http://www.tradeshowpromotions.biz

Winning Ideas for Trade Show Display Success

People who viewed this page also viewed this article

Hands On Trade Show Exhibits Lure Attendees
When trade show exhibit goers walk the vast exhibit hall floors and come upon highly creative, interactive trade show displays, they get to stop and join in some fun. The trade show attendee becomes part of the exhibit. By using experiential...read more


Winning Ideas for Trade Show Display Success

Winning Ideas for Trade Show Display Success

According to a survey by market research firm Exhibit Surveys Inc., trade shows are critical to marketing-oriented companies. Trade shows attract decision-makers, influence purchasing decisions, provide a point of contact for new customers, and make a lasting impression.

Think of your trade show display as the grand launch of your most valued new product or business service. Give customer prospects your best look and greet them with your most competent sales staff.

Here are the tips on how to succeed at your next trade show:

Pick the Right Shows - Select the trade shows that your targeted market prospects and competitors attend. Check out trade show directories on the Web. Get statistics for show attendance and a

profile of attendees. Talk to former exhibitors about their trade show experience at the shows you select.

Plan Ahead -Determine the space size and dimensions of your trade show booth. Reserve a good location early for your booth by studying the floor plan. Avoid dead-end aisles, freight doors, poorly lit corners, obtrusive columns. Attendees usually turn right when they first enter the trade show exhibit hall and they look up so be sure to make your booth visible with dramatic overhead signage. Once you nail down your trade show booth number on the show management map, be aware of any booth rules and regulations that apply such as height limitations and any obstructions on show floor before planning your booth design.

Allow enough time to select, design and build a trade show display and take advantage of early show services discounts. You will be able to avoid costly rush charges and you are better able to insure against glitches. Identify the date of the trade show and also the move in date for your trade show display.



Set Objectives For Lead Development - Set trade show exhibit goals to reinforce your overall marketing objectives. Make sure the goals are reasonable and attainable, share them with your trade show exhibit team and set up systems to measure your results and validate your objectives.

Accurately qualify and measure your Return On Investment. There are software packages that allow you to identify a half dozen weighted multiple choice questions in advance that will determine how viable a client prospect is. You need to identify buyers,

filter out those who are not qualified, and measure results. Rank your prospects as " A" (highly qualified), " B" (somewhat qualified), or "C" (poorly qualified) prospect. Have your sales force follow up on "A" leads immediately. Measure the results of these leads in stages from the number and dollar amount of proposals made to monies received from actual sales.

Build a Dramatic Display - Before deciding on what type of trade show booth you need, determine your space size requirements and determine the number of trade shows you will be exhibiting in the next 12 months. This information will help you decide whether to buy vs. rent. If you buy, there are three categories of trade show booths: custom, custom modular, and portable. Check out advantages and disadvantages of each. Light weight materials

More topics

10 Things to Consider Before You Do a Trade Show
1.Find out if the trade show is focused on your target market. 2.Talk with the promoters and find out the history. How many trade shows have they done before? What was the turnout? They should be able to give you figures. Find out how they plan...read more

Super Sleuths Using Trade Shows to Investigate Your Competition
Your company is in a precarious position. The marketplace is changing daily. New companies enter the industry. Your competitors are constantly unveiling new products, new services, and/or new marketing strategies. How do you keep up with – or even...read more

Trade Show Exhibit Booth 7 Tips to Improve Yours
Once you have decided to participate in a trade show, half your work is done. The other half starts with exploring ideas on how to get the maximum out of the event both in terms of brand building as well as sales enquiries. Here are seven easy to...read more


are less expensive to operate than the traditional all- wood displays. Use tension fabrics, woods, colored metal, layered graphics that use fewer shipping containers, have a current design trend look, and save on operating costs. Older traditional trade show exhibit booths can be obsolete because they are expensive to handle due to heavy weight, require larger size and number of crates to ship, and they are not consistent with current design trends.

Build Traffic by Being Creative- Start with a dramatic, attention-getting hanging sign. Upon entering the trade show exhibit hall the first thing attendees do is look up -Your overhead sign should have a unique design, shape and movement to it. Gobo lights traveling across a tension fabric can provide changing color and mesmerizing interest. New technologies bring high drama to your booth such as 3D video/laser image displays suspended above, your own interactive Website on large screen, robotics, holographics, waterscreen projections. Take advantage of your trade show exhibit supplier's expertise on graphics, portability and cost management.

Recruit the Right Booth Staff - Although the sales function of your firm is usually fundamental to trade show exhibit booth staffing, you'll want to make sure that you have representatives who match up well with the positions of those who visit your booth. If engineers visit your booth engage them with your engineer personnel. Also, make sure your staff knows how to engage, identify and qualify attendees as important leads, and dismiss those who are not key business prospects.

Send Pre-Show Notices to Attendees - Trade show exhibit surveys report that three quarters of show attendees make out their schedule for exhibit visits and seminar attendance in advance. Set up meetings with clients, prospects, and press ahead of time. Contact them months ahead through direct mail, email and personal phone calls. Give them your trade show booth number and location and have an incentive at your booth that will be of value to them. Link your incentive to a direct prospect benefit and make it redeemable only by visiting your trade show exhibit. One example is to cut a numbered gift certificate in two and send half of it in advance and have the remaining half available only at your booth.



Understand Show Services - You will need to have supplemental assistance from show services at the trade show exhibit hall. These are representatives and union laborers who provide a range of support services which include installation and dismantling, carpeting, furniture, lighting, phones, drayage and security. If you are aware of the nuances of these services and plan in advance you can save money while avoiding numerous pitfalls.

Control Costs - Consider weight when buying a trade show display. You save substantially on trade show exhibits using lightweight materials that reduce the size and number of shipping crates.

Follow Up Immediately -The hard work doesn't end when the show closes - this is when you have to diligently follow up on all those sales leads. It's best to respond to your top level " A" prospects immediately after the show. After the "A" prospects are all contacted, go on to the "B" level prospects. Be sure to have a well-planned strategy to close sales with these prospects. Tradeshow industry research shows that sales leads from a tradeshow are closed in half the time and at almost half the cost as leads from other sources. ###

Dick Wheeler, is President of Professional Exhibits & Graphics, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. The firm is a full-service premiere trade show exhibit, graphics and management services company. Go to http://www.proexhibits.com





About the author:

Dick Wheeler is President of Professional Exhibits & Graphics headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. Dick has over 20 years of sales and management experience and has won numerous awards in sales and marketing.

Written by: Dick Wheeler

4 Sales Strategies with Your Trade Show Exhibition Booth
Trade show booths can act as an excellent source for generating sales enquiries in the short run. Companies are able to demonstrate their products or services and get instant enquiries at the booth which on timely follow up can result in sales. Some...read more

Boost the Sales Power of Your Trade Show Exhibit
Your company's presence at industry trade shows is critical to stay competitive in a global marketplace. A properly managed trade show display can be one of your most effective and powerful sales tools. Here are some pointers to... read more

Building Brand Awareness Through Tradeshows
Building Brand Awareness Through Tradeshows by Susan Friedmann, CSP Branding is a basic marketing concept that is designed to set your products/services apart from the competition. By using a particular name, phrase, design, symbol or a...read more

Top Ten Ways to Get Qualified Clients from your Tradeshow Exhibit
Copyright 2005 Donna Gunter Typically, doing a tradeshow isn't an inexpensive proposition. There's a great deal of investment of money in your setup and materials, as well as the time you and your employees invest in staffing the booth. If...read more

copyright© 2009 Trade Show Promotions        Articles