Even if you have the best products or services, getting noticed at a trade show can be challenging. Here are some tips to help you bring eyes and foot traffic to your booth, regardless of your industry.

1. Top 10 Tips For
Excelling At Your
Next Trade Show
www.enplug.com
Even if you have the best products or services, getting
noticed at a trade show can be challenging. Here are
some tips to help you bring eyes and foot traffic to your
booth, regardless of your industry.
PROMOTE YOURSELF
IN ADVANCE
Don’t wait for the event to start
enticing people to your booth.
Send emails beforehand inviting
attendees to stop by and visit,
and you’ll get an edge on the
rest of the pack. When you’re
on someone’s “to-do” list before
the doors even open, you could
hit the ground running.
INVEST IN
DIGITAL SIGNAGE
Video screens are a great way
to cut through the visual clutter
on the floor. Show off product
demos, play a slideshow of your
most glowing online reviews,
or tease an upcoming event.
However you use digital signage,
it’s sure to be eye-catching and
attractive to passers-by.
SCAN THE COMPETITION
You can’t concentrate only on
what you’re doing. As you’re
setting up, take a look around at
how your competitors are trying
to attract attention. Make sure
you’re prepared to scale your
efforts to match theirs.
HAVE BETTER GIVEAWAYS
Swag doesn’t make an impact
if it’s boring. Attendees will
definitely have a bag full of
pens and notepads at the end
of the show, so try something
different. Useful items such
as phone cases or earbuds
are nice, but toys or balloons
can create a more memorable
experience for visitors.
ENGAGE ON
SOCIAL MEDIA
It isn’t enough to post your
booth number and a photo.
Good engagement begins in
the days leading to the event
with teases and proper hashtags.
During the show, you can
livestream a demonstration.
Afterward, follow up with a poll
or request for reviews.
GET ON YOUR FEET
Standing up is a simple but
highly effective way to improve
your visibility. Sitting down
behind a table gives passers-
by the impression that you’re
not interested in engaging with
them, whether or not that’s true.
LET GUESTS GUIDE
THE CONVERSATION
When someone visits your
booth, avoid launching into a
canned presentation right away.
Let him or her tell you what he
or she is interested in and tailor
your response to the specific
context. Conversations are
more memorable than lectures.
DON’T BE AFRAID OF FUN
Sometimes a weird stunt can be
the most effective differentiator.
You could try a costumed
mascot, borrowing a live animal
from a local zoo, or hosting a
game. All can be good ways to
draw people to your location.
There’s nothing wrong with being
a little silly as long as it brings
potential customers to you.
HIGHLIGHT YOUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
If your business has been
featured in major media outlets
or received any accolades, be
sure to display those honors in a
prominent spot. This is another
area in which digital displays
can come in handy, because
they allow you to cycle through
various multimedia elements.
REMEMBER TO DEBRIEF
Your first instinct at the end of a
grueling trade show might be to
put your feet up and relax, but
take the time to debrief your staff
while everyone’s impressions are
still fresh. Discuss what worked
and what didn’t, and brainstorm
some ideas that might help you
next time.