Trade shows, conferences, conventions — whatever you want to call them — are important for all businesses that want to expand in their market.
Hit your first trade show out of the park by planning smart, saving cash, and making your booth pop. In this guide, we’re spilling all of our secrets for how to stand out and reach your business goals at trade shows.
Preparing for the Trade Show
Prepping for a trade show isn’t just about packing brochures and setting up a booth; it’s about strategizing for success. Here’s how to lay the groundwork.
Set Clear Goals: Know what you want to achieve — more customers, better visibility, networking opportunities?
Know Your Audience: Research the event demographics and tailor your pitch to the attendees who will be present.
Make Your Booth Stand Out
Your booth is your stage at a trade show. Make it unforgettable and ensure that attendees can’t help but stop by.
Be Bold & Visible: Use your logo everywhere. Hand out cool freebies and company merch like T‑shirts and stickers.
Interactive Experiences: Draw a crowd with something like a large-scale iPhone to demonstrate your product. Encourage guest interaction and showcase your company’s value prop.
Marketing Materials: Have a stack of quick-reference sales flyers that give attendees a snapshot of what you’re all about.
Engaging & Capturing Leads
Capturing leads is the name of the game. Make sure those potential clients stick with you post-show. Make sure to collect visitor contact information and follow up quickly post-event to close your leads!
Employee Knowledge: Staff your booth with team members who know your product inside out.
Incentives & Deals: Offer limited-time discounts, free samples, and giveaways to entice booth visitors.
Gather Contact Info: Have a sign-up sheet handy to quickly capture contact info for your team to reach out.
Business Card Drop Spot: Have a place where people can drop their business cards. Maybe run a draw to get even more cards.
Demo Your Tools & Tech
Nothing beats seeing products in action. Let your tools and tech do the talking.
Live Demos: Run demos to show how your stuff works in real jobs.
Hands-On: Let visitors try your tools to see their value and how they work.
Get Feedback: Ask attendees what they think of your product.
Q&A: Have experts available to answer questions right there.
QR Code for Demos: Set up QR codes around your booth. Visitors can scan them to watch a demo video or sign up for a live demo right there.
Fill Out Your Exhibitor Profile Page
Don’t just fill out your exhibitor profile page; use it to stand out before the show even starts.
Content Creation: Keep it simple but engaging. Post clear photos and quick videos, and describe what you do and what you’re offering.
Details Matter: Double-check that your contact info and social links are correct. Throw in some PDFs or links to cool stuff like white papers if you’ve got them.
Engagement Tactics: Offer special deals or let people book time with you at the show. Make it easy for them to see why they should come find your booth.
Saving on Trade Show Costs
Let’s be honest, trade shows can be pricey, but with the right cost-saving strategies, you can stretch your budget further without skimping on quality.
Travel & Accommodation: Compare costs between Uber/Lyft and car rentals. Opt for less expensive travel and lodging options to reduce expenses.
Don’t Rent Extras: Skip the chairs if you can stand. Use your phone as a hotspot to save on Wi-Fi costs.
- Shared Resources: Utilize the venue’s shared resources like trash bins.
Networking at the Event
Networking can make or break your trade show experience. Don’t just stand there! Get out, meet people, and make connections that matter.
Do Your Homework: Know who you want to meet and make sure they know you.
Meet and Greet: Don’t just stay at your booth. Walk around, shake hands, and swap cards.
Check Us Out
Catch us at one of our next trade shows. Swing by for a demo, some free gear, and a chat. We’re all about showing off what makes CompanyCam cool.
Keep it simple, stick to this plan, and you’ll kill it at your next trade show.
