may be right up your alley.  Trade shows are an exceptional way to get your company and your product seen by new potential customers. If you want a venue where you can express your value proposition and show you product, trade shows are for you.

However, there is no use attending unless you do it right. Trade shows, done right, can produce a great ROI. But first, you have to attract people to your trade show booth. This means that your trade show display must be eye-catching, efficient and effective.

Trade shows are significant opportunity for brand enhancement and product visibility. With the right trade show booth and staff, you can promote new and existing products, generate leads and drive incremental sales.

There are many benefits to participating in a trade show, not the least of which is learning about your industry, your competition and your customers. But the main point of trade shows is to meet new and prospective clients; and you can do this by attracting the them to your trade show booth through effective graphics, with interactive areas and for space to sit and talk.

Everyone can put up a sign, open a card table and give out a trinket. But can your trade show booth be THE location on the show floor? It does not have to cost a fortune, or blow your marketing budget for the year. But, it should be effective, captivating and give you the most bang for your buck. You are representing your brand, your trade show booth needs to convey your confidence in that brand.

Contact The Exhibit Source and see how we can help you drive qualified potential customers to your trade show booth.

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Trade shows are a vital platform for a trade marketing strategy, but surprisingly a high number of companies have very poor booths set up for such shows. Why do these companies present their products and services, which are actually good, so poorly? There are several reasons, but most companies have poor trade show booths because of lack of interest or poor understanding of trade show marketing. If you are planning on setting up shop at a big trade show, here are some tips to make a big impact.

Start with the right approach

Many companies get the basics wrong to begin with. If you want to make a big impact through a trade show, you need the right approach. A trade show is not a public demonstration, so the pitchers in your trade show booth should know when to stop. They should also ask the right questions in the right way.

It is not about how many people look at your booth

The more people walk past and enquire about your trade show booth display, the more successful your trade show is- this has long been the rule for measuring trade show success, but it no longer holds importance. This is the age when targeted, one-on-one marketing is the norm and your trade marketing strategy needs an update. Focus on getting targeted traffic to the show by sending e-mail invitations and marketing your presence beforehand. Think about whom you want to see at the exhibition and target them.

Keep up the momentum

As trade exhibitions stretch on and reach their end, fewer visitors arrive and people in the booths start winding up, thinking that they have finished their work for the day. However, there could be some promising leads in those last few visitors. People serious about the show often come at times when people are less busy, and the last thing you want them to see is tired and disinterested employees closing down the booth. You should stay engaged and keep up the momentum until the trade show is finished to show that you are serious about growing your network and getting leads.

Train your staff

No matter how fancy your trade show booth may be, you will not get enough customers or leads from a trade show if your staff does not do a great job. A good, well-designed booth gets visitors to approach you, but they will make their final judgment based on the staff. Make sure that your booth staff receives training about how to market your products at a trade show, meet the objectives, and maintain their manners and composure once they are there.

For more information, contact The Exhibit Source.

ADCAMO

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