Posted on: January 15, 2019 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

If you’re looking for a way to take your small business to the next level, attending a trade show is a great option. Trade shows offer you the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs, as well as potential customers, making it beneficial for all involved. You may want to consider a trade show if you’re looking to get your brand in front of a broader audience or are soliciting interest in a brand new service or visual impact productions. Whether you’re attending your first expo or your 50th, here are a few things to make sure you keep in mind as the big weekend approaches.

Find the right fit

Each trade show has its own audience. When researching trade shows, figure out what you want to gain from the experience. If you’re mainly interested in networking, getting leads, and attending workshops, a more general business-to-business trade show such as the Small Business Expo may be worthwhile. However, if your goal in attending a trade show is to get in front of a niche audience, more specific expos focusing on things such as realty, crafting, health, or antiques may be what you’re after. In researching trade shows, look beyond each show’s focus and make sure you know who attends each event. If you’re looking to find new customers, you don’t want to wind up at an event that isn’t open to the public.

Make a plan

Having a well-defined strategy is key when it comes to success at your trade show. Make sure that you select a trade show at least six months in advance, so that you have the time, money, and energy to properly prepare for it. Figure out how many employees from your business you’ll want to bring to help staff the event, as well as what travel and lodging costs will be. It’s never too soon to make reservations; hotels often cost more during popular trade shows. Planning in advance ensures that you don’t wind up paying more for what you need just because you need them quickly.

Get a booth and tell people about it

While attending a trade show as a participant has benefits, it’s far more beneficial to rent a booth or table. Plus, if you have at least one other employee joining you at the trade show, you can each take shifts to walk around, measure up competitors, and network. Once you’ve secured a good location (look for spots near the entrance, dining options, and restrooms), start advertising your attendance. In the four to six weeks leading up to the convention, you’ll especially want to be posting about your participation on social media and sharing it with others through an e-newsletter. Creating good buzz for your business before the trade show can help you build an audience before the event even starts.

Have some freebies

One way you can make sure that people who visit your booth remember you is to offer some freebies to visitors. A giveaway for something fun is a great way to get people coming to your booth. You can also brand other items to give to those who stop by. When choosing a product to put your logo on, think about what will be most useful to attendees both at and after the trade show. Creating pens or custom folders are popular choices because these items have value to visitors at your booth (to sign-up for your e-newsletter list or hold some brochures) and at home. If your trade show occurs at a time and place when rain is likely, having some branded umbrellas can score you some major points, whereas sunglasses may be more useful to attendees at West Coast trade shows. With some thought, you’ll be sure to decide on the right freebie.

Attending a trade show can be a major boon for your business, but only if you’re prepared. You should always go into a show with a strategy, and make thoughtful decisions about where to position your booth and what to offer attendees if you want to be successful. With hard work and careful planning, you’re sure to succeed at your business’ next expo weekend.

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