Time to Shine!
Have you heard? Trade shows will be back for the Spring of 2022. These in-person events can be huge bottom-line difference makers. And if you’re planning a booth, you’ve come to the right blog!
I LOVE trade shows. Not just talking about them, everything about them. I am all about helping a business have a successful tradeshow experience. It’s more than just the booth dimensions or promotional products (both of which I can help you with).
First and most important question
I want to make sure that what you bring to your tradeshow is worth every penny you invest, and that you are confident in how to work the show. Your goal is to come back with a long list of new leads.
So ask yourself: What experience do you want attendees to have when they stop at your booth? From there the fun begins!
Don’t just sit there!
If you plan to sit down and look at your phone until someone approaches you, I would not waste your money on a trade show booth! Plan on standing most of the time, pulling out all the stops to engage passersby.
Make sure you have what you need for a day of standing and engaging:
- Comfortable shoes with extra padding
- Anti-fatigue mats to stand on
- A stool to lean on (But not the whole time!)
- Trade show swag that everyone wants and talks about (more on that in a minute!)
Prepare for optimum success
Everything that comes next is driven by what’s in your budget. It’s more than just the color and style of the curtains and banners (although they’re important too!). These additional considerations should also fit your budget:
- Should you buy or should you rent? Buying can be a money saver. Reasons to buy include:
- Planning on attending several shows in the same season where can use the same setup
- If you want to stick to the “bones” of the booth and just change out the curtains and banners
- Just how big?
- The bigger the booth, the more likely you will need to:
- Ship it rather than carry it on your own
- Hire help for setup
- It may be more economical to have a booth size you can carry and set up on your own.
- What about the extras? Will your booth have:
- Carpeting
- Electrical
- WiFi (Tip: Rather than pay for WiFi, bring along what you need to set up your own hotspot!)
All of the above come add to your trade show costs (they can be exorbitant!) and need to be reserved well in advance.
- Going bigger & better in the future? As you get more successful, you may want to spend more on the next-level booth. In which case, you’ll want a booth set up that can grow as your budget does.
Don’t forget the swag!
Giveaways, Products, and Prizes are trade show musts! And yes, there are thousands of promotional product choices, but I do not want you to have to review them all. Instead, when you work with Promo Stuff 4 You, the first thing you’ll do is talk to me.
When selecting the best conference swag, we will make sure it is
- Memorable — So people remember your brand
- Quality — Made of material that conveys something of value
- Sharable — It’s an item that someone would gift to another
- Creative — It is fun and outside-the-box
- Durable — It will last for years
My superpower is matching products to your needs. Think of me as your personal shopper.
Opportunities await!
If you are planning for a tradeshow, I know you want to have a memorable presence there. You have a budget to stick with, so something practical makes sense. At the same time, something static and cookie-cutter just won’t do!
I do not see this as a problem that gets resolved by compromises. When you and I work together, you are going to succeed! Let’s get the ball rolling today!