Create Passive Income
Many businesses find that trade shows can be one of their best sources of new business and are also a good way to attract media attention. No single thing you do can guarantee that you will have a profitable show, however, there are a number of things you can do to improve your chances of success:
Learn the history of the show – Is there enough promotion so that your potential clients are aware of it? What is the past average attendance for the trade show? Are there any other significant trade shows that place at the same time? How desirable is the location? Is there adequate parking? Will people be able to easily to get in and out? Was the show a profitable experience for other businesses that participated in it previously?
Professional exhibition stands – To attract convention goers to your display, you do not need the most extravagant display on the floor, but you do need to put some thought and effort into designing a display that entices attendees to stop and check it out. Properly research ideas for signs, advertising, pictures, and decorations. Check out the internet for ideas.
Pre-promotion – Start promoting your booth well before the trade show begins. You really do not want to put it off until the day of the show. To maximize the effectiveness of your exhibition stand, send out mailings and announcements weeks before the trade show inviting your customers and prospects. Set appointments by telephone a couple of weeks ahead of time to meet with important customers and prospects at the show.
Give away samples or have a gimmick – You do not need to spend a lot of money to have attractive gimmicks or giveaways; a large bowl of candy, or free bottles of water can bring people to your stand. Samples of your product given away at intervals during the show work well, as do novelty items such as key rings, pencils and pads of paper with your company and product name printed on them.
Be sure to follow up with customers – Now you have made all these great contacts. What do you do next? Make sure you follow up with them so that you can convert them into a long term client. In order to turn these contacts into customers, you will need to record or take notes on your conversations; this way, when you follow-up with your contacts, you can reference what you discussed when you met. For your follow-ups to be effective, you must get in touch with your contacts within a couple of weeks of the show.