Whether you’re a trade show pro or have just committed to be an exhibitor for the very first time, strategizing well ahead of time will ensure that you successfully stand out in the sea of businesses vying for your customers’ attention on the big day. Being close to your business can often put up blinders as to what you feel will entice leads and what actually works. Not to worry, in this article we will share some great tips to get the creative juices flowing and help you rise above your competitors. 1: Solve Your Lead’s Problems.Put yourself in the shoes of your ultimate lead and conceptualize what they are looking to achieve by attending the trade show. Solve their problem or fill their need and you’re on your way to attracting leads to your booth. How do you accomplish this? Put your product or service front and center, clearly explain what you do and most importantly, how you can help your customer. Be sure that everything about the theme of your booth coincides with the products or services you are featuring. 2: Be Inviting.Staff your booth with friendly, easy to talk with sales people. Coach them to ask attendees about themselves and their business and create a rapport rather than begin a sales pitch. Remove friction and obstacles by having an open front to your booth and ask your staff to step back a few feet as to not bombard attendees the moment they approach your booth. 3: Offer Great Swag.While pens and water bottles are sure to be scooped up, it’s likely those who take them will easily neglect to remember your business once they get them home. Unique items people can’t resist showing to family or business associates are always ideal for prompting calls after the show. Consider items that will put your business into your perspective customer’s daily lives such as amounted phone holder for the caror auseful desk accessory. If a large number of show attendees are traveling from out of town,phone chargers,unique travel accessoriesorpersonal care itemsare sure to draw interest to your booth and be used right away. 4: Create a Buzz.Nothing energizes more interest in your booth than a long line, laughter, or a crowd. Put up aselfie walland invite attendees to post their selfies with your product or staff, hire an entertainer, make up artist, or demo your product or service in a fun way to get people’s attention. Create a game that attendees can play to get free gifts or let them spin a prize wheel. However, be certain that this buzz directly relates to your product or service. 5: Walking Billboards.While you and your staff are busy manning the booth, let the trade show attendees do the footwork for you. Hand outswag bagsthat are larger, brighter or more unique than everyone else’s. Offer brighttee shirts, glowing accessories, leis or hats and entice your visitors to wear them around the show for a chance to be randomly chosen to win a prize. Consider a giveaway that’s lightweight but sticks out of a swag bag such as a uniqueumbrellaor folding lightweight cooler. 6: Pre & Post Show Marketing & Networking.Leverage your social pages to promote the event, show teasers of giveaways, what you’ll be presenting, offer VIP gifts and contests to your followers who prearrange to be at the show. Ask all team members to personally invite attendees via phone calls, their social posts and written invitations. Email blasts are ideal for reaching your entire customer base at once. Include an RSVP so you can personalize future invites. During the show, live stream to keep followers engaged and to even spark interest in customers who were not able to attend. When collecting a business card, take a second to write a note on the back to remind yourself about the person or what was discussed. After the show, immediately contact all leads gathered during the event with hand written notes, phone calls or personalized emails. Post photos from the event, especially those with attendees who posed for pictures at your booth. Most importantly, while daunting and a lot of work, trade shows can be a lot of fun and extremely beneficial to your business. Allow yourself and your staff to have fun with the planning and show day jitters. The more relaxed and happy everyone is, the more successful the show will be! Apex Advertisinghas helped businesses with their trade show success for over 25 YEARS.Contact us todayand let us recommend the ideal items to help you crush the competition at your next trade show.
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