Not only is it important to attract quality leads, but you need to know how to keep them interested as well.
Attending trade shows for your business is a strategic move that can pay off, but it requires a sizable upfront investment. According to researchers, the average company spends around 31% of their marketing budget on trade shows alone. Making sure the leads you find at trade shows are qualified and likely to convert to a sale is critical. Without the right planning and strategy, your business can hurt its bottom line when attending trade shows that don't meet their objectives.
How can you ensure that leads who visit your booth at a trade show are