|
Back to
Trade Show Tips
The key to great trade show exhibiting is
marketing. But marketing is a very inexact science that leaves room for a
multitude of errors to occur. Learn to avoid exhibitors' mistakes and
increase your chances for a successful trade show exhibit.
Have an Exhibit Marketing Plan:
Having a strategic exhibit marketing and tactical plan of action is a
critical starting point. To make trade shows a powerful dimension in your
company's overall marketing operation, there must be total alignment
between the strategic marketing and your exhibit marketing plan.
Know and understand exactly what you wish to
achieve:
increase market share with existing users
introduce new products/services into
existing markets
promote new products/services into new
markets
Have a Promotional Plan: A
significant part of your marketing includes promotion: pre-show, at-show,
and post-show.
Most exhibitors fail to have a plan that
encompasses all three areas. Budget will play a major role in deciding
what and how much promotional activity is possible.
Developing a meaningful theme that ties
into your strategic marketing plan will then help to guide promotional
decisions. Know whom you want to target and consider having different
promotional programs aimed at the different groups you are interested in
attracting. Include: direct mail, broadcast faxes, advertising, PR,
sponsorship, and the Internet as possible ways to reach your target
audience.
Use Direct Mail Effectively: Direct
mail is still one of the most popular promotional vehicles trade show
exhibitors use. Many of the mailings come from show management's lists,
and as a result, everyone gets everything. Use the following to make the
most of direct mail:
use your own customer and prospect list to
target the people you want to visit your trade show booth
design a piece that is benefit-oriented
and makes an impact
starting four weeks out, mail 3 pieces at
regular intervals before the show
use first-class mail
Give Visitors an Incentive:
Whatever promotional vehicles you use, make sure that you give visitors
a reason to visit you. With a hall overflowing with fascinating
products/services, combined with time constraints, people need an
incentive to come and visit your booth.
Their primary interest is in "what's new."
They are eager to learn about the latest technologies, new applications,
or anything that will help save them time and/or money. Even if you
don't have a new product/service to introduce, think about a new angle
to promote your offerings.
Use Press Relations Effectively:
Public relations is one of the most cost-effective and successful
methods for generating large volumes of direct inquiries and sales.
Before the trade show:
ask show management for a comprehensive
media list and find out which publications are planning a special trade
show edition
send out newsworthy press releases
focusing on what's new about your product/service
compile press kits for the press office
including information about industry trends, statistics, or production
information with good product photos and key company contacts
have staff members at the booth who are
specifically assigned to interact with the media
Differentiate Your Products/Services:
Too many exhibitors are happy to use the me-too marketing approach.
With shows that attract hundreds
of exhibitors, there are very few that seem to stand out from
the crowd. Your exhibit should leave a strong impression of what
makes you different and why visitors should be from you.
Use the Trade Show Booth as a
Tool: On the show floor your exhibit makes a strong
statement about who your company is, what you do, and how you do
it.
Make your trade show booth a
welcoming space. Have a focal point and a strong key message
that communicates a significant benefit to your prospect. Opt
for large graphics rather than reams of copy. Create an
experience that allows visitors use as many of their senses as
possible.
People Are Your Marketing Team:
Trade show exhibit staff training is essential for a unified and
professional image. Make sure that they sell instead of tell and
know how to close the interaction with a commitment to
follow-up. Staff not scheduled should stay away from the booth
until their shift. Assign specific tasks for company executives
working the show.
Follow-Up Promptly: The key
to your trade show success is wrapped up in the lead-management
process. The best time to plan for follow-up is before the show.
It is to your advantage to develop an organized, systematic
approach to follow-up. Establish a lead handling system, set
time lines for follow-up, use a computerized database for
tracking, make sales representatives accountable for leads given
to them, and then measure your results.
Trade shows require a lot of work
and effort to be successful. In the end, your trade show success
is dependent on how much effort you put into it.
|
Back to
Trade Show Tips |