Trade Show Tips

Posted by Karl | trade shows | Friday 12 February 2010 4:00 pm

Trade show exhibits are still a cost effective way to market your products or services. Exhibits can work for people who have been in business for years and also for a new entrepreneur. To have a successful trade show exhibit, you have to plan ahead.

First, you have to make sure you are exhibiting at trade show that is going to appeal to your target audience. The next very important step is to set up your exhibit to attract visitors to your exhibit. Below you will find some useful tips on enhancing your trade show experience.

When it comes to marketing materials, remember sometimes less is more. To keep your booth looking tidy and organized; you should replenish your marketing material frequently. This way you will not have large piles of materials lying around. Huge stacks of materials sometimes give visitors the impression that no one is interested in what you are promoting. You can store your marketing materials under the table and only display a few flyers or brochures at a time.

Handing out tote bags with your logo on them will go a long way in promoting your company. People who are visiting trade shows collect a variety of samples and brochures. They will be grateful for the bag and your company name will be seen all over the trade show floor.

It is important to make sure that you have a gender balanced staff in your exhibit. Having the same number of women and men on the trade show floor will make your visitors more comfortable. If you have a staff of all men or women your exhibit might not be as inviting to some. It is also a good idea to have a staff that varies in age so visitors will feel comfortable talking about your products.

Trade shows are an excellent way to promote your products, improve customer relationships in a friendly and personal arena.

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Trade Show Future Outlook

Posted by Karl | trade show displays, trade shows | Sunday 7 February 2010 9:51 am

It seems like everything is becoming digitized and face to face interaction is becoming obsolete. The Internet allows everyone to conduct business and communicate without having to meet in person. With this in mind, some people are wondering if trade shows are still the way to market your company.

Trade shows are still being successfully used as a marketing tool to showcase your company and to increase your customer base. Some trade show exhibitors are finding a way to combine a traditional trade show exhibit with a virtual one. There are many ways to incorporate technology into your exhibit. There are companies who specialize at incorporating the digital world into your trade show display.

Trade shows are still the best venue to meet people that you probably wouldn’t have met otherwise. Most experienced trade show exhibitors know that nothing beats the personal interaction with potential suppliers and customers. It adds the personal touch that many people are still looking for.

People still want to interact and see for themselves what your company is all about. The personal touch that you can have during a trade show builds confidence in people about your company and its image. A trade show allows people to see that you are more than just a web page on the Internet.

A trade show is also a place to meet people who otherwise might have not known your company existed. It gives you the chance to tell your story about your product and company in a personal way. Trade shows are still the best way to interact personally with your target audience.

There will always be different methods and ways to reach out to others in the new Digital Age. However, a trade show display is still a very powerful marketing tool and gives your company an edge over virtual trade shows.

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Graphic Displays

Posted by Karl | trade show displays, trade shows | Monday 28 December 2009 6:49 pm

The long term success of your company depends on how well your brand, company image and logo are recognized by the public. If you spend some time designing a smart eye catching logo for your general company image it will be easy for customers to find you at a trade show. You can also employ the help of graphic designers who specialize in trade show designs to complete your logo and graphics.  By getting a design professionally done it will set you apart from your competitors.

The colors used when designing your trade show exhibit should coordinate with your logo and products or services your company has to offer. Your trade show exhibit should have color harmony. You want it to be pleasing to the eye, but bold enough to attract the trade show visitor’s attention.

You need to do your research when you are looking for a company to do your trade show graphics. Designing and creating trade show graphics is a specialized profession. Not every printing company has the equipment needed to create quality graphics for a trade show exhibit.

Make sure you ask the graphic company for examples of their work and also ask for references. Your graphics can make or break your trade show exhibit so you want to make sure you are getting the most for your money.

If you recently had a trade show display and it seemed like exhibit traffic was down, you might want to think about changing the graphics in your trade show exhibit. You want to make sure you have an eye catching display. You always want your exhibit to be appealing and bold enough to attract attention.

If you are not sure of what may or may not look good in your trade show exhibit you might want to call in a professional to help. Another idea is to go to a trade show as a visitor and take a look at the different exhibits. Pay attention to the exhibits that seem to be drawing the crowds. You might be able to get some ideas to make your trade show exhibit more appealing to your target audience.

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Trade Shows Tricks

Posted by Karl | promotional ideas, trade show displays, trade show giveaways, trade shows | Friday 27 November 2009 4:40 am

Sometimes it is hard for the small and medium sized businesses to compete against the larger companies.  Knowing who and what you are up against is the first step in planning a good strategy. You should gather as much information about the show as you can so you will be able to make informed decisions. You will need to know the layout of the show, the size and location of your exhibit and information on the organization running the show.

