Trade shows can provide a significant boost to revenue and brand awareness, provided you’re attending the right ones and you’ve thoroughly prepared. There are several things to consider prior to attending an event.

Cost Versus Revenue Potential

There are an endless number of trade shows, user conferences and industry events one can attend. Choosing the ones with the most potential for exposure and gaining new business is essential in maximizing your return on investment. Taking a look at past attendees and sponsors will give you some insight into what to expect.

Who To Send

This will largely depend on the focus of the conference and what your objectives are. When selecting who should attend, you may want to take into consideration possible sales opportunities as well as a chance to train future marketers or salespeople.

Travel And Accommodations

Scheduling your travel and accommodations far in advance will cut down on the stress involved with business travel and allow you to focus on preparing for the event. Staying at a hotel close to the event and allowing ample time to check in and out will allow for a more flexible schedule.

Booth Design

Your booth should be easy to spot and showcase your brand. Branded banners, tablecloths and signage should be included, but not overdone. Some key items to consider are your available space, number of attendees, product placement and presentation materials.

Featured Products

Knowing your audience and their specific pain points is integral when determining which products to feature in your demonstrations. Determine who you’re selling to and focus on solutions that will fit their needs.

Personalized Content

If you have specific companies or individuals you would like to connect with you may consider creating personalized content. This can be anything from a pdf download to a microsite built specifically for them. High-level personalization will show your prospects you are serious about doing business with them and believe the relationship is a good fit.

Contact Capture

One of the most effective ways of gathering contact information of interested parties is through the use of scannable QR codes. This allows you to tailor your codes to hit personalized landing pages, special offers and targeted content.

Target Accounts

Prioritizing which prospects you would like to spend your focus on will help you navigate your next trade show efficiently. While you’re not looking to brush off any potential customers, attending trade shows can be expensive and maximizing your time with top accounts should be a priority.

Giveaways

Small branded items make a great way to expand the reach of your brand and even garner the attention of attendees if it’s impressive or unique. Items that can be used in everyday life are especially effective as your brand will be in front of them well past the show. Some examples include zip drives, t-shirts, key chains and miscellaneous office products.

Special Offers

Promoting free trials or discounts available to event attendees only can help get your foot in the door with key accounts and help to build relationships with those you may already be nurturing. Carefully consider your offers to ensure they fit the needs of your audience and budgetary limits.

Leverage Social Media

Social media can be used to promote your attendance before, during and after an event. This will help to build a buzz around your presentation and can also help to improve social media engagement metrics.