Our blog, D Brief, shares succint expert advice, trends, tips, and ideas for marketing communications tactics—focusing on print, Web, social media, and promotional products—from a corporate visual identity perspective. We welcome your thoughts so we can learn from each other.

Trade Show Marketing: 10 Tips

Trade shows, marketing events and expos are a great way to expose your business to a huge number of potential clients and customers. Here are a few tips to make the most out of your time and money.

• Target – Only choose events that advertise and cater to your target market. A large expo may reach a lot of people, but if not the most appropriate for your niche, efforts could be wasted.
• Quantity – Find out the numbers of attendees from past events. It will help you determine if the traffic warrants the cost.
• Invite – Make your booth interactive and inviting. Don’t keep a table between you and your potential clients. Do stand in front and reach out to the crowds.
  
• Prepare – Arrive early to set up. You don’t want to be stressed out and still organizing your booth when the first attendees arrive.
• Distract Kids – At events that cater to family attendees, have an activity available for the kids. While the kids are involved with the activity, the parents are free to learn about your products or services.
• Promos – Prepare giveaways to attract attendees to your booth. Keep them affordable, like candy, water bottles, pens, etc. D Media can give you some great ideas for promotional products for your industry!
  
• Raffle – Have a drawing for a door prize at the end! Or have several raffles throughout the event. On the entry form, gather attendee information like name/address, email, phone, etc. Allow them to opt in/opt out of your marketing tools (newsletter, follow up call, etc.)
• Get Social – Encourage attendees to follow you on your social media, and include icons on your marketing materials.
  
• Attract – Decorate your booth and make it stand out, but keep it appropriate to your target audience.
• Staff Up – Make sure you have enough staff at your booth to both take needed breaks and handle the waves of crowds. Keep smiling, and have fun while you visit with attendees!

Need more ideas? Booth decor, backdrops, banners, table covers or giveaways? D Media’s promotional products specialty website has all the tools you need. Please visit or contact us for details and a quote.

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