Sometimes, the old fashioned ways are the best, and exhibiting at a trade show is still a great way to get your business out there and hopefully pull in some new customers.
Having said this, they can be tricky to get right, so here are a couple of our top tips to make your business stand out at your next trade show.
Research
As with anything, preparation is key, so find out as much as you can about the show before deciding you want to exhibit there.
More specifically you’ll want to make sure that the demographic of people who will be attending the show is your target audience. It’s all well and good if thousands of people will be turning up, but if none of them are remotely interested in your business you’re wasting your time.
Consider attending a smaller show if it means you’ll be targeting more potential customers, and check out this extensive list of UK trade shows to find one that’s right for you.
Also keep an eye out for any competitors that will be exhibiting. Is your business ready to take them on head-to-head?
And make sure to scope out the best location for your stand! Areas where people will be hanging round outside conference rooms or next to the biscuit stand are preferable!
Make sure people know you’re there
The whole reason you’re at a trade show is to get your business out there, so there’s no shame in plugging the business as much as possible.
Try and get yourself involved in any PR that the event organisers might be doing to give yourself a bit of a head start on the competition.
If possible, see if you can get a slot speaking at the event! But if you do, make sure you don’t just give a straight up sales pitch, people will see right through it.
Instead speak on something you’re an expert in, and establish yourself as a trusted figure in your industry.
Stand out from the crowd
The main challenge you face will be getting people to come over and check out your business ahead of all the others that are there.
This covers absolutely everything from the stand itself to your leaflets. Try and get creative with your stand, and decorate it relevant to your business.
It’s also a good idea to have products and services on hand for people to try out for themselves.
Free giveaways are a favourite at trade shows too, but again, try and keep it relevant to the business, and make sure it’s something useful that the person will carry on using after the event is over.
Finally, spend some time on the leaflets or brochures you’ll be handing out as this is what people will remember you by. Make sure you say what you do in an interesting but concise manner, and try to stand out!
Everyone on the same page
While your whole team doesn’t necessarily need to attend the show, it’s a good idea to take a couple of employees with you.
The stand will need to have someone on it for the entirety of the show, so you need to be able to take it in shifts.
Before choosing who to take with you though, you need to make sure everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet, and is sticking to the company spiel.
Give everyone regular breaks to keep morale up, but make sure everyone is pulling their weight and not just sat around.
Another good idea is to get yourself some branded clothing from a bespoke clothing company such as Stitch Embroidery in Preston to give everyone a professional image, and make sure that your staff are easily identifiable.
Set targets
Make sure you measure how many leads or sales you make directly from the show and set a target that you want to achieve.
Obviously the number of leads you get is going to differ depending on your business and industry, but you want to make sure that attending these shows is worth your time, and more importantly worth the money you’re paying to be there!