Going to a trade show may be a requirement for your company, but it’s not something that you have to dread going to. Instead, you should think about the trade show as a wonderful opportunity to meet others in your industry, check out the innovations created by your competitors, and show off your own new products and services.
Trade shows can be a great way for your company to promote itself, but if you have a booth that’s less than entertaining, you may find your trade show visit to be stagnant. Having a booth that is attractive and entertaining will get people to visit you—and more people equates to a better trade show experience for you.
So before you start coming up with that boring old trade show exhibit idea, consider the following four ways to enhance your trade show exhibit instead.
1. Choose the right representative
Aside from the swag and material you have at your booth, you need to make sure your booth is represented by the right person. In order to choose the best trade show booth representative, you need to consider a few things. First, you need to make sure that you’re choosing someone who knows what they’re talking about. Many companies make the mistake of sending an intern or two who can’t answer many in-depth questions, and this is not a good idea. Instead, use a seasoned salesperson or even a high-level executive for the role.
You should also try to choose someone who has a lot of energy and is able to multitask. You are going to have a long day at the trade show, and you’re going to be bombarded with a variety of different people at once. If you have someone at the booth who is easily stressed, this won’t be a good way to represent your company.
2. Brand your booth
You want to make sure that visitors know who you are from across the room, so make sure that you brand your booth. Invest in some signage and customized items you can hang or attach to your booth that tells people who you are and what you have to offer.
To ensure you have everything you need, you should consider hiring a professional company to help you with the design elements. According to Multi Image Group, a trade show technology company, “we approach each exhibit as an opportunity to deliver a visitor experience that helps our clients immerse their audiences in their core message for a branded impression that lasts long after the convention is over.” This is the type of company you want to use to design a trade show booth experience that represents who you are.
3. Think outside the box
Most trade show booths can be boring, and you don’t want to do this. Instead of brochures, think about a digital PDF you can send via email or social media. Instead of talking about a product, bring the product there for a live demonstration. Instead of showing what your innovation can do, bring a TV or computer with you to show a 3D experience. If you can WOW your guests with something new, they’ll be more likely to visit your booth.
4. Take the trade show to the digital world
Social is popular right now, so use social media effectively during your trade show. Create a hashtag for your booth, hold a live Q&A via Twitter with someone at your booth, or offer a social media contest for guests. By connecting with your guests at the convention as well as online, you’ll drive traffic to your booth. Plus, it’s a great way to keep the conversation going long after the trade show is over. You will not only be able to interact with potential customers, but you’ll also be able to gather feedback and use that to help your booth experience at the next trade show.