#1 – Stapler

Cheap and easy to source and personalize.  I like them because they are practical and everyone uses them so when a visitor has emerged with several plastic bags full of tomorrow’s trash, I know they will take that stapler and place it in the desk at home or office and it is going to be used.  I love that idea – my name and contact information on something which will last for years and will be seen again and again because you always need a stapler!

#2 – Travel Cups

Travel cups for taking your morning Java or Joe off on the commute are great promotional gifts and they are always in demand.  I like the idea that whenever a visitor has my travel cup, they are going to be enjoying a drink and while they are in that happy frame of mind, my logo and contact info is right in front of them.  I use these as a major gift – no kidding – if you want to get one of these out of me, you need to sit down and have an exploratory chat about business.  It works – use them!

#3 – Alarm Clocks

Out of town attendees usually end up relying on a wake up call from the concierge who may or may not be able to speak English or tell the time.  A travel alarm is a nice touch.  This is a super promo gift – I really have to  like you to give you this and you really need to be serious about business to pry one of these babies out of my hands.  Don’t skimp on quality here and make sure it is accurate, tells the time properly and goes off when it’s supposed to – test the alarm too, don’t offer nasty or annoying alarm sounding clocks.  Stick to these tips and your visitor will keep it forever.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Button Badges As Promotional Items (slideshare.net)
• How Promotional Products Could Improve Your Sales (marketingonlineinternet.com)

The ideal staff will truly believe in your company and products. They will have to have good customer and communication skills and know what the goals and objectives are for the trade show. Your staff should have extensive training before the show. It is helpful to use a practiced script that greets the visitors, introduces the staff member and has a brief overview of the company.

Everyone who is going to be working in your exhibit should know exactly what is going on and what you expect out of them. They all should know when to arrive, what to wear, and how long they will be on the trade show floor.

One important thing to remember is not to over staff your trade show exhibit. If your area is too crowded it may keep visitors from coming into your area. You should also have a plan for doing follow-ups right after the show ends. Each staff person should have a list of people to follow up with. Effective ways to do this include sending out marketing materials, phone calls and letters.

To get the most out of your trade show exhibit you need to have an excellent staff. They are the key to closing sales and getting new leads to follow. You can have the best displays and the biggest trade show exhibit. However, if you don’t have a friendly and knowledgeable staff your trade show will not be as effective.

Besides eye catching displays and an impressive trade show display you have to have a well trained professional staff on the trade show floor. This is very important to your success. You can have the most fantastic displays imaginable, but if your staff is not prepared or can’t close the deal you will end up losing on your investment that went into setting up your trade show exhibit.

One aspect of a trade show that is often forgotten about is doing follow-ups after the show has ended. If you do not have a planned strategy for following up on leads you will not be getting the most out of your trade show exhibit. Follow ups can be done in several different ways. You can send out hand written notes along with a company information packet or make a personal phone call to the top leads on your list. Today with everything being automated through texting, emails and message centers sometimes a personal phone call can have a major impact on a potential lead.

To set yourself apart from your competitors you can use strong and personal relationship building strategies. This is done each time you contact a potential customer. It reinforces your company’s commitment to customer care. By talking to each individual you are helping to remind people who you are; the personal touch goes a long way in the electronic world we live in.

You can find the best trade shows for your products by searching online. You can contact professional organizations and ask customers about shows they attend. Your local chamber of commerce and trade show planning directories are also good resources.

Once you have narrowed down your list to trade shows that show potential, then you can contact the organization running the event for more details. You can ask the organization about previous vendors or attendees to find out if the show is the right one for you. To have a productive trade show exhibit you have to make sure you are at an event that will have plenty of your target audience visiting the show.

Once you have decided on a trade show you will have to put together a detailed plan, mapping out the details of your objectives. The plan should include such things as number of sales wanted or how many leads you want to obtain. The next step is to set up a realistic budget to cover all aspects of the exhibit from pre-show marketing to following up on leads.

The next thing to do is to create a compelling sales message the will be used in all aspects of the trade show exhibit. You will want to use this message when doing pre-show promotions, setting up your displays and post show for following up leads.

By being organized and planning out each step of the things that go into putting on a trade show exhibit, you will be well on your way to having a successful exhibit.

You can use your website as a marketing tool to inform visitors to your website when they can come see you in person at a trade show. Besides just giving them information you can also use your website to give them incentives to come see you.

To make your online marketing effective there are certain things that can be done. You will want to list all of your upcoming events and as much detailed information as possible. This means your will have to do some research and find out the particulars of each trade show. This way your potential visitors can plan ahead and make time to visit your trade show exhibit.

A person should be able to find all the vital information about an upcoming trade shows from your website. Things to make sure you include in the details are, the date and time, the exact location and the products that will be available.

It is very important to give detail directions on how to find your exhibit once the person reaches the trade show floor. Include detailed maps that are highlighted with your exhibit location.

You can also provide incentives to make people want to visit you at the show. You can provide online coupons that visitors can download and bring to the trade show for a special discount or prize.

By using your website as an online marketing tool you are reaching a multitude of people, without spending much time or cost on promoting your trade show exhibits.

You can do the obvious and hire show stoppers. However, if your budget doesn’t allow for that you can do other things to get your trade show exhibit noticed. Having a well trained, fun and energetic staff can attract visitor traffic to your exhibit. Your staff should be out going and showing a sense of humor is always a good ice breaker.

You can make your exhibit exciting by incorporating color, action, lights and movement into your displays. There are many new technologies today that will help bring drama to your exhibit. Another way to make your trade show exhibit stand out is to give away exciting and fun prizes.

Have an attractive big prize drawing or contest to get people to sign up to win a fabulous prize. You can then you this information at a later date to use as potential leads. Everyone likes to win something, so the prizes can be large or small as long as they leave a lasting impression.

You can use the Internet in your trade show exhibit to showcase your products and services. A real attention getter is to make your exhibit interactive. You want to get your visitors involved by using sight, sound and touch. If they are involved in the process they will remember your company name long after the trade show is finished.

There are many things that you can do to bring the show biz element into your exhibit. You just have to think creatively and find ways to get your exhibit noticed.

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.

Below you will find some tips to help you stay comfortable during the time you are at the trade show.

You have to stay attentive at all times and a person working a trade show display has to have plenty of physical and mental stamina. The clothes you wear should be appropriate but also comfortable to move around in.

Your shoes should be very comfortable and it is never a good idea to wear new shoes when you are doing a trade show exhibit. To keep your energy level up it is a good idea to arrange it so your staff gets to take a break every couple of hours.

You should make sure you eat something throughout the day to keep a high energy level. Short breaks throughout the event will keep you and your staff on their toes. It is also important to stay hydrated during a show. Make sure plenty of water is available to you and your staff. Plan ahead and be prepared by bring along a survival kit. You should include items like, eye drops, Band-Aids, antacids, and safety pins. Trade shows can be rewarding, on the other hand, they can also be grueling if you are not prepared.

The key to success it to plan ahead and to make sure you are ready to spend hours working the trade show floor.

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.