HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRADESHOW

Although the benefits of a tradeshow are well documented, attending a worthwhile trade show can still mean significant financial investment. When you have bitten the bullet and decided to attend a show, what can you do to guarantee maximum to return on investment?

CHOOSE YOUR BOOTH LOCATION

Once you have researched and selected your trade show, it’s time to look into the location of your booth on the floor plan. The very best stands are in area which enjoys the most footfall, these stands are usually neighboured by some of the ‘big players’ in your industry. Most trade shows offer the very best booth locations for an extra charge, most of these prime spaces fill up fast and some are booked up each year by certain companies. If you are considering attending a trade show year after year, try and leverage one of these positions as part of your deal.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

It’s time to devise a strategy. Dedicate some time to reading the exhibitor list and organise meetings with customers at your stand. You could also send out an e-shot to prospective customers inviting them to visit you at the exhibition with your stand details clearly marked.

RUN A SHOW PROMOTION

Whether its 10% off your product, a free consultation or a crazy offer like buy one get one free, make sure that your business runs some promotions to entice new customers . Although your margins may take a short term hit, think of the lifetime value of gaining a new customer. Ensure that any promotion is clearly illustrated and promoted.

If you can’t run a promotion, why not invest in high specification promotional products, alongside the industry standard pens, mugs & notepads… why not introduce some electronic gadgets like USB’s? They always go down well and will be on people’s desks for a long time to come!

BE SOCIAL

Find out what the tradeshow’s official hash tag is for the show and put this at the core of your social media tradeshow campaign, do you also have Linkedin contacts which would benefit from a personal invite to the stand?

Whilst at the show, remember that the primary function of your social media is to take the show to those who cannot attend. Do this by sharing photos, tweets & updates, feel free to involve some of the customers/companies you have had discussions with to your social content!

TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR STRIDE…

One of the most critical elements of your trade show performance is how attractive your marketing materials are, your stand should look great as should any leaflets and flyers or booklets and brochures.

Why is this important? With so many potential customers or clients in one place, it’s vital that they walk away from your booth with a fantastic first impression of your business, with smart, informative marketing materials in their hands.

Here at Photoline, we have been supplying exhibition & banner stands for as long as we can remember. Photoline deploy the latest print and design methods, which ensure that you receive cost effective , impactful marketing solutions. Click here, to see the full range of Photoline services.