Exhibiting at trade shows is a guaranteed way to increase business and find new opportunities to share products and services. But it can also be a daunting task. With hundreds of people walking by your booth and several other groups clamoring for attention, it can be a challenge at times to stand out from the crowd. Thankfully, there are a few simple ways to make sure your next trade show experience is a successful one. Nicole Lininger of InventHelp is an expert at pitching ideas and preparing for trade shows.
She offers these five trade show tips for exhibitors:
1. Pitch Perfect— Companies want to hear why your product should be in the market place. In order to draw visitors to your booth, you need a hook that includes product features, benefits and statistics to back up your statement. Finish your pitch with a call to action, such as offering a business card. Because trade show attendees are walking by several booths in a short span of time, keeping pitches less than 2 minutes is crucial.
2. Appear Approachable—Remember to stay calm and have an approachable persona even if you are feeling frazzled. Let your personality shine through and be passionate about your business. Body language is everything—avoid crossing arms and stand up straight to exude confidence. Maintain eye contact to appear genuine. Every first impression is essential to building your brand and business, so make it count.
3. Booth Buddies— Trade shows can often be overwhelming, with numerous events happening in the course of the day. That’s why it’s helpful to bring a business partner who is equally knowledgeable about your brand and services, and can also man the booth. While networking with another company or attending scheduled meetings, someone can keep a presence at your station in order to avoid losing potential business or exposure. Having another person by your side also gives you the chance to take breaks and stay positive.
4. Be Memorable—You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your booth an inviting place. But it is important to keep it looking professional and reflective of your brand and services. Make sure to provide business cards or flyers with your information. This could include meeting apps, mobile networking devices and QR codes that make it easy to exchange contacts and keep track of whom you’ve met. Treats and giveaways also help increase foot traffic to your booth.
5. Network with Everyone—Some exhibitors might think that it’s unhelpful to network with fellow competitors, however this is not always the case. Trade shows are in opportunity to talk to everyone and take advantage all the opportunities and resources available. You never know when a connection could be of service in the future.
