If your company is new to trade shows, you may be overwhelmed at the thought of attending your first one. Careful preparation is important, so you get the best results. A lot rides on the booth you choose. You want a trade show booth that reflects well on your company and not something that looks thrown together at the last minute. Here are a few tips for preparing for your trade show.
Buy A Booth
A trade show booth is more than just a table and background banner. Before you buy one, attend a few trade shows in your industry to see your competitors' booths. This gives you an idea of the way your booth should be designed. You don't want one that's over the top or that looks amateurish compared to others at the trade show. Consider things like lighting, colors, number of tables, display booths, and design of the wall banner.
Add Interactive Displays
Your booth will get more action if people linger around it, so it looks like a popular draw. Nothing is worse than having an empty booth because people hesitate to be the only one stopping at your exhibit. If you come up with fun or interesting interactive displays, you'll keep people longer and make your booth seem more popular. Try things like computer screens that market your product or service or even games that tie in with your company.
Utilize Your Best Personnel
Working a trade show requires certain personality traits. You want your friendliest people on the floor to draw in potential customers. The staff working the booth should have extensive knowledge of your products and company in addition to having excellent people skills. You may also want some of your regular staff to attend the event and hang around the booth to make the booth seem busier when the flow of traffic slows down.
Start Small And Scale Up
It's a good idea to get professional advice when you buy your first trade show booth. You'll need to get the graphics, lighting, and color just right. You don't want to invest heavily at the start because gaining experience is important too. Expand your booth as you get more comfortable attending trade shows. Plus, you'll probably be seen by the same people year after year, and it looks better for your booth to continually grow rather than downsize.
Also, don't forget the promotional items for your booth. Give away fun items so the people who wear them or use them can advertise your company throughout the day. This lets people know you are in attendance, so they can search out your booth. Collecting freebies is half the fun of attending trade shows, and they're a great way to advertise your business at the same time, especially if you come up with something unique and fun.
For more information on trade show booths, contact your local trade show experts.
