Thinking of taking part in a trade show? These events can be great opportunities for generating new leads when organised correctly. Here are 7 tips to make your stall stand out.
Research your competition
Trade shows tend to be themed around certain niches – you could find that there are other companies running stalls there that sell the same product as you. You can usually find a list of all the companies that will be at the trade fair online. By researching into these companies, you can determine how many are likely to be offering similar services to yours and you can then find ways to single yourself out.
Invest in branding
Banners and signage will help people to remember your company brand. The likes of this company sell feather banners and marquees that can be personalised. You can even get creative with balloons and digital signage.
Get involved in social media
Whilst you don’t want to be sat on your phone too much, it’s worth making use of social media to let people at the event know about your stall. You can use Twitter to advertise any promotions you may be offering whilst hashtagging the name of the trade show. Meanwhile, you can post photos to Instagram and use Facebook’s live video feature.
Do a demo of your product
It could be worth hosting a demo of your product on your stall. People may be more drawn to your product if they can see it in use. Not every company will be able to do this, but those that can should take advantage of it.
Make a noise
You can also attract people to your stall by creating some noise. Playing music could be one way to turn people’s heads. Alternatively, you could simply use your voice to lure people over by shouting out news on promotions you’re offering. Be wary that some trade shows may have rules against noise – in which you won’t want to be using this tactic.
Give away freebies
Everyone loves a freebie. There are many things that you could give away for free to help attract people to your stall. Food and drink is a great way to grab people’s attention – offering tasters of wine or sweets is certain to attract people. Another option could be to hand out promotional products such as branded pens or branded fidget spinners. You’ll be giving people a physical reminder of you business to keep on to – these people may then be urged to look your company up again in the future.
Host a competition
Competitions are another way to attract people to your stall. You can offer your product as a prize and then either get people to complete a challenge or buy a raffle ticket (the latter option could allow you to make some money). You can also use this as an opportunity to get people’s contact details so that you can notify them of the results – you can then ask their permission to send promotional material via email or text, to which some people may agree.