Trade Show ExhibitorTrade Show Exhibitor Tips: How to Dominate Your Trade Shows

Did you know that trade shows are the second-largest source of B2B revenue in the US?

Trade shows are by far one of the most effective marketing mediums for all types of businesses. Exhibitors spend a staggering $24 billion every year on trade show displays, and for very good reasons. 

You see, about 95% of people agree that better business relationships are built through face-to-face interactions and no better place than trade shows. As a trade show exhibitor, you get to interact with a wide array of customers, investors, rivals, potential partners, suppliers, and even potential employees. 

Now the real trick is in standing out and dominating during a trade show. How do you attract people and get them away from your competition? In this guide, we’ll be looking at some of the best trade show tips on how to dominate trade shows. 

Have a Plan Before Attending the Show

Trade shows can be extremely overwhelming due to a lack of preparation, so it’s essential that you have a trade show plan beforehand.

Make sure all the necessary materials have been gathered well in advance. That way, you won’t be rushing around while at the event looking for things like brochures, business cards, or other giveaways. 

The easier you can make the process on yourself, the better off you’ll be. You’ll also have more time to spend at your booth speaking with potential clients and customers. Additionally, make sure you design the best booth possible so you can attract people right off the bat. 

This in itself can make the work easier if people take an interest from afar and come to you. Research the best trade show trends and find a winning idea. Even better, build a solid trade show marketing strategy to yield the best results. 

Ensure You Arrive Early

This may seem like an obvious tip, but many people still show up to trade shows well after they open for the day. Not only does this take away from precious time at your booth, but it also means that there is a good chance you’ll not get as much foot traffic past your booth. 

It’s always best to arrive earlier than later so that you can set up necessary things such as decorations, signage, products, and giveaways. You’ll have enough time to ensure everything is working properly before any guests even step foot near your booth.

Have an Engaging and Fun Booth

Having a memorable booth that people will enjoy visiting is one of the most important things you can do. This means having an attractive table, decorations, interesting giveaways for those who participate in your contest or giveaway, etc. 

The more effort you put into your booth, the better chance you have of people enjoying themselves and leaving with a positive memory of your business. You want them to think about how much fun they had and how they look forward to doing business with you in the future.

Be Prepared for Any Type of Guest

You never know what type of guest is going to approach your booth. This means that you should have prepared answers and materials for any type of question or concern that may be raised. 

For example, if someone wanted to know more about what your company does, you would want pamphlets and other information available at your table. Be prepared to receive investors, customers, competitors, or curious people. 

Have a Variety of Giveaways

If you want to be remembered as the best trade show exhibitor, make sure that there is something for everyone. One item may not be as effective as having several options that people can choose from. 

Do special things like offering free product samples. Have a variety of products and offer samples depending on what the customers are curious about. Discuss at length how your products will benefit them and tell them about the different prices for said products.

Have Several Employees Working the Booth

Instead of having one person stand or sit at the booth all day, have several people rotate through. This way, they’ll not become as tired and discouraged as quickly.

Having multiple people also means there is a better chance that anyone who wants to talk with someone will always be able to do so. 

Make sure each person knows their role and how to properly represent your company. Whether this includes taking time to answer questions or suggesting demonstrations or contests, make sure everyone has their own area and boundaries, so it doesn’t feel crowded.

Be Enthusiastic About What You are Offering

It may seem easy enough to stand behind a table and talk to people as they walk by, but this is not very effective if you want to be the best trade show exhibitor. Instead, make sure that you are always friendly and ready to answer questions whenever someone stops by your booth. 

Show excitement when discussing your products or services. Be enthusiastic about how those products could change their lives. This will give them the encouragement they need to stay there a little longer and possibly ask more questions.

Make It Interactive

The majority of guests lose interest quickly if they don’t see anything interesting going on at a booth. One way to make sure they’ll stay there longer and be more intrigued is to have some sort of activity or contest going on at your booth, even if it is a small one. 

This could include having prize drawings for small things like a free product sample, seeing who can throw a ping pong ball into a cup from across the room, etc. People love contests, and it’s an easy way to get people interested in what you are doing. 

Furthermore, it helps when people see that there is no purchase necessary and feel like they have already won. It’ll give them further incentive to act right away rather than get distracted by other booths or walk away without participating at all. Make sure that everyone who comes by has a chance to win something.

Dominating a Trade Show: How to Be the Best Trade Show Exhibitor

There you have it! Even though the trade show industry can be cutthroat, it’s quite easy to dominate and be the best trade show exhibitor at your next event. If you design the best booth, arrive early, and give people a reason to come to you, you’ll be halfway there. 

If you utilize these tips, competitors will be left wondering why everyone wants to come to your booth. That said, if you’re looking to do some trade show marketing to get people excited before the show, please give us a call today.