How is your business doing? If you’re business is not heading in the direction you envisioned it to go then maybe it’s about time you start re-evaluating your existing marketing plans so you can determine what you need to do to generate more sales. Business owners who wish to publicize their products and services and make their brands known are actively participating in trade show exhibits. It appears that trade show display, when done right, have the power to lure customers to your business.
According to surveys, 49% of those who attend trade shows purchase at least one or more products and/or services. This simply means for every two attendees one of them is going to purchase something whether it’s from your booth or from your competitors’. Also, it’s worth mentioning that 56% of the people who actually attend these trade shows have travelled more than 400 miles just to get there. When you attend these trade shows you’ll be showcasing your products and services to so many people coming from different parts of the globe thereby increasing your reach.
If you are dissatisfied with your business performance you should consider participating in the trade shows.
The following are helpful tips to ensure that the blood, sweat and tears your poured out in setting up and decorating your booth will achieve a fast ROI.
Strive To Make Your Display Table Unique
How many participants are going to be present at the exhibit? Usually, there are a lot so if you want to stand out from the crowd and be noticed you need to carefully plan your display table ensuring that it grabs attention. If you don’t have a tablecloth, make sure to get one.
Use your company’s color scheme as an inspiration and start from there. For example, if you own a laundry business and the dominating color of your brand is blue make sure to use blue when you design your booth. Don’t choose red or hot pink because it grabs attention, choose your brand colors because that’s how people will know and remember you. And yes, being unique can be hard especially if there are a lot of you but you can start by choosing a tablecloth with the color of your brand. We’re pretty certain that a tablecloth is the last thing on your competitors’ minds. So, if you want to be noticed, use one.
Set Up an Informative Presentation Board
Normally, the space allocated for your area is very small. You need to utilize every space of your designated area. One powerful tool that will give attendees an idea about what your business is all about is by setting up a presentation board that shows how customers can benefit from your product or service. Be as creative as you can. If you’re not a creative person then we suggest you hire someone who is. As much as possible, aim to add images on your board and use a text style and font that are readable. Don’t forget to include the name of your company and your company logo.
Make A Cutout of Your Brand Name
The point of setting up a booth is to make your brand known. Advertise your brand name by designing an eye-catching cutout and hanging it on the wall of your booth. Again, make sure you follow your brand’s color scheme and don’t deviate from it. You can use a foam core, a cardboard or a bristle board as long as it’s big enough to be noticed.
Organize Your Display Table
Even if you’re not the most organized person in the world, at least during the exhibit, strive to be one. When your table is in a state of disarray you will turn people off and discourage them from knowing more about your brand. When organizing your table make sure you place the larger items at the back and the smaller ones in front. Arrange them in a tidy and organized fashion.
Grab Attention by Using Slide Shows and Videos
It can be challenging to explain your company to attendees who make it to your booth. To make sure each one of them gets a glimpse of your company try developing a slideshow or a video presentation and play it on loop in a TV monitor. If you don’t have the equipment you can borrow from family or friends or rent them. Visuals are very important because that’s how you’ll grab attention. With a cleverly designed presentation you can show the attendees how they can benefit from your business in an entertaining manner.
Take the Advantage of Social Media
Billions of people all over the world are active on social media. You’d be foolish if you don’t take advantage of this fact. Schedule a social media campaign months before the trade show exhibit and let people know you will be participating in the said event and don’t forget to invite them and encourage them to stop by. Promote your event on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Prepare Awesome Giveaways
Those who attend trade shows look forward to bringing home giveaways. Before the exhibit, think about possible giveaways and prepare them way ahead of time so you can manage your budget. Examples of giveaways include well-designed brochures, key chains, ref magnets, pens and business cards. Make sure that your company logo is imprinted in all of your giveaways. Your display table must have business cards, flyers and brochures.
Offer Finger Foods
While other booths are offering brochures and pens and flyers, make your giveaways unique by offering finger foods. It doesn’t matter if its sweet or savory, food will always be a hit. You can also pack your food with your logo on the wrapper if you have the extra budget for printing.
Don’t Forget to Give Away Gift Certificates
Another excellent way to lure customers to your business is by offering gift certificates during a trade show. Attendees are huge fans of gift certificates.
Offer A Prize
Trust us, attendees get excited whenever they hear the word “prize” and that’s what you want them to feel, you want them to feel excited and involved. Welcome your visitors with fun games and offer amazing prizes. Have them write their names on a guestbook or leave their business cards in a fishbowl and randomly choose a name or pick a card as the winner. Besides, your efforts will pay off eventually since you can use the information they provided in the future.
Display Your Work
Of course, when your part of a trade show exhibit you are expected to show off and that’s exactly what you should do. Draft your portfolio weeks or even months before the exhibit and proudly display your work in your booth. Print and blow up some of your best projects and place them on the wall where they can easily be seen or you can neatly arrange them inside a clear folder to make it easier for the attendees to skim through it.
Hire an Assistant
Joining trade shows are no joke because you will be spending an awful amount of time in your booth entertaining attendees, answering questions and promoting your products and services. It is best to hire an assistant to take over your place if you decide to take a break or go to the restroom. Your assistant will fill in your place and man your booth when you’re away. Just make sure that you train and teach your assistant about the basics of your company so when an attendee asks a basic question, he or she can satisfactorily answer them.
Be Warm and Welcoming
Ultimately it all boils down to how warm, friendly and entertaining you are. If you don’t greet attendees or if you don’t smile when they pass by your booth, they will think that you’re obnoxious and arrogant. Pay attention to your body language and your facial expressions because if you make a face it will drive people away instead of luring them in. Be friendly and strike up conversations with guests as much as possible. Also, prepare yourself because questions will be raised. If attendees question your credibility and you feel insulted, don’t take offense and never argue with them to prove a point instead remain polite, calm and amiable. They will appreciate you for it and you will be glad you extended your patience. Remember that word-of-mouth can make or break you. No matter how irritated or annoyed you are, always entertain the attendees because they are the reason why you are there.
Don’t think of trade shows as added work because if you think negatively of it, you will not enjoy the moment. In business, you need to make certain sacrifices. Months before the exhibit you will be preoccupied with all the planning and designing and it will require you to invest your time, money and effort but the good news is that if you make it right and if you do it properly you will reap its benefits. Your brand will be known, your products will be sold, and your services will be highly in demand.
Kore Exhibits
Kore Exhibits & Fabrication specializes in custom portable, modular and custom fabricated trade show displays and exhibits for purchase, lease or rent in Las Vegas and all the other top U.S. trade show venues. This post is sponsored by Kore Exhibits.
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