When you are a small business owner and you attend a trade show, it can be an intimidating experience. You have to sit shoulder to shoulder with the very best names in your industry, and somehow stand out from the crowd. But if you can put your best foot forward and show the attendees what your business is made of, your business will reap so many benefits. And doing so is far from impossible. One of the great things about a trade show is that everyone is given the same space and resources, so it's what you do with it that counts. Here are some tips to make sure your next trade show is a huge success.
Signage, signage, signage. At trade shows, you simply have to make a great first impression. And while it is important to be friendly, smiley, and engaging, the first thing that people will see of you and your booth is your signage, and so you have to make it count for something. This is where a bulk of your investment should lie – do not scrimp and save on materials and colour choices but go for the best sign to represent your business on the day. If that's a sign with integrated LED lights to make your competition next door look like amateurs then so be it. Go big or go home.
Embrace technology. Society is living in a world in which technology is evolving at a breakneck pace and people's lives are being structured around that technology. You probably even use advanced technology on a daily basis in your business. So why wouldn't you integrate it into your presentation at a trade fair? Instead of just talking about your online store to people, provide tablets so that they can actually interact with it and understand its look and feel. If you have designed an incredible product that you are placing in the marketplace, let people interact with the prototype design on a tablet computer. You can also send e-business cards and collect an online data capture list.
Lose the silly giveaways. So many companies at trade shows give away items like branded pens, notepads, and stress balls in the hope that these will leave an impression. They will leave an impression, but the wrong one. These cheap items make your company look cheap and unfocused. If the giveaway isn't directly related to the offering of your company and brand, then forget it.
Share23 June 2015
That's what you want to hear new customers saying, "I saw the sign". Signs bring in new customers, and get people talking. We love to get people introduced to your brands and enquiring about what you offer. As great as online marketing is, there is still a space for impressive real life signs. We make all sorts of signs using different media and in all sorts of locations. If you are trying to come with an idea for a really great sign I think you'll like my site. I talk about how to plan, design and create great signs for your business.
