Are you considering taking part in a trade show for
first time? It can be quite an investment in time and money, so get answers to following questions first.1.Is trade show focused?
You want to make sure it will be attracting your target market. Talk with people who are putting on trade show and find out.
2.Ask promoters how they plan to promote it.
Billboards, TV, radio and newspaper ads, trade journals? Make sure its going to be well publicized.
3.Get history.
How many trade shows have they done in past and how successful were they? They should have numbers to show you.
4.Get names of people who have participated in trade show in past and make some phone calls.
You’ll get a lot of un-censored information from actual participants, but do talk to several.
If you decide, from your research, that you want to participate in show, do following:
1.Visit a couple of trade shows to become familiar with what’s going on.
Observe displays, how people work their booths and attract people to come visit, giveaways, etc. Take a notepad and make notes. Observe what works for you – what makes you approach a certain booth. Is it display? The person? The way person is dressed or how they’re standing or sitting? 2.Plan to work with a partner.
Running a booth is a two-person proposition, for many reasons. You’ll need relief to take breaks, one of you can walk around meeting other people while other person staffs booth, people are more comfortable approaching two people than one. Also your equipment can be cumbersome. One of you can drop other off at door for setup and go park car. 3.Prepare your booth display and materials.
You need something eye-catching that can be see from15-20’ away. There’s whole industry supplying these materials, which include displays, booths, portable trade show exhibits, pop-up displays and exhibit booths in various sized (20’ – 6’), and floor-standing or table-top models. Check them out on Internet. Here is one: http://www.showstopperexhibits.com/. It’s a sizeable investment, but you will need to be competitive.
