5. What is total number of booths and what is occupancy rate a few weeks before show? The thumb rule is that a trade show can have about 5 to 10 percent of empty stands about 2 weeks before event which eventually gets filled in my last minute confirmations or by sponsors. If numbers are higher that this, you should check official reason given by exhibitors to ensure that you don't end up participating in a show which has too many empty stands.

6. Is tradeshow provider offering a 'desperate' discount and doing unusual number of follow ups? If you get an offer for a trade show booth which is just too good to believe then it is probably too good to believe. 'Desperate' discounts are offered by event planners as a last ditch attempt to sell all booths as you should only participate is such tradeshows if you have unique reason to do so.

7. Testimonials and repeat number of participants year after year is another good way to check on trade show. If you see a large number of repeat participants over a number of years, it is a good way to determine quality of event.

Quality of location and association with service providers also help in getting to know seriousness with which trade show providers approach their work. I hope this article is also read by trade show providers to realize what exhibitors look out for!

How about a phone call? It's worth a chance, but then again person you're trying to reach may have a secretary, and what are your chances of getting past them with a testimonial request?

Or of course you could always send them a good ole fashioned "snail mail" letter, preferably including a complimentary copy of your product.

Will this work? Well, it will definitely help get their attention. You may want to contact them via email initially asking them for their postal address so you can send them a review copy of product.

By doing that initially you're sure to get right address, and it helps put a mental note in person's mind that they're going to receive a package from you soon.

Or here's an almost fool proof way: why not buy time from them? Especially if they offer consulting already. It doesn't guarantee they'll offer a testimonial, but if your product's great, chances are they will.

So let's say you've got product in their hands, and they like it. Here's last step:

Make it as easy as possible for them. The people you contact are very busy, since that's how they got to where they are.

So what you need to do is write testimonial for them. And once you've done that, send it over saying "I've included a potential testimonial outline for you. If you would be happy to offer a testimonial for product, please feel free to change this draft testimonial as you would like to."

Now I can't guarantee you'll get testimonials every time you try, especially if you're not well known in market or don't have a relationship with person already. But if you don't try, you'll never know. And just one or two celebrity testimonials can make a real positive impact on your sales for long term.