How To Get Ready For a Trade Show

How To Get Ready For a Trade Show

Colleen Davis

February 27, 2008

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Everything you need to know to get ready for a trade show, you will learn here:

Get the word out! Even before your trade show starts, you have to get the word out that you’re participating in this particular exhibit. A few months or several weeks ought to do it. You can send out a press release or put out an ad on the local newspapers or magazines regarding the event. You can also send the attendees (if you can get hold of the official list) with personal invitations to your booth. Even more enticing is if you could hand out claim coupons for free products or color flyers and unique business cards to the attendees to make sure that your target clients go to your booth when the trade show begins.

Be prepared! We cannot prevent emergencies and catastrophes to occur, but we sure can avoid major problems if we come prepared for the trade exhibit. Advance preparation is the key. Make a checklist of solutions to problems, and the steps you intend to take when the need arises. A dry run with your staff will do you a world of good.

Look and be professional! You can either have it appear in the way you design your booth or through uniform shirts you provide your staff manning your booth. A uniform look both in your exhibition and staff is a great way to promote an image of professionalism and organized company to your clients and prospects. When you look the part, you don’t need too many words to convince your audience that you’re serious with what you have to offer.

And since you already look the part, why not go all the way and act like a real professional. Greet each and everyone as they pass your booth. Strike up a conversation about the benefits they could get from your business.

Don’t beat around the bush! Go straight to the point. You only have at least 5 seconds to convince your clients and prospects to stay and find out more, or you can just let the opportunity walk past your booth. In as short a time as 5 seconds, you should already grab their attention with your booth display and say what you want to say to introduce your company and products.

Giveaways for free! Attract the attention of your clients by handing out your promotional giveaways. Give one of your staff the responsibility of going around and handing out your print flyers and business cards. This person can also point your target client to the direction of your booth.

Provide an offer that is hard to resist! At the end of the day, despite having the most attractive booth and most efficient staff, it is still your offer that would make your prospects (as well as your current clients) want to do business with you.

Joining trade shows is important if you want your business to be successful. It is here that businesses are given the opportunity to come face-to-face with prospective customers. It is also during trade shows that you get to know your competition a little better.

So be prepared when you participate in trade shows. Do your research and planning, and you’ll surely get the leads you need to expand your business.