If you’ve been spending weeks preparing for a big trade show, it can be disheartening to watch groups of attendees pass by your booth without even giving it a second glance. After all, you believe in your product and your business, and you know that if you could just draw them in and start a conversation, you’d be able to prove to them why your solution can help meet their needs. If you’re ready to make a big impact at your next trade show, here are five of our most successful ways to reel in those attendees and get them over to your booth.
Focus on an appealing booth design
Just as in traditional sales it’s important to narrow down your list of prospects to qualified leads who are likely to buy your product, your trade show booth should be set up to engage directly with the attendees you are specifically looking to target.
For example, if your ideal buyers are forward-thinking tech companies, you may want to focus your design on contemporary, bold aesthetic elements, or if you’re targeting budget-conscious manufacturing firms, make sure that relevant product information is front and center in your booth.
Take advantage of new technology
New advancements in audio/visual displays have really opened up the world of trade booth design and creativity; and the best part is, you don’t have to break your budget to incorporate these innovative technological solutions. People are always drawn in by technology, so find a way to present engaging content through interactive methods such as tablets. It will help to entice attendees to your display even if your business isn’t technology-focused.
A few of our favorite new tech trends are Virtual Reality displays, eye-catching video walls, engaging digital demonstrations, and AI experiences.
Utilize compelling live demos
If you’re representing a product or service that can be demonstrated in a unique and engaging way, don’t hesitate to get out in front of the crowd and give them a reason to stop at your booth. Even if you don’t think anyone is immediately interested, simply getting them to pay attention to your booth and your demonstration will give you an opportunity to present them with more details about your product. The first big hurdle is getting them to stop and take a look; the second is to get them to engage with you, even if it’s just a few minutes.
If you don’t have a product that you think is easily demonstrated, try thinking a little outside the box – the demo could feature your product without necessarily focusing on it.
Start selling your booth before the show day
Even if your product doesn’t lend itself well to a public demonstration, you can still use the power of social media to give attendees an idea of what awaits them if they stop by your trade show booth. Email marketing, social media campaigns, and even just using key hashtags and geolocations to connect with others can all have a big impact and really spread the word about your booth.
Hype up a big giveaway that you’ll be doing the day of, or reel them in by promoting a top-secret new product. It might take some legwork, but this is definitely a key element to attracting attention the day of the show.
Don’t underestimate the power of a good giveaway
They might seem old school, but hosting a contest or giveaway is still a big attraction at trade shows. After all, people still like winning free stuff! Don’t be afraid to get creative in your offerings – we’ve seen everything from frozen margaritas to cash prizes and even iPads. Rent an espresso machine or ice cream truck and invite attendees to come and hang out in your booth. This will help break the ice, opening up conversations and, hopefully, qualified leads at the end of the day.
Have you used any of these tricks at a recent trade show? Let us know! For more tips and tricks, check out our other blogs; or take a look at our trade show services to see how we can help you be even more successful at your next event.