trade show booth setup

The US trade show and conference planning market has grown to $21.7bn in 2023. It’s also expected to grow by 5% throughout 2023.

If you are going to a B2B trade show, you will need to plan your tradeshow setup. Your trade show booth setup is very important in attracting the right customers.

Trade show booths are the first thing that people will notice. You need to make sure it stands out and showcases what you have to offer.

Keep reading to find out how to do the best trade show booth setup.

1. Create Engagement First

A big part of going to a B2B trade show is encouraging engagement. This needs to begin before you ever attend the business trade show.

You can encourage excitement and engagement by connecting with trade show attendees. You can do this by sending them emails or postcards before the event.

You should also announce this event on your social media and your website. This lets people know where you will be and what you will be offering.

These steps can help to create excitement before you ever arrive. People will know that you will be there and will be able to look you up once they arrive.

2. Keep the Booth Visible

Your trade show booth setup needs to be clearly visible to everyone at the event. A professional trade show is often crowded and has an abundance of booths.

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is overcrowding their booth. You may have chairs or a table sitting in front of the booth for lounging.

This may seem like a good idea, but it actually blocks the front of your booth. Passing visitors won’t be able to see what your business is or what you are offering.

This could also encourage staff to sit down and neglect their duties. The front of your booth should be left open so that it is clearly visible.

This keeps the space clean and organized so that visitors feel welcome.

3. Have Friendly Staff

During a trade show, a lot is going on, and the atmosphere can become chaotic. It is very important that you have friendly staff working your booth.

Ideally, you should have 3 to 4 staff members manning the booth, depending on its size. You want people managing the booths as well as representing your company.

Staff should be friendly and engaging, drawing people into a conversation. If your staff is not friendly, this could leave a bad impression on your company.

It also means that visitors will most likely move on to the next available booth. Engagement is important and helps people to stay and show an interest in your business.

4. Keep the Design Simple

Your trade show setup doesn’t need to be anything particularly special or complicated. In fact, the more simple the design, the more attractive it will ultimately be.

Your back wall graphics should be clearly visible with plenty of white space. You want people to be able to read your company name and see details about what you offer.

Attendees are going to judge your company by how it is presenting itself. Having a cluttered design presents your business as being unprofessional and chaotic.

It is also distracting and distracts from your ultimate purpose. A clean-cut design is the best way to attract attendees and create interest.

5. Always Have Someone There

One very important rule to follow is to always have someone manning your booth. Nothing looks quite as unprofessional as leaving your trade show booth set up on its own.

An empty booth looks abandoned and unprofessional to attendees. This also means that there will be no one visiting the booth since there is no one to speak to.

Leaving your booth for just a few minutes could ultimately result in a huge loss. This is why it is so important to make sure you have enough staff to cover the booth at all times.

6. Have the Necessities

When you go to a trade show, you need to make sure you have everything you need. The last thing you want to do is arrive only to realize you have left some necessities behind.

The necessities you need will depend on your company and your goals. If you are launching a new product, you need to have that product on hand as well as information about it.

If you are providing services, your design needs to be centered around what your business offers. This is why you need to determine your goals for this trade show before ever arriving.

7. Have Freebies

A marketing tactic used for all kinds of industries includes giving out freebies. This is a great way to market any products that you are offering by providing an example.

Everybody loves to receive free things, and this is a great way to attract attendees. It is important to remember that this can it become a bit expensive.

You will need to have plenty of items available so that you don’t run out too quickly. You may also only want to give out freebies to attendees who spent a lot of time at your booth.

Trade Show Booth Setup 101

If you are going to be visiting a trade show, you need to focus on your booth. Your trade show booth setup is very important when it comes to attracting visitors.

Are you interested in taking your business to local trade shows? Contact us today at SourceGroup to book a trade show marketing strategy call.