Trade shows can be a bad news/good news proposition. The bad news? It might cost your business a bit to go. However, the good news is something that you can hardly put a price tag on. What will you get for your investment? Exposure, networking opportunities, new business, the chance to be seen as a major presence, and, depending on what industry you’re in, press coverage. You could be seeing the benefits of going to a trade show for a long time to come.
If you really want your presence at the show to make an impact, you need to get creative – and do it well ahead of time. First, to ensure that you get an optimal spot at the show, contact the hosting organization to get your exhibit space reserved. It’s important to do this as far in advance as possible, as competition is stiff for prime locations.
Putting together disparate elements at the last moment doesn’t make for a standout exhibit. Your next step should be coming up with a cohesive theme; whether it’s centered on a specific product, or design or color schemes is up to you. With that in mind, it’s time to start putting together a list of what you’ll need to look professional, be prepared and catch all the right eyes. Here are some suggestions:
* Get the word out: It’s a good idea to get invitations printed before the show – in fact, you might want to have two sets made. The first can be sent out to let people know that you’ll be at the show. If you plan to host a party at your exhibit space – always a good way to create buzz – have another set printed to be handed out at the show. Make sure that the invitations match up with your theme for the show, and feature your brand prominently at the same time. At www.vistaprint.com, you can upload your designs and have invitations printed and sent directly to you.
* Make a statement: The trade show attendees that visit your booth will need a way to keep everything you’re telling them fresh in their minds. There will also be lots of other vendors competing for their attention and business, so it’s a necessity to have brochures detailing what your company does and why it’s better than the competition. Make sure it’s visually compelling and gets your message across clearly – but without being too wordy.
* Something to give: Let’s face it – people love swag. There are few who are immune to the charms of a free gift, but even fewer who can resist a really good one. So, it makes sense to give out something useful that is of high quality. It’s a surprisingly affordable option to have custom T-shirts made, and they quickly become hot items at trade shows. Have your logo added to a handful of styles available at www.vistaprint.com and people will be walking advertisements for your business.
Courtesy of ARAcontent