Going to trade shows is an excellent opportunity to expand your business’s reach and attract new customers. However, if you want to stand out from other companies, you need attractive visual elements to draw prospects in. Let’s break down some trade show tips, how to bring in more customers through high-quality displays, and how D’Andrea Visual Communications can bring your vision to life.
What Is a Trade Show?
You may ask, “What are trade shows, and why is there so much hype around them?” You may wonder how they can benefit your business if you’ve never been to a trade show.
A trade show is an event that brings together different brands within a specific industry to discuss and show off their products or services.
For example, a tradeshow targeted for future brides would include different vendors you may need for a wedding, like photography companies, caterers, make-up artists, etc. These businesses do their best to showcase what they offer and, hopefully, generate a lot of interest and sales as a result.
Tradeshows are exceptionally effective at bringing in fresh customers. According to Conference Source, nearly 70% of businesses generated new leads and created brand awareness from trade shows in 2022 alone. You have a lot of business to gain from regularly attending trade shows and other conferences.
9 Trade Show Tips to Stand Out in the Crowd
No matter what your business niche is, you will likely have competition. These competitors may also go to trade shows, so how can you ensure you stand out in the crowd? Incorporate some of these trade show ideas to ensure you leave the right impression.
Do Your Research
Before investing time and effort into going to a trade show, you must find the right opportunities for your brand. Only choose trade shows you believe will give your company the best ROI based on your goals.
Determine what prospects the trade show is attracting. For example, a beauty conference would likely bring in a lot of young women. If that isn’t your target audience, you’ll probably want to pass, but the event could be fruitful if that’s your demographic.
Bring the Right Staff
When a prospect approaches your booth at a trade show, you want your staff to make a compelling first impression. Often, exhibitors sit behind their tables while attendees look down to talk to them. Don’t be afraid to move around and really engage!
You want your team to take the initiative. Other qualities to look for in your trade show staff include:
- Enthusiasm
- Persuasiveness
- Knowledge of your company’s products
- Ability to multitask
- Team mentality
Your trade show staff should be outgoing, friendly, and excited to tell people about your top-tier products or services. You also want to make sure you have a sufficient number of staff members. No matter what time of day, at least one person should be at your booth ready to engage with leads and answer questions.
Have an Eye-Catching Display
Regarding trade show planning, you want your brand to look as visually appealing as possible. There are various benefits to having an eye-catching display, including:
- Attracting and drawing in attendees
- Communicating a dedication to quality
- Serving as a reflection of your brand identity and values
- Effectively conveying your product or service offering
- Setting you apart from your competitors
Event backdrops, specifically, can take your display up a notch. They serve as an extension of your brand identity and attractively convey your message.
Give Product Demos
Another effective trade show strategy is to do product demonstrations. People attend trade shows because they want to discover new products, so a product demo is a great way to draw a crowd. A demo shows attendees exactly how your products work, and if they like what they see, it encourages them to purchase on the spot. It also allows you to answer any questions and persuade attendees to buy.
Other trade show booth activity ideas include:
- Using virtual reality to interact with leads
- Developing multi-sensory experiences
- Entertaining attendees with music
- Using immersive technology to sell your brand
- Creating fun games to show off your product offerings
The sky’s the limit when conducting product demonstrations and offering other activities for people to enjoy. The more unique and well-thought-out your offerings and product demos are, the more likely people will remember your brand and explore your booth.
Be Active on Social Media
If you want to make waves at a trade show, you must be active on social media. Start by promoting your booth before the show even starts. Then, you can post about your exhibit and everything you’re offering, attracting visitors to your booth throughout the day.
Trade show visitors often use social media while they navigate the venue to learn more about different brands and determine where to stop next. If you can reach them while they’re in the vicinity, the odds of them visiting your booth will improve.
Grab Attention With Freebies
Everyone loves free stuff! From custom pens and t-shirts to giveaways for larger prizes, offering freebies is a great way to grab visitors’ attention and draw them to your booth.
Additionally, if you have a signup sheet for a giveaway where you’re taking emails, you can add these prospects to your contact list and email them special offers or promotions after the trade show.
Distinguish Your Brand With Personal Touches
If you don’t know how to prepare for a trade show, one key term to remember is personalization. Every aspect of your booth should feature a personal element that shows off your brand identity and helps distinguish you from other vendors.
You can even start personalizing pre-conference. For example, you can send branded invitations to meetings or in-booth presentations and have people RSVP.
Don’t be afraid to get creative! Unique experiences will attract and impress attendees. From augmented reality to games, the options for unique experiences are endless. If your budget allows, consider incorporating technology into your booth.
Be Aware of Costs
You want to create a unique, memorable experience for attendees who visit your booth. However, you don’t want to overspend to do so. Even if you want to stand out from the crowd, it’s crucial to be aware of your budget to optimize your results.
Staying within budget as a trade show vendor is crucial for financial stability, avoiding debt, and maximizing ROI. It ensures efficient resource allocation and prevents overspending.
Some budget-effective strategies include:
- Booking your booth as early as possible (taking advantage of early bird discounts)
- Setting up your exhibit in advance so you don’t have to make any last-minute adjustments or ship materials overnight
- Renting some of the equipment you need
- Planning any travel well in advance
- Buying promotional items in bulk instead of one show at a time
Cutting costs doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice an incredible trade show experience for attendees. You can also request customer feedback on product prices to ensure you work within your target audience’s budget.
Offer Promotional Literature
Unfortunately, not every prospect who approaches your booth will make a purchase right then and there. Consumers may want to think about it and decide to buy after the event ends. That’s why it’s important to have promotional literature on hand they can take home with them.
Promotion materials at a trade show are vital for attracting attention, showcasing products, and leaving a lasting impression. They convey your brand’s message, generate leads, and foster valuable connections.
Promotional literature includes:
- Price sheets
- Business cards
- Brochures
- Catalogs
- Postcards
These materials help give your brand a memorable edge that could distinguish you from competitors who don’t pass out marketing collateral.
Custom Trade Show Displays From DVC
Trade show best practices offer incredible opportunities to promote your brand and connect with more leads. By offering unique experiences, giving away freebies, conducting product demos, promoting your booth on social media, and designing an eye-catching booth with a customized event backdrop, you boost your chances of earning a new, loyal customer base.
D’Andrea Visual Communications is your one-stop shop for top-of-the-line visual marketing materials that enhance your brand and get your business noticed at trade shows and beyond.
