*This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase I may receive a commission at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Of all of the methods of business promotion out there, one stands out from all of the others, and that is trade shows. Why? Because trade shows give you the opportunity to showcase your business to a vast number of people all at once, significantly boosting your customer base and brand exposure. All you need is a fantastic stand and a chatty persona, and you can take your next trade show by storm.
When it comes to exhibiting at trade shows, there are some mistakes that you don’t want to make. So bearing this in mind, below is a guide to the mistakes that you want to avoid making at all costs when it comes to exhibiting at trade shows, and tips for doing things the right way. For all of the best advice, read on.
Trade shows are highly competitive places, which is why having a dull stand that makes no impact can be a real problem. The chances are that your stand will be in a room full of hundreds of others, which means that if you want to make an impact, it needs to stand out. If you aren’t sure how to create a stand that has the wow factor, consider consulting with an event stand design company. The fact is that if you are going to make the most of your time exhibiting at a trade show, you need to have a stand that really makes an impact and draws people to it.
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when it comes to trade show exhibiting is not offering any incentives. The fact is that if you want people to be drawn to your stand over others, you need to be able to offer some fantastic incentives. From competitions and giveaways to goodie bags and sweets, there are plenty of options for drawing people to your stand. The fact is that a stand without any incentives in place is never going to do as well as a stand that is offering a range of different freebies. After all, everyone loves a freebie, don’t they?
When a person approaches your stand, the last thing that you should do is launch straight into a hard sell. There is nothing like this for putting people off of your brand. Instead, start by saying hello and asking them how their day has been going and whether they are having a nice time. Then, ask why they are attending the show, and use their answer to lead into your spiel about what your company offers and how you could help them.
Attending a trade show isn’t just about standing by your exhibit all day, it’s also about networking with other exhibitors. Make time to chat with, and get to know, as many of the other exhibitors in attendance as possible. Make sure to have plenty of business cards on hand as well, so that you can hand these out to anyone that asks. Trade shows aren’t only a fantastic place to find new customers, but also to meet other local business owners and build up your contacts within the industry.
Exhibiting at a trade show can be a fantastic way to build your brand’s exposure and get to know other local business owners, as long as you know how to make the most of your time there, that is.