Success at a trade show requires proper organization, resilience, and creativity. Businesses measure their success in terms of leads, return on investment, and resulting opportunities. While this is effective, the level of effort into the trade show will determine these statistics.
Like other investments, a trade show requires proper planning to get results. A good plan will successfully introduce your new products, reinforce your brand, or announce your entrance into the market.
Below are six tips to ensure success at a trade show.
Table of Contents
1. Set Realistic Objectives And Measure Them
Effective planning requires asking yourself why the exhibit is necessary, whether you need a modern simple booth, which providers to hire, and the expected outcomes. Your objectives should be measurable to justify individuals’ participation and increase the program’s effectiveness. With well-stated objectives, you can develop tactics and strategies that will meet them effectively. To measure the success of your trade show, consider the following metrics:
- Sales from leads
- Sales lead
- Number of inquiries
- Number of contacts
- Number of distributed literature
- Return on investment
- Outside research
2. Select The Right Team
After deciding your goals, the next step is selecting the right team and having an action plan stating each individual’s role. Train your staff on the do’s and don’ts of the exhibit, including their etiquette and attitude behaviors. You may also need to hire brand ambassadors to distribute flyers and leaflets and collect potential customers’ details.
3. Select The Right Promotional Material
In addition to the right stand team on your simple booth, communication is paramount. Therefore, carefully prepare your tools, including catalogs, posters, signs, price lists, videos, promotional articles, business cards, gadgets, and PowerPoint designs.
4. Work With A Trade Show Exhibit Company For Your Simple Booth Design
Your main goal during a trade show is attracting visitors to your booth. An invisible booth will render your communication plans ineffective, however good they are. Therefore, liaise with a trade show service provider for a customized booth design to ensure good capture of your brand. Your provider will design your booth for easy customer access and use color, lighting, and graphics to make your simple booth attractive.
5. Schedule A Pre-show Promotion
Studies reveal you can boost your lead counts by up to 33% through pre-promotion. Highlight the features and benefits your potential customers will see and get from visiting your simple booth at least four to six weeks before the show, depending on the circumstances.
You can also entice visitors into your booth through creative pre-show promotional pieces like raffles and giveaways.
6. Conduct a Proper Follow Up
No matter your methodology through the trade show, if you are to attain a great return on investment, conduct a timely follow-up on your customers. One way to do this is through a well-thought-out lead card.
Your lead card should be concise and complete with an actionable task description of the parties providing follow-up.
The Bottom Line
While the above are guaranteed for a successful trade show, you should debrief after your show to discuss what went well or did not. By examining your event, you will be better equipped for a better future and increased returns.
