10 Tips To Help You Rock Your First Trade Show

Coming up with a business idea, researching and developing that idea, identifying your target market, marketing, branding your business, and opening your doors to the public are milestones every entrepreneur must conquer. Exhibiting at your first trade show is another important milestone in the life of a startup.

Exhibiting at your first trade show can be a daunting experience. These tips, ideas, and strategies can help you maximize your investment in your trade show vendor space. You’ll also be able to equip your space with the right suite of tools to draw customers to your space. Of course, the first thing you should do is define your target audience. Taking that important step can make all subsequent choices easier and more effective.

1. Choose The Right Trade Show In The First Place. A trade show that caters to B2B consumers is a vastly different experience from one that caters to B2B businesses.
2. Get The Right Attention From The Right People. Make sure your trade show marketing materials are geared to appeal to your target market.
3. Choose The Right Location For Maximum Appeal. Make a point of not choosing a place at the back of the hall or in other low traffic areas. Try to snag a space near restrooms, food courts, and entryways.
4. Staff Your Booth With The Right People. A trade show is not the right place for warm bodies. It’s where you want to position your most people-friendly, interactive, high-energy team members.
5. Show Off Your Products In Great Detail. Brochures and business cards are important marketing tools. A product demonstration that wows trade show attendees and makes them want to stock your products is more tangible, touchable, and memorable.
6. Stock Your Booth With Sought-After Giveaways. Eschew the typical pens and business cards in favor of industry-related items your target market will use – and see – every day.
7. Brand Everything Attendees See & Everything They Take Home. A trade show is an ideal way to get a huge portion of your target market in one room. Make sure you start creating brand familiarity on-site, and that you send a piece of your branding home with potential buyers.
8. Concentrate On Building Relationships vs Making Sales. Your trade show team should be equipped to discuss every aspect of your business, tell trade show attendees how it benefits them, and how to stay connected post trade show.
9. Leverage Social Media For Trade Show Marketing & Follow Up. Use your social media profiles to tell your target audience about the excitement of participating in your first public trade show. Then use those same channels to follow up with the consumers you meet there.
10. Develop A Follow Up Program Before The Big Event. Don’t wait until after the trade show to figure out what to do after the trade show. Develop a complete, automated, effective follow-up strategy that builds on the relationships you establish at the big event.

When you’re ready to rock your first trade show, call on the DPRINT graphic design team. From banners to table covers to sky-high, attention-grabbing tents and canopies, our nearly 80 years of graphic design experience will help you create an unforgettable trade show presence.