As a business, trade shows can give you a golden opportunity to raise awareness about your company, and allow you to show off your products and services. Trade shows are very important for companies as they are usually attended by those with interest, and the money, to invest in something that they see. You will have to ensure that you have done all that you can in the run up to a trade show in order to make the most out of it, and more importantly, stand out from the crowd. The key with this, as with many things in life, is in the preparation and here are the key things which you should be doing prior to the big event.
Getting The Booth Right
The first step of making sure that you are properly prepared for your trade show is to ensure that you have got just the right booth for your product. It is always recommended that you look at custom trade show displays to really make sure that your product stands out, and that you are attracting people to your exhibit. Just think about the volume of people which will not only be attending the event, but also the number who will be pitching, you must stand out.
Buzz-Inducing Giveaways
Giveaways have become a hallmark of events like this and it is important that you don’t fall into the trap of thinking that handing a pen out to visitors will be enough. The idea of the giveaway is to further spread the message about who you are, and within the trade show, the key is to attract people through the giveaways. For example, something as simple as a flashing lanyard with your company logo will peak interest and bring more people to your exhibit.
Tried and Tested
If you are going to be showing off a product then make sure that you are 100% confident that it is fully operational and that it will not let you down on the big day. Technical difficulties are simply not acceptable at a show where the idea is to show off what your company can do so make sure that it is fully tested, and that you have a back up just in case.
Information Overload
Whoever you decide to have on the floor with you from your team, you must ensure that you all know just what you are talking about when it comes to the business and your products. The slightest chink in the armour could see you lose a sale and this is exactly why it is so vital that everyone doe their homework.
Personnel
Deciding on which members of your team to take with you is not difficult and you should always go with those that have the best interpersonal skills, and with the best salespeople. You may have a technical wizard in-house who can freely discuss all aspects of the products which you have, but that doesn’t make them a great seller.
The key to trade show success really is in the planning so make sure that you have dedicated sufficient time to it before you go.