Plan Ahead
The placement of your trade show booth is another crucial element to success. You will have to sign up early in order to secure a good spot on the floor. It is best to situate your booth in a high traffic area, such as near the refreshments area or near the door. You should also plan ahead in ordering merchandise – Work with a professional to decide on the design of your banners, flags, table top display, & more. If you will be self-installing your booth, make sure the team you send knows how this is done! It will be clear which trade show booths are planned in advance and which are thrown together last minute.
Send Your Best Team
Be sure to send representatives who are excited about your company & want to talk to people. A friendly and enthusiastic appearance is noticeable, and so is the demeanor of someone who clearly is only there by obligation. Even saying a simple “Hello, how are you?” will attract more people to stop by and talk more. Don’t just repeat the same script about your company, show interest in your potential clients & what they are looking for.
Offer an Incentive
Give people a reason to stop at your booth. Candy and treats are sure to attract all, but branded merchandise will work even better to make a lasting mark! While an edible good will be gone in 30 seconds, a pen or lanyard with your company’s name on it is likely to be used and will make people remember your name. This will familiarize your brand into everyday life, and the options for what to give away are limitless.
Demonstrate Who You Are
It is imperative to get your point across to booth visitors what your company or product is – and fast. Someone who can’t get a sense of what your brand is will loose attention and move onto another booth. If you are selling a product, have samples on display, not just pictured. When selling a service, have case studies of completed projects that are heavy on visuals or graphics. You might even include a video demonstration that illustrates a process to a customer. Remember, powerful visuals leave more of an impression than words.
Follow Up Promptly
It should not be back to business as usual on your first day back at work after a trade show – Your main focus now is following up on the potential leads you’ve just captured. Continue to build a relationship with each potential buyer by sending follow up emails to schedule follow up meetings or phone calls to further connect them with your product. If you don’t forget your trade show visitors, they are more likely to remember you.