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Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.

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Build A Better Booth: 5 Tips For Trade Show Participants

 

Trade shows are an important part of networking and reaching new customers within any industry, but they also tend to be crowded, noisy, and overwhelming. So what does it take to make a big impact? Among seasoned demonstrators, these five strategies reign supreme. Though they may seem straightforward, these elements work together to grab your audience’s attention and draw them to your booth, despite all the competing exhibitioners.

 

Your Name Here

 

One of the most important factors determining whether or not people will stop at your display booth is simple: they need to be clear on who you are. In other words, it’s critical that you post a sign or banner with your company’s name where’s it’s easily seen. Many companies have a standard banner that they hang across the front of their booth no matter where they go, but if you’re in a crunch and don’t have time to get a professional banner, you can make a lightweight sign using a template and bristle board, foam core, or cardboard that’s easy to post behind your booth.

 

Create A Defined Space

 

At many trade shows, exhibitioners are assigned a table, and the rest is up to you. When you’re crowded among dozens of other companies, then, you need to create a defined space that’s just for your business, and one way to do this is by using a pop-up canopy to frame your display space. Canopies are a great tool if you’re a regular at trade shows because you can hang your banner from the frame or add your company name to the sidewalls, and they protect against sun or rain if you’re displaying outdoors. Most importantly, having a canopy lets you customize your exhibition area and makes it look more professional.

 

Provide Promotional Items

 

Everyone likes a giveaway, and when they’re being inundated by sales pitches on all sides, a giveaway can also make your company more memorable. Any time you attend a trade show, then, it’s important to bring promotional items that represent your brand. Be sure to skip the useless or wasteful – the stress balls and mouse pads that once made popular freebies – and instead look for unique, useful items. Trending right now with tech companies are branded wire keepers and USB ports, while health companies are branding seed packets, collapsible water bottles, and other goods for your giveaways.

 

Emphasize Interaction

 

At trade shows, there are several different ways you can try to sell your product or services. You can ask prospective clients questions about their needs, you can dive into a pitch, or, if you want people to remember your brand, you can take an interactive approach. The most effective presenters at these events use props to engage the audience, to demonstrate products and processes, and to encourage passerby to stop at the booth and experiment with the items there. When people have a chance to participate in your demonstration, they’re more likely to remember your company the next day and reach out for more information.

 

Create Tech Tie-Ins

 

Finally, depending on the setting of a trade show, it can be hard to include high-tech tools in your display. Many times, you’ll be cordoned into a large hall or an outdoor area without outlets where you can’t even show clients your website, never mind demonstrate a cool new device. That’s why when you can’t go all out with virtual reality displays or digital photo booths, consider ways you can create simpler tech tie-ins. One innovative approach is to create a special display or webpage and then link it to a QR code. Print those QR codes on business cards, and you’ve got a low-tech solution to our high-tech era.

 

Trade shows are a big opportunity for your business, but they won’t help you make connections if everyone’s just passing by your booth. Come prepared to make an impact with props and promotional giveaways, though, and you’ll leave with high-value contacts that can take your company to the next level.

 

Will your booth draw crowds?

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