4.Prepare an ample supply of brochures, flyers and business cards. 5. Decide your goals. Just to meet people, try and close some sales, get names and email addresses, or do your first trade show and learn?

6.Have some way to capture names, addresses and emails.

Most of literature people pick up at booths (or anywhere else) is discarded shortly thereafter. You can have a giveaway, where they drop their business card in a fish bowl, or a sign-up sheet for a free gift.

7.Prepare your “elevator speech.”

Many people will only stop by your booth for a minute or two and you need to have prepared quick descriptions of what you do, what services you offer, or information on a certain product or program you’re promoting.

8.Don’t forget that other exhibitors are your audience as well.

They may need your product and services or be in a position to refer you to others. Visit around and network within show.

Remember that your work is only half done after trade show is finished. Process after trade show so you know what went well and why, and what you would do differently in future.

Then follow up on all your leads. Get names on your newsletter list, mail out flyers, make phone calls.

Lastly, analyze response rate vs. time and money you put into it. Take into account any residual business you may get. It can take up to 7 “hits” before a person will buy, and you may have made first “hit” on a large number of people and gotten a lot of exposure.

There are several payment options available, however, Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) limits your liability if your credit card is used. According to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ”…your liability for lost or stolen credit cards is limited to $50. If loss involves only your credit card number (not card itself), you have no liability for unauthorized use.” (FTC, 2004)

Keep records of your online transactions and review for monthly credit card and bank statements. Verify that charges made were accurate and report errors immediately. “The FCBA's settlement procedures apply to disputes about "billing errors" for open-end accounts, including unauthorized charges (you cannot be liable for more than $50 for unauthorized credit charges); charges for goods or services you didn't accept or weren't delivered as agreed; charges that are incorrectly identified or show wrong amount or date; math errors; a failure to properly reflect payments or credits; not mailing or delivering credit billing statements to your current address, if address was received by creditor in writing at least 20 days before billing period ended; and charges for which you request an explanation or documentation, because of a possible error. ” (FTC, 2004)

Resources Author Unknown. (2004). A Consumer's Guide to E-Payments. Retrieved March 12, 2004 from www.FTC.gov