A tradeshow is a series of beginnings. Every moment—from the second the doors open until the very end —is a moment where your exhibitors could be making a positive impact on potential customers. If all goes well, these crucial contacts will launch mutually profitable relationships that will last for years. On the other hand, if the impression your exhibitors create is not so positive, they’ve missed the opportunity and may not come back. Here are some ideas to help your exhibitors to ensure that they have a profitable experience.
Increase leads and sales – Business cards are still a great source of information about people. Many companies also incorporate a lead retrieval scanner. To tap into that source, exhibitors do their best to get contact information from the people that visit their booths. But how about a more engaged approach? I once saw an exhibitor with a high-end bottle of Scotch at their booth as a prize for the business card draw. I couldn’t believe the number of inquisitive folks that came to their booth inquiring about the draw. The physical prize was much more compelling than words. This not only allowed the exhibitor to explain the process but also enabled them to share information about their products. That’s one of the best ways to make connections on the show floor. This approach helps attendees to get excited and engaged. They’re more than willing to drop their business cards or submit to a scan of their badge.
Booth staff – Numerous times we have seen people manning booths on their cell phones or chatting amongst themselves. What does that say to the tradeshow attendees; “I am not interested in your business!” That’s the perception. It’s imperative to explain to exhibitors that they must train their booth staff. They need to engage the attendees to get optimum results. Also, an over-staffed booth might be a deterrent. No one wants to go to a booth if they see five people standing inside a 10’ x 10’ booth, ready to pounce. It’s intimidating and uncomfortable.
Booth décor – Help exhibitors to understand that their booth space is their home for the duration of the tradeshow and they should try to be the best host in the neighborhood. Encourage them to create a clean, warm and friendly environment for the attendees to step into. A cool, branded attire will also make their team stand out, both in the booth and as they walk the floor.
These are only a few of many ways to garner success for your tradeshow. If you want to learn more, check out our VIMEO channel for webinars on this topic. The bottom line is, work with your exhibitors to help them succeed. It requires creativity, clear communication, and tech savviness.
If you’d like to talk to one of Zzeem’s tradeshow professionals and/or find out how we can help, click here.