You will want to arrange your trade show exhibit properly. Make sure larger items are in the back and smaller item are in the front. Everything should be on eye level so visitors don’t have to strain to see your products or marketing material. You want your exhibit area to be uncluttered and easy to move around in. You can have a PowerPoint presentation that is continuously playing and showing off the products and services you have to offer.

To get the most out of your trade show you can use giveaways, prize wheels or promotional gifts to lure customers into your exhibit. You can have demonstrations or presentations to draw in potential customers. Another good way to attract attention to your exhibit is to use a money machine or something similar. Any of these things will get the visitors attention and they will want to come over to your exhibit to see what all the excitement is about.

Trade shows are an ideal way for small and medium size business to get their brand and company recognized. Your exhibit has to make an impression and be used to lure people into your space to find out more about your company. If you prepare in advance and make your exhibit interesting and interactive you will be on your way to having a very successful trade show.

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Things Will Go Wrong on the Day at a Trade Show

Posted by Karl | promotional ideas, trade show displays, trade shows | Sunday 22 November 2009 4:39 am

Trade Shows are a hectic time and something is bound to go wrong. There are many different things that could happen, such as bringing the wrong marketing materials or someone on your staff becoming ill. The key to avoid a catastrophe when exhibiting at a trade show is to be prepared. The difference in succeeding or failing at a trade show is all about advanced preparation that starts way before the actual trade show.

You have to have a well trained show staff to make your exhibit a success. It doesn’t matter how nice your displays and graphics are, if you don’t have trained staff that can interact with the visitors and close the deal. All your staff should be cross trained to be able to help if an emergency situation comes up. They don’t have to be experts in all areas but at least know enough to help out in a pinch. You should also choose a team leader to be the go to person in case of emergencies.

One of the biggest headaches that could happen at a trade show is to not have marketing material available. A simple solution for this is to have a CD backup of all your literature with you at the trade show. That way if you have to you can run to a local print shop and get more copies made.

Advance preparation is the key to having a successful trade show display. If you stay organized and have alternative plans set up in case an emergency arises you will be able to save your exhibit from being a failure. Going over all of the different scenarios that could happen and figuring out a solution if it does happen will give you an edge over your competitors. Just keep in mind preparation is the key.

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Razzle Dazzle Your Trade Show Audience

Posted by Karl | trade show displays, trade shows | Wednesday 11 November 2009 4:36 am

Today people who are attending trade shows want to be dazzled and entertained by the exhibits. For this reason to attract and interest more visitors to your exhibit it helps to think with a “show biz” mentality. Consumers today are drawn to exhibits that are exciting and flashy. To help you attract more people to your trade show exhibit here are a few tips to liven up your exhibit.

By creating a company image that makes people smile and interested in experiencing what you have to offer; you will draw people into your exhibit. Everything you do to promote and apply to your trade show display must be first rate, professional and creative. Your staff has to be highly trained to provide enthusiastic and helpful customer service to all potential customers.

Make your trade shows interactive to give the attendees an idea of what your product can do. You can use an audio visual display that your visitors can easily operate. This gives them the feeling they are part of the trade show experience. Use the Internet and your website to help promote your upcoming trade show. Today most consumers are internet savvy and are turned off by websites that are not easy to access or very informative. It would be in your best interest if you have your website professionally designed.

You want to make your trade shows fun and memorable. You can use live entertainment, educational seminars, and demonstrations. You want to make sure you have enough trade show space to comfortably accommodate your visitors.

You want your trade show exhibit to stand out from the rest and be remembered by your visitors after the show is done. If you think of ways to be creative and bring excitement into your exhibit you will have a very successful show.

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Breaking Trade Show Routine

Posted by Karl | trade show displays, trade shows | Wednesday 4 November 2009 4:36 am

If you attend and exhibit at a lot of trade shows you will probably have gotten into a certain routine that you do before, during and after a show. On the other hand, if you do the same thing at every show you are not getting the most out of your trade show display. You have to realize that a person has a matter of seconds to decide whether they are interested in your exhibit or not as they walk by.

You want to attract attention to your exhibit so you should always be trying something new and exciting to draw your target audience in. Sometimes you have to think outside the box to come up with creative ways to attract attention to your product or services. Be an observer and walk around a trade show as a customer and see what is attracting people to certain exhibits. You can also get ideas from retail stores. You can go walking around in your local mall and check out store displays and how things are set up to draw people into the stores.

To get a different perspective on your trade show exhibit try asking someone that is not related to the trade show business or your company for their opinion of your exhibit. By having someone impartial critique your exhibit you will be able to get ideas on what can be improved upon.

If you always send the same staff to a trade show you might want to start looking at other staff members who are personable, professional and have strong sales skills and send them to the trade show. You can even send an entire different team to a trade show. Even sending one new person will create a new dynamic and will liven up you floor staff.

These are just a few things that you can do to attract more attention to your trade show exhibit. That way you will be showing something different to your target audience instead of the same old routine.

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Trade Show Ideas

Posted by Karl | trade show displays, trade shows | Wednesday 28 October 2009 8:10 am

Creating an attractive and inviting exhibit can seem like a difficult task to do. When planning a trade show exhibit you want to create an inviting space that people want to visit. Below are a few tips that may help you when you are creating your exhibit display.

The first thing is to know the size of area you have to work with. You want to have an exhibit that is not cluttered so your potential customers will know what message you are trying to get across. Too many items or displays will make people unsure what exactly you are trying to promote. When a person approaches your exhibit they should be able to tell immediately what you’re promoting.

You want your trade show exhibit to feel open and inviting. Try to make it a space a person can enter into comfortably. When there is a table set up across the front of your exhibit it is harder to draw people in and involve them in conversation.

If you are on a tight budget you might want to consider looking into purchasing a used pop-up exhibit display. You can find them at affordable prices. Another nice thing about using a pop-up display is that it is portable.

A trade show is a perfect place to test and refine new product concepts you are working on. It is a good way to test their popularity without spending a lot of money on producing them in large quantities. You can bring a sample or two of the new product and ask visitors and customers for their feedback on it.

If the new product is a hit you can take orders and schedule delivery dates that allow for production time. If it wasn’t successful or generate the interest you wanted you can easily scrap the concept without losing tones of money on production.

These are just a few ideas that might help when you are planning your next trade show exhibit.

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Trade Show Customer Preparation

Posted by Karl | trade show displays, trade shows | Tuesday 20 October 2009 8:03 am

Trade shows are an excellent way to meet potential new customers and to build better relationships with current customers. The most successful trade shows come from planning ahead and designing an impressive trade show exhibit. Here are a few tips to help you make your trade show a more successful event.

You will want to make sure that you let past and potential customers know about your exhibit at the trade show. You can mail out promotional materials letting them know when and where you will be located at the trade show. To entice them to come see you at the show you can include a promotional gift or discount if they stop by your exhibit.

Before committing yourself to a specific trade show space you should have a clear perspective on what your goals are for that particular show. You want to consider what you are planning to achieve, as far as leads and sales are concerned. Once you have a clear idea than you will have a better idea of what size space will fit your needs.

Before you can start the actual planning of your trade show exhibit you should try to find out everything you can about the allotted spaces. Things like the dimensions and if the space is in a high or low traffic area. Try to find out what companies are going to be in the other spaces around you. You will also want to know about access to lighting and electricity. These are all important things to know beforehand so you can build an effective trade show exhibit.

All of these things will help you to achieve your goals and have a successful trade show. Trade shows can be very profitable and an excellent way to get your company’s name recognized in your industry.

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Your First Trade Show?

Posted by Karl | trade show displays, trade shows | Sunday 11 October 2009 8:01 am

Your first trade show exhibit can be a great learning tool for future shows. For your first exhibit you might consider renting the smallest possible trade show space. The first show is always a learning experience of what works well and what doesn’t work. To keep your expenses lower you can use a small space while you are learning by trial and error.

On your company’s website you should list your upcoming trade show. Make sure you include the location of the trade show, the date of the show and your exhibit number. A good thing to remember to do after a trade show has ended is try to be diligent about removing the event from your website. This way it doesn’t appear to a person looking at you site that it never gets updated.

To get ideas about what the trends are in your industry you can visit a trade show as an attendee. This way you are free to roam around and see what types of exhibits and displays are being used. This will give you another perspective on what exhibits are attracting the most visitors and which ones are not. This is a great way to get useful information and ideas to use to put together an impressive trade show exhibit.

You will want to do your research so you can set a realistic budget. You will want to make sure that you include things related to your traveling costs, exhibit costs and marketing materials. You will also want to make sure that you include expenses concerning advertising, any shipping costs and also include any expense for entertaining clients. This way you will have an idea what your total cost for the trade show exhibit will be.

Trade shows can be a great marketing tool and a successful show can be very profitable. If you do your research and stay up to date on trends in your industry a trade show can bring in new leads and returning customers.

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