During 2019, there were over 3,200 trade shows in the United States. These shows target every industry imaginable from agriculture to fashion and everything in between.
Are you planning to participate in a trade show this year? Read on. We’ll outline exactly how to get the most out of your trade show exhibit rentals to boost your business.
Think of End Goal at Design Stage
Having a booth at a trade show is about so much more than the modular components. You will get the most out of your trade show exhibit rentals if you start with a clear understanding of your goals.
Two booths with identical square footage can look and feel completely different. It is vital that your booth is designed with the outcomes you want.
Whether your goal is to make sales, get press coverage, or engage with your target audience, you need to think about these outcomes from the design stage.
That’s one of the reasons you’ll want to work with a custom booth builder in Orlando. Then, you will ensure success at all the major trade shows.
Offer Demos
People attend trade shows because they want to see what is available in the industry. In fact, a whopping 92% of trade show attendees say they’re looking to discover new products.
Trade show attendees want to stay current. They also want to have a memorable experience. But does that always happen?
Think of a trade show from the perspective of an attendee. From the moment they walk onto the show floor, they are bombarded with aggressive demands for their attention.
In the end, the experience might be such a whirlwind that nothing was truly memorable. You want to ensure that your brand makes a lasting impression.
So how can you make your brand name stand out? One of the best ways is by making your product tangible.
An engaging product or service demo is sure to be something attendees remember. Keep in mind that engaged attendees are more likely to do business with you now and in the future.
Think of ways that you can incorporate demos to engage your booth visitors. For example, you could have virtual or hands-on demos, live talks, or videos.
You might consider designing your booth with casual meeting spaces so that your team can take time to talk and connect to attendees to offer them real solutions.
Pay Attention to Details
Of course, you’ll want to get as much attention as you possibly can with your trade show exhibit rentals.
You don’t want to overwhelm and detract from your brand by being too loud. You also don’t want to be boring and have people walk right past your booth. Both are common mistakes of trade show exhibit design.
So how do you know what you need to include to make a powerful impact? Consider the following key factors:
- Your theme
- Giveaways and free merchandise
- Sufficient and welcoming lighting
- Quality graphics and technology
- the right size for your needs
These are simply a few of the details to consider for your both.
The theme is vital because this is what will pique your audience’s interest. Freebies and promotional items are a great way to help your brand stand out.
Quality lighting and tech are necessary to stand out—even in a packed show floor. When these elements are working well, they will be seamlessly integrated into the design and theme of your exhibit.
Graphics are paramount to ensure your brand looks professional and inviting. It also helps strengthen your brand identity and the theme of your display.
Leverage Social Media
If you aren’t using social media to promote the event before, during and after the trade show, you aren’t properly using social media.
Before the event, post photos of the venue, your booth as it is being assembled as well as swag attendees can get.
During the event, livestream and post often. Invite attendees to stop by your booth to watch a demo, get freebies or enter a contest.
Always include your booth number and the event hashtag with every post.
Even after the event is over, keep connecting with attendees online. This will allow you to build upon the momentum of the event.
Don’t Forget to Debrief and Follow-Up
After the event, it’s easy to want to move on to upcoming projects and events. Yet debriefing is crucial.
You will want to connect with the teams that were on the show floor as well as anyone else involved in any way.
Discuss what worked well and what areas of your plan need tweaking. These notes are invaluable tools in helping you plan for the next trade show.
Once that is done, turn your attention to following up with all leads. Ideally, every lead is uploaded into your CRM system and in the hands of your sales team by 48 hours after the trade show ends.
This data will give you key insights into your booth’s traffic, the number of leads and more.
You can use this data to make informed decisions about future events.
Succeed With Trade Show Exhibit Rentals
There you go! Now you have a good sense of how to get the most out of your trade show exhibit rental.
If you’ve invested in trade shows in the past but aren’t seeing results, our free guide can help. In it, we will show you how to boost your event success and avoid common mistakes.
Let us maximize your next event. Contact Rockway Exhibits today.