If you spend time, money, and effort setting up a booth at a trade show, then it is only crucial that you make the most out of it. Unfortunately, many companies fail to carefully research and plan the entire thing to end up with lackluster results.
A trade show is a place where sellers and buyers meet. Buyers attend to purchase and learn about the latest and best things companies offer. Unfortunately, there is a lot of competition in your direct vicinity, so missing out on customers and partners is easy. Our tips for a successful trade show come into the picture. Employ these strategies, and your booth should be successful.
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Monkey see, monkey do
If you are a tourist in Times Square and come across a hot dog stand with a bigger line than the rest, which one do you go to? Chances are the one with the long line. Social proof has been shown to generate trust, and when you see other people engage with a particular brand, you’ll be curious about the buzz.
In this regard, you may want to have some of your staff members dress as attendees and allow them to interact with your exhibit, which will make potential customers interested in what you have to offer.
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Extend your reach
This one goes hand in hand with the tip above. A great way to extend your booth’s reach is through promotional giveaways. Consider handing out wearables, stickers, light-up trinkets and turn it into a game. People who wear promo items will have a chance to go home with something big.
This is a great way to promote your booth, as the more people wear them, the more others will become interested. Also, they are a great conversation starter.
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Pre-show booth meetings
You will also want to use your trade show display by marketing yourself before the show. This is where most of the magic happens. Many companies reach out to attendees several weeks before the fair, setting up appointments and meetings at the booth before the show begins.
This presents a chance for ideal marketing. It’s also an opportunity to garner past attendees’ phone numbers and email addresses, allowing for excellent preparation.
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Allow them to Interact
If possible, make your offering interactive as it will quickly create interest among attendees. Not all brands are easy to display, but if you find a way to allow people to interact with your product or service, it will create attention and a better comprehension of what you have to offer.
Touch screens are an excellent way to display any kind of business offering, given it is interactive.
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Tricks of the trade
Most if not all trade fairs have a similar target audience, so why not trade leads as well as contact information?
In terms of return on investment (ROI), this is one of the best tips for trade shows as you get to double your sales opportunities in an instant.
However, it is not wise to trade contacts with the direct competition since you are fighting for the same business. Doing this can result in potential customers being less interested in what both of you have to offer. Instead, partner with companies selling different products or services but happen to have the same target audience.
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Create an experience
If you cannot make your offering interactive, consider making an experience. Create a fun atmosphere with a confetti cannon from Premierglow.
For example, Charity Water creates clean and safe water sources for remote regions in developing countries that do not have a sustainable water supply.
The organization invites the attendees to walk two 40 pound jugs of water across a 50-yard platform. This gives them a taste of what people in remote areas have to experience by fetching water from sources miles away from their homes.
For this short period, the attendees will comprehend how hard it is to walk a few yards, let alone miles carrying 80 pounds, and with this experience, they get to connect with the brand.
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Invite your best customers to the show
It is way easier to sell to a recurring customer than a new one. If your existing clients are not attending the show, invite them and offer to buy tickets. Chances are, you will get an automatic return on investment.
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Measure ROI
Testing is the only way to ensure something works, and making measurements is the only way to tell whether the test worked.
As such, it is essential to know how you will measure the success of your booth beforehand. Figure out a way to measure your marketing strategies and their efficacy. After all, if you do not measure your ROI, you will not know what works and what does not.
