Showcasing your product or service at a trade show is an exciting time for everyone. Just like ranking your business online, it’s a perfect opportunity to expose yourself to new customers, only on a personal, more interconnected level. It’s also an ideal period for scoping out competition or even making new business partners. However, despite the high numbers of people moving through trade shows, capturing the attention of passersby is difficult at best. After all, competition is fierce and you’re likely to be sharing the space with hundreds of other rivals. To gain the attention of visitors, then, requires a strategy bolder than simple plaques and advertising banners. You have to get creative to stand out from the crowd.
Offer free drinks in branded cups
Everyone likes a freebie, especially if that freebie is a drink for thirsty fair-goers who have likely been walking for half an hour at a stretch. Offering free drinks is a good strategy not only for drawing people in to talk about your product, but also to give away a branded cup to ensure a long-lasting impression of your brand. When doing this, it’s important to source your paper cups from a company that offers eco-friendly options. Not only is it good for the environment but it will project a better overall impression of your business.
Give away something unusual
Promotional pens and mugs are undoubtedly useful giveaway items, but they’re very ordinary in the scheme of things. No one is ever going to remember the mug and pen they scored from a tradeshow no matter how exciting it is. Instead, try giving away something quirkier with more personality, like USB sticks, tote bags, or even a piggy bank! Sometimes, the more ridiculous, the better. It doesn’t necessarily have to be practical – it just has to be interesting or humorous!
Stray from the booth
Don’t be afraid to get out of the booth. Trade shows are by their nature very social events. People want to interact. So instead of waiting for them to approach your booth, hit the floor with a member of your team and take your brand to them. Not only does this show a level of assertiveness that is needed to make sales and conversions, but it also mobilizes your brand, making it much more likely to be seen more frequently and by more people.
