Before The Trade Show Booth: How To Increase Attendance With Marketing Before The Convention

A successful trade show booth requires a steady stream of visitors. Your business has two choices: you can trust the convention promoters to bring in those potential clients, or you can market your trade show booth independently. The best choice to drive up return on investment is to strategically promote your trade show displays. With the right marketing technique, you could easily see a dramatic increase in traffic to your stand.

Should You Rely On Convention Promoters?

Traditionally, trade show displays have relied primarily upon the organizers of the convention for promotional concerns. The idea was that no one business would worry about promotion; instead, all would share a benefit which would apply to the convention organizers as well. However, today's market is too competitive for that theory to be effective. No convention promoter can market your company's display with as much care as you. The promoter doesn't care whether visitors come to your booth; he or she is focused on bringing them into the event itself. The promoter won't focus on your exhibit. You need to help your business attract more viewers.

Inexpensive Ways To Promote Your Trade Show Booth

Depending on your audience, promoting may be as simple as advertising in the local paper of the town that will host the event. Alternatively, sending direct mail is effective, though might be slightly more expensive. If you do choose direct mail, offer a ticket to redeem a prize at your trade show booth. Unless the offer you send must be redeemed at the event, visitors might still bypass your trade show displays.

Focusing On Previously Identified Candidates

If you are running a larger business, you may find it beneficial to take a more targeted approach to your marketing. If you have several special prospects who may be undecided about attending the convention or visiting your exhibit, focus their attention on your business by mailing them specially prepared gift packages to help them at the convention. These packages can come in a tote bag that bears your company's logo, and might contain useful items like a map and a notepad. If you do choose to provide a gift bag, ensure that there is still something to be redeemed at the actual convention display. Prospects are much more likely to become visitors when they receive a direct benefit from it.

Consider A Raffle At Trade Show Displays

Another low-cost option is to send raffle tickets which can be filled out at your exhibit. Once the visitor has entered his contact information, he or she will be part of the raffle for a larger prize. The prize must be significant - electronics or a gift certificate for your services are great ideas. Whenever possible, tie the reward back to what you are promoting.

After visitors have signed up for the raffle, you have achieved two benefits. First, your business has their contact information, allowing you to add them to your email list and communicate further. In addition, you have the opportunity to communicate with them at your exhibit, allowing you to explain your products in more detail. You will also be able to judge whether they are a qualified lead or not.

Chris Harmen writes for Skyline Cleveland trade show displays (http://www.skylinees.com/). Skyline is a leading Cleveland trade show booth (http://www.skylinees.com/) innovation company that emphasizes quality trade show products for all budgets.

Designing Trade Show Displays For Art Conventions

Having your work selected for a juried award at a major art convention is always exciting. You will focus on preparing your best works to show, handpicking the strongest pieces of your entire collection. However, every piece is only as good as the way it is presented. If you don't upgrade your portable exhibit, you might sabotage your success without ever knowing it.

Start With The Basics Of Trade Show Booths

The first question to ask yourself is whether your current convention presence is up to the task. This question is particularly important if you have never attended a juried convention before, or if it's your first convention. Even if you've been to many events before, you may still want to replace your current trade show displays with something more suited to your needs.

Remember that your unit will be the first thing most judges see, provided that it's a competition juried by a panel that roams the event floor. Even if it's a closed selection where you submit one work for judging and cannot show it in your unit, your judges are still likely to see your trade show booths before the judging occurs. The key to making a good impression is securing the basics first.

Set Up Your Portable Exhibit For Success

Trade show displays designed for displaying artwork can be notoriously difficult for a visitor to navigate, but are also usually modular and flexible. Most artists want to maximize the wall space so that they can include as many of their works as possible. However, more walls means less openness, which can be a detriment for visitors. If you are expecting a judging, you should try to keep walls to a minimum so all your work will be seen. If you have a modular unit, subtracting a few internal walls should not be a problem. If your unit is not modular, contact the company before you make any structural changes.

Check Your Trade Show Booth's Lighting

Lighting is a very basic element, yet it is among the most commonly neglected aspects of artist's trade show displays. You should always ensure that your lighting is sufficient to illuminate your work, regardless of whether or not it will be judged. If possible, try to secure illumination that has some flexibility of positioning, allowing you to adjust it if you plan to rotate the artwork that is shown in your trade show displays. Although there are many options available, keep in mind that it may be difficult to provide lighting to any artwork that is positioned in the lower half of your trade show booths. This part of the portable exhibit is also less noticed by visitors and thus should not be home to your most celebrated works.

Arrange Your Entries With Care

Arrangement of your actual paintings or photographs is particularly crucial if you have not chosen one particular image to submit for judgment. Even if you have, you should still ensure that your most impressive samples are featured as prominently as possible. If you have a well-designed and well-lit portable exhibit which highlights your best works, you've done all you can to ensure success.

Chris Harmen writes for Skyline, a leader in DFW trade show displays (http://www.dfwexhibits.com/). Skyline specializes in award-winning custom trade show booths in Dallas (http://www.dfwexhibits.com/) and the surrounding area.

Designing Trade Show Displays For Art Conventions

Having your work selected for a juried award at a major art convention is always exciting. You will focus on preparing your best works to show, handpicking the strongest pieces of your entire collection. However, every piece is only as good as the way it is presented. If you don't upgrade your portable exhibit, you might sabotage your success without ever knowing it.

Start With The Basics Of Trade Show Booths

The first question to ask yourself is whether your current convention presence is up to the task. This question is particularly important if you have never attended a juried convention before, or if it's your first convention. Even if you've been to many events before, you may still want to replace your current trade show displays with something more suited to your needs.

Remember that your unit will be the first thing most judges see, provided that it's a competition juried by a panel that roams the event floor. Even if it's a closed selection where you submit one work for judging and cannot show it in your unit, your judges are still likely to see your trade show booths before the judging occurs. The key to making a good impression is securing the basics first.

Set Up Your Portable Exhibit For Success

Trade show displays designed for displaying artwork can be notoriously difficult for a visitor to navigate, but are also usually modular and flexible. Most artists want to maximize the wall space so that they can include as many of their works as possible. However, more walls means less openness, which can be a detriment for visitors. If you are expecting a judging, you should try to keep walls to a minimum so all your work will be seen. If you have a modular unit, subtracting a few internal walls should not be a problem. If your unit is not modular, contact the company before you make any structural changes.

Check Your Trade Show Booth's Lighting

Lighting is a very basic element, yet it is among the most commonly neglected aspects of artist's trade show displays. You should always ensure that your lighting is sufficient to illuminate your work, regardless of whether or not it will be judged. If possible, try to secure illumination that has some flexibility of positioning, allowing you to adjust it if you plan to rotate the artwork that is shown in your trade show displays. Although there are many options available, keep in mind that it may be difficult to provide lighting to any artwork that is positioned in the lower half of your trade show booths. This part of the portable exhibit is also less noticed by visitors and thus should not be home to your most celebrated works.

Arrange Your Entries With Care

Arrangement of your actual paintings or photographs is particularly crucial if you have not chosen one particular image to submit for judgment. Even if you have, you should still ensure that your most impressive samples are featured as prominently as possible. If you have a well-designed and well-lit portable exhibit which highlights your best works, you've done all you can to ensure success.

Chris Harmen writes for Skyline, a leader in DFW trade show displays (http://www.dfwexhibits.com/). Skyline specializes in award-winning custom trade show booths in Dallas (http://www.dfwexhibits.com/) and the surrounding area.

Designing Trade Show Displays For Art Conventions

Having your work selected for a juried award at a major art convention is always exciting. You will focus on preparing your best works to show, handpicking the strongest pieces of your entire collection. However, every piece is only as good as the way it is presented. If you don't upgrade your portable exhibit, you might sabotage your success without ever knowing it.

Start With The Basics Of Trade Show Booths

The first question to ask yourself is whether your current convention presence is up to the task. This question is particularly important if you have never attended a juried convention before, or if it's your first convention. Even if you've been to many events before, you may still want to replace your current trade show displays with something more suited to your needs.

Remember that your unit will be the first thing most judges see, provided that it's a competition juried by a panel that roams the event floor. Even if it's a closed selection where you submit one work for judging and cannot show it in your unit, your judges are still likely to see your trade show booths before the judging occurs. The key to making a good impression is securing the basics first.

