Participating in a trade show is an effective way to make your business known and to connect with potential leads. The Event Marketing Institute claims that 87% of those who attend these events buy something from the participants, 74% of them have a better perception of the companies, and 96% of them talk about the brands to other people. If you haven’t participated in a trade show yet, it’s time that you consider joining one to enjoy the benefits. The success of participating in these events relies heavily on your preparation. Here are ways to adequately prepare for a successful trade show.
Do your research
Not all trade shows are the same. Do your research on the up and coming trade events and their themes or goals. Participate in those that share the same objective as you and those that are more likely to be visited by your target market.
Book a space in advance
Once you find an event that you would like to participate in, book your space in advance. Most of those who create these events offer discounts to early birds. Furthermore, this will ensure that you will have a spot for the show. Get all the details about your space, including its exact location and size. See if there will be separators or not so you can plan on how to decorate your exhibition booth and maximise your space.
It’s ideal to get a space that will be easily seen by many attendees. Whether your booth is big or small, make it inviting and eye-catching so more people will visit it, and they will know more about the products or services that you offer. Invest in banners, flyers, and business cards as these will help in marketing your business and also giving information on how potential clients can contact you.
Promote the event
Let other people know about it in advance by promoting the trade show so more people will attend it. Use social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to get the word out there. Use your website for advertising about the event too. Post the event schedule and all the details that your site visitors need to know including your booth number and what to expect at the show.
Send invites
Aside from promoting the trade show on various platforms, you can also send invites to people you know including friends, family, relatives, colleagues, and customers. They might even bring along other people they know, which will bring traffic to your booth and more potential customers.
Train your staff
No matter how well-prepared your space is, it still boils down to how well your staff handles the event. They should be well-trained on how to engage and connect with attendees. Plus, they must be knowledgeable about all the products or services that you offer so that potential customers will get good answers to their questions and the information that they need.
Be sure to arrive early before the event starts to ensure that everything is ready in your booth.