Being an exhibitor at a local tradeshow can be a great way to get your brand in front of up to thousands of new users. Las Vegas alone plays host to over 900 unique tradeshows and conventions. Here are 5 ways to make sure your exhibit is the bell of the ball:
Research
Make sure to take some time to research the trade show before purchasing a booth. Keep an eye out for what kind attendees and businesses normally attend the event. It’s a good idea to keep tabs on any competitors that are going to be there and make a point to see how they are marketing for the event.
Have a Plan
When you go to a trade show, it is important to have a plan for everything, and we mean EVERYTHING. You should know how you want to set up your booth, how you will record information, and make sure your pitches are practiced and polished. Another tip to help you with your next event is to reach out to attendees you wish to speak with prior to the start of the show. You want to make them aware of you, even if they do not respond, they still might stop by your booth.
Be Engaging
Trade shows are not for the shy. When you are at a convention you are competing with everyone, not just your competitors but with all the other exhibitors as well! Stand out by showing confidence in yourself and your business. Don’t be afraid to, literally, wave someone down, shake their hand, and bring them into your booth.
Never Say Never
It goes without saying that not everyone who stops by your booth is going to be a user of your product or service. What is important, however, is to never outright refuse them. Take a reasonable amount of time to get to know their business and what their goals are. A simple “that may be a good idea for the future” or “I may know of a client who I could connect you with” can go a long way into creating a relationship and opening up new business opportunities.
Have a Backup Plan
Once the trade show is over, the real work begins. After hopefully gathering a healthy amount of new contacts, it is important to have a plan on how and when you want to contact them. While some you may want to include in a general mass email, for others it will be important to reach out and personally and follow up.
Trade shows can be a lot of fun, but also include a lot of work. Following these 5 tips will give you a leg up and get you ready to excel at your next trade show.
Written by: Zachary Zolowicz
