In this blog post I’m going to take you through a 4 step process to help plan for your trade show and to help your business stand out from the crowd. One of the most important parts of the
trade show is to utilize your space properly, so to begin I’ll discuss a few different floor plan layouts to assist you.
1. Know Your Booth Space
The first thing you should do is plan out your space for your trade show booth / area. Understanding how much space you have and how to utilize it properly will help you know what trade show materials to spend your budget on.. Here are 3 simple layouts to give you an idea on how to plan for your space.
2. What is your goal?
Now that you know: how big your space is, what trade show display items you want to purchase; its time to brainstorm your goal. Too often you’ll see trade show booth displays for companies that just basically tell you what you already know. For instance, if you’re a bank or credit union you’re goal going into the
trade show should be pin point focused on an objective: get a younger audience to sign up for accounts, increase auto loans etc…
- Once you know your goal you’ll be able to create a theme and apply it all of your trade show materials (retractable banners, posters, tablecloths, handouts etc…)
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3. How to get noticed?
Depending on your budget, there are infinite amounts of ways to be flashy and stand out. But if you’re like the rest of us, you’ll want to stand out on your budget. Standing out isn’t just about what you’re booth looks likes, its also about the planning leading up to your trade show date. Here are a few pointers to think of when planning you’re trade show. Now that you have a theme for your trade show tell the world!
- Gain a mailing list of your demographic and send them a postcard letting them know you’re inviting them to visit your booth at trade show, perhaps you have a giveaway to entice them to come.
- Is your demographic already in your system - - if so send them an email inviting them to the trade show.
- If your website design allows it, put up a message on your website to announce to the public that you’re having a trade show.
- Test out social media ads - - Facebook is a common medium, but you may also want to try advertising on LinkedIn.
- Put a sign up on outside and inside your store front
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4. Okay, now what about the trade show ideas?
Here I’m just going to lay out some fun and creative ideas to help get your mind going.
a. Invest in an awesome backdrop.
- A common type of trade show back drop is called a hop-up. They come in fabric and are great choices for a step and repeat design. The initial investment can be a bit pricy depending on your budget, but it is a great tool to reuse time and time again. And if you need to switch the fabric, a new print is very affordable.
- Another type of backdrop is called a Coyote (image below). Its dimensional and curved giving you a more professional feel and it also will stand out from the other.
b. Get yourself a camera booth.
- We used this awesome, new age photobooth at a trade show that creates engagement and gives your booth attendees an answer, personalized giveaway: a picture. The photobooth also prints your brand and or message to remind them. Depending on your goal and what your company does, you’ll have to get creative on how to use one of these. Check out our video here to see how it works
c. Get mobile!
- Use QR Codes or NFC Tags to send people to specific landing pages
- Have iPads handy that show videos of how your company or product works
- Use augmented reality to engage with attendees even after they’ve left your booth.