Set Up Your Portable Exhibit For Success

Trade show displays designed for displaying artwork can be notoriously difficult for a visitor to navigate, but are also usually modular and flexible. Most artists want to maximize the wall space so that they can include as many of their works as possible. However, more walls means less openness, which can be a detriment for visitors. If you are expecting a judging, you should try to keep walls to a minimum so all your work will be seen. If you have a modular unit, subtracting a few internal walls should not be a problem. If your unit is not modular, contact the company before you make any structural changes.

Check Your Trade Show Booth's Lighting

Lighting is a very basic element, yet it is among the most commonly neglected aspects of artist's trade show displays. You should always ensure that your lighting is sufficient to illuminate your work, regardless of whether or not it will be judged. If possible, try to secure illumination that has some flexibility of positioning, allowing you to adjust it if you plan to rotate the artwork that is shown in your trade show displays. Although there are many options available, keep in mind that it may be difficult to provide lighting to any artwork that is positioned in the lower half of your trade show booths. This part of the portable exhibit is also less noticed by visitors and thus should not be home to your most celebrated works.

Arrange Your Entries With Care

Arrangement of your actual paintings or photographs is particularly crucial if you have not chosen one particular image to submit for judgment. Even if you have, you should still ensure that your most impressive samples are featured as prominently as possible. If you have a well-designed and well-lit portable exhibit which highlights your best works, you've done all you can to ensure success.

Chris Harmen writes for Skyline, a leader in DFW trade show displays (http://www.dfwexhibits.com/). Skyline specializes in award-winning custom trade show booths in Dallas (http://www.dfwexhibits.com/) and the surrounding area.

How To Increase Return On Investment At Trade Show Exhibits

How To Increase Return On Investment At Trade Show Exhibits

Use Pre-Owned Booths And Equipment

To have a positive Return On Investment the end profit must be more than the initial investment. This can be accomplished in two different ways: either the sales need to amount to a higher figure than the capital invested, or the initial capital investment needs to be lower in the first place. One big area to cut down on an initial cost is in the area of booths. These are often one of the most costly expenses involved in trade show marketing, and now is a better time than ever to take advantage of used displays and booths.

The recession has indeed forced many companies out of exhibiting at these events. Consequently, there are tons of unused displays just waiting to be used. Companies can get great deals on these stands for a fraction of the original price. The low initial investment means that your trade show Return On Investment will ultimately increase.

Make Giveaway Selections With Care

So often, giveaways from these events end up going unused or even become trashed. Don't let that happen to your giveaways. Tote bags are an inexpensive and useful giveaway that also serve as a marketing tool throughout the whole show. Return On Investment will ultimately increase because more and more people will become familiar with your company.

Also consider giveaways that are smaller and useful. People always need to use post-it notes or notepads, for instance. Your company will get better trade show results by constantly reminding attendees of your brand long after the show, and they don't require a huge investment.

With pre-owned booths, renting equipment, doing research on shows and giveaways, and taking advantage of early discounts, companies will enjoy an increased trade show ROI.

Trade Show Promotions

As we all know trade show's are a great opportunity to network and gain leads within your industry and get an amazing return on investment. The hard part is to stand out from the competition. The double edge sword of trade shows is that because they are industry specific highly qualified leads will be there but at the same time competition will be fierce. There are several ways to stand out from the crowd at a trade show.

First you will need a high quality booth, this will set the stage for your other efforts that when combined will make you stand out. Next you will need a highly trained and out going team of staffers. These people need to be very outgoing and well informed about the product. Not everybody is well suited to staff a trade show booth make sure you pick your best and most outgoing sales people.

After you have your staffing picked out you will want to find a some promotional products that will stand out and people will keep, this will remind people of your brand every time they use it and hopefully exposure your brand to new people. This means you just don't want to give a standard run of the mill hat, these products get pitched right after the show, you might as well through that money away. So think very hard about your promotional product; maybe it should have something to do with your industry and something that will honestly be of use to the people you give it. Once you have a good idea for a promotional product picked out figure out how you wan to squeeze your brand into that product. Maybe you put your brand name on it, maybe you make them go to your website to claim a free prize or discount on next purchase the options are endless.

Make sure you are far, far more creative than the booth next to you and you will be much, much more successful at trade show exhibiting.