How To Be Successful At A Trade Show: Ways To Keep Attendees Engaged
Trade shows are a great way to share your company’s message with people who need to know. However, it can be hard to impress them on the show floor, where so often there is noise, traffic, and too much competition for attention. Business owners have been seeking ways to make the event worth their time and investment. Sure, flashy brochures and fancy trade show displays help but if you really want to have an engaging experience for trade show attendees here’s a list of tips we ask all our clients to follow.
Preparation
- Preparation is key to success at a trade show. Make sure you have a good idea of what you want to achieve before the show starts. This will help you focus your efforts and make the most of your time.
- It’s important to be friendly and approachable when attending a trade show. Smile and make eye contact with attendees. Be ready to answer any questions they may have about your products or services.
- Engage with attendees by starting conversations and asking them questions. You can also offer free samples or demonstrations of your products or services. Be creative and think of ways to keep attendees interested in what you have to say.
- Follow up with attendees after the trade show. Thank them for their time and send them information about your products or services. This will help you stay top of mind and build relationships that could lead to future business opportunities.
The Icebreaker
Starting off a trade show on the right foot is key to keeping attendees engaged. That’s why it’s important to have an icebreaker planned. This can be something as simple as a fun game or activity that gets everyone mingling and socializing. It’s a great way to start off the event on a positive note and get people in the mood to learn more about the products and services on display.
Once the icebreaker is over, it’s time to get down to business. But that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. There are plenty of ways to keep attendees engaged throughout the trade show. For example, you can offer freebies or giveaways at your booth. This is a great way to attract attention and get people talking about your product or service. You can also hold contests or raffles with prizes that will appeal to your target audience.
Another way to keep attendees engaged is to offer interactive displays or demonstrations at your booth. This gives people a chance to see your product or service in action and learn more about how it works. It’s also a great opportunity to answer any questions people may have. And don’t forget about food
Highlight Your Key Differentiators
If you want to be successful at a trade show, it’s important to highlight your key differentiators. That way, you’ll be able to stand out from the rest of the exhibitors and attract attention from attendees.
Some ways to highlight your key differentiators include having a booth that’s visually appealing and eye-catching, having helpful and knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions, and providing attendees with engaging and informative materials such as brochures, flyers, and business cards.
It’s also important to make sure that your booth is well-lit and easy to find. You don’t want attendees to walk right by your booth without even realizing it’s there.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your booth will be one of the most popular at the trade show and that you’ll be able to generate a lot of interest in your company and its products or services.
Work Your Crowd
If you want to be successful at a trade show, you need to know how to work your crowd. First, you need to be able to identify the different types of people who attend trade shows. There are four main types of attendees: shoppers, browsers, researchers, and decision-makers. Each type of attendee requires a different approach.
Shoppers are looking for deals and are more likely to buy something on the spot. Browsers are there to window shop and may not be interested in buying anything. Researchers are looking for specific products or services and need more information before they make a purchase. Decision-makers are usually looking to buy something for their business and need to compare products and prices before they make a decision.
Once you have identified the different types of attendees, you need to figure out how to engage each one. For shoppers, you need to highlight the deals and special offers that you have available. For browsers, you need to focus on generating interest and getting them to learn more about your product or service. For researchers, you need to provide them with the information they need so they can make an informed decision. And for decision-makers, you need to give
Design & Displays
Regardless of the size of your trade show booth, you need to make sure that attendees can move around easily. This means having wide aisles and clear signage. You also need to make sure that your booth staff is aware of the flow of traffic and can direct attendees to where they need to go.
Transitions are also important when it comes to the overall flow of your trade show booth. You don’t want attendees to feel like they’re being herded from one area to the next. Instead, you want to create a natural flow that allows them to explore and discover new things at their own pace.
Engaging Displays
Your trade show displays need to be engaging and informative. They should be eye-catching and able to capture the attention of passersby. But they also need to be informative, providing attendees with key information about your products or services.
Interactive Elements
In addition to engaging displays, your trade show booth should also include interactive elements. This could be something as simple as a touchscreen display or a game that attendees can play. Interactive elements help to break up the monotony of traditional trade show booths and keep attendees engaged.
The Art of Conversation
- One of the best ways to keep attendees engaged at a trade show is to start conversations with them. This may seem like a no-brainer, but many people shy away from talking to strangers. Just strike up a conversation about the person’s business, or ask them about their favorite products. You never know where a conversation may lead, and you might just make a valuable connection.
- Finally, one of the best ways to keep attendees engaged is simply to be friendly and outgoing. Smile and make eye contact with everyone who comes by your booth. Be sure to thank them for stopping by, and invite them to come back again. If you make a good impression, they’re more likely to remember your booth when it’s time to make a purchase.
Social Media Prompts
- Social media can be a great way to get people engaged at a trade show. Using social media to prompt attendees with facts and fun conversation starters can help break the ice and get people talking.
- Make sure to have someone manning the social media accounts during the event so that attendees can tag the company or use a specific hashtag to get information about the products or services being exhibited.
- Use social media to run contests or giveaways at the trade show. This will give attendees something to do while they are there and will also help promote the company or product.
- Be sure to post pictures and videos from the event on social media. This will give people who could not attend a glimpse of what they missed and will also help generate interest for future events.
By using these tips you can elevate your exhibition experience to the next level.
