Being part of a trade show can be challenging if it’s your first time. Generally, it involves meticulous planning and long-term vision to ensure a successful outcome. There are several considerations to take into account, which can be challenging if it’s your first time. Luckily, knowing the basics can help ensure a successful exhibit.
For many, it can be nerve-wracking to be part of an exhibit for the first time. Remember that a trade show is essentially a marketing event. If you want to ensure your brand gains an edge over the crowd, make an effort to do everything necessary, especially with the marketing tactics you’ll employ, the location, and the materials, to name a few.
When it’s your first time being part of a trade show, there are several things to remember. Here are some crucial considerations to ensure a successful exhibit for your brand.
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Set Aside Adequate Time For Planning
One of the sure-fire ways to ensure the success of your first exhibit during a trade show is to plan it out carefully. Making last-minute plans is likely to bring about issues during your exhibit. Planning out everything, including the giveaways and a custom 10×10 canopy up to the small details, will surely ensure a positive outcome. Remember that waiting until the last minute when planning for a trade show exhibit will undoubtedly end up as a costly experience that’ll not benefit your brand. The ideal time frame should be a minimum of six months to tackle all the preparations.
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Prioritize Your Brand And Objectives
If you’re going to be part of a trade show, you should think about your brand’s objectives. When one of your goals is to boost the recognition of your brand or feature a new product, you should keep them in mind when planning your exhibition. Depending on the space you’re given during the trade show, it should be capable of helping you achieve your brand’s goals. An example is an exhibition with eye-catching displays or visuals but unable to gain a significant return on investment (ROI) due to an evident disparity or inconsistency in their space, goals, and brand.
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Involve The Upper Management
One of the common blunders in the marketing aspect, especially when planning exhibitions, is the lack of coordination with the upper or senior management. In most scenarios, when a marketer handles the entire creative process and presents the idea to the head, most end up scrapping the proposition.
If you don’t want the hassle of working on something and ending up rejected, it’s crucial to involve the upper management right from the start to save time and effort. Remember that there’s no need for in-depth involvement, but make it a priority for upper management to stay up to date with the happenings.
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Select The Suitable Exhibit Venue
Choosing the right venue to showcase your brand is important if you’re a first-time exhibitor. As part of your preparations, research thoroughly to familiarize yourself with how trade shows in your industry work.
Some of the considerations when it comes to the location include the following:
- Exhibition spaces close to the entrance will make your exhibit the first thing that the attendees will see upon entering and the last once they leave.
- The sections near the lounge or food areas where attendees are likely to gather are considered high-traffic areas, allowing you to approach people as they pass by naturally.
As you can see, knowing the key locations during a trade show is crucial so that your exhibit will gain the highest possible level of exposure. Remember that you also need to know your brand’s main objectives and budget before choosing the location since they vary in price.
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Decide On The Appropriate And Thoughtful Giveaways Or Promos
During trade shows, you need to think of a giveaway or a promo, such as a raffle, that can make an impression on the attendees. The giveaways or a raffle with a highly enticing prize offer incentives for attendees to drop by your space and engage. When planning giveaways or promos, they should be able to connect to your brand while leaving a memorable impression.
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Choose The Right Staff
Avoid assigning too many when selecting the staff to oversee the exhibit since it can overwhelm the attendees. You should also select those who do well in a trade show environment, such as those who are outgoing and engaging, capable of drawing in attendees despite the bustling and distraction-packed environment. Additionally, ensure that all the staff knows their specific roles throughout the event.
Final Thoughts
An exhibit in any trade show requires meticulous planning, usually weeks or months before the event. If it’s going to be the first time to showcase your brand in an upcoming trade show, there are several crucial considerations to think about and common blunders you need to avoid. Knowing these valuable pointers will help ensure a good start and success with your exhibition.