As a business owner, it might feel like you have to make up for lost time with your customers. Trade shows are an opportunity to spend face-time with your potential clients and customers after a year of online shopping, virtual events, and closed doors. Due to the nature of trade shows, careful planning is necessary to make the most of the short time you have to promote your product or service while also interacting with your consumers on a personal level. Here’s the best way to prepare your business for a trade show.
Find the right trade show. Before you even get to the trade show, it’s crucial to find one that’s right for your business. Your first step should be researching the events in your industry. Make a list of the event locations, durations, and expected turnout. It’s also important to look into the audience who goes to the trade shows you’re interested in attending. After all, you want to connect with the right people. From there, you’ll be able to figure out which trade show is the best investment of your time and resources so that you always have the best return on investment (ROI).
Outsource what you can while planning for a trade show. Running a business means you have to wear many different hats multiple times a day. And while attending trade shows is all about growing your business, the truth is you may not have the time to do it yourself. That’s where outsourcing comes in. From staffing the event with brand ambassadors to overseeing the logistics of the entire trade show, outsourcing big picture tasks can save you time and money when it comes to trade show preparation.
Draw people into your trade show booth. Trade shows are all about creating memorable and engaging experiences with potential customers. Don’t just offer a handout — make your trade show booth memorable! From playing games to offering demos or samples of your product, there are so many simple ways you can add something extra to your booth that will leave people talking. Whatever activity you incorporate into your trade show booth, make sure it aligns with your business, product, service, and overall goals.
Pick the right swag. One of the most enticing parts of trade shows for attendees is the swag (giveaway items). Like the activities you incorporate into your booth, the items you hand out should align with your business. Pens, notepads, and tote bags are an easy way to stay top-of-mind after a trade show because these items are likely to be used regularly. But if you want to go a step further and stand out from your competition, think of swag that’s specific to your product or service. For example, if you’re a tech company, offer branded items like mouse pads or USB jump drives. When you offer swag that aligns with your business, trade show attendees will remember who you are and what your company does long after the trade show is over.
Don’t forget about social media. Posting on social media is probably already part of your marketing strategy. Don’t let it fall by the wayside when you’re at an event. In fact, attending a trade show is a great way to gather content for your social channels! Take advantage of the many ways you can promote your business on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn leading up to, during, and after the trade show. Encourage your team to be as active on social media as possible when the trade show is happening, and ensure they’re using branded hashtags to keep potential customers engaging with your business.
From researching the right events to outsourcing help, promoting your presence, and giving away unique swag items, the better prepared you are for a trade show, the more success you’ll have. All Aces Promotional Staffing’s brand ambassadors and promotional models engage with attendees, encourage sales, and help drive traffic to your booth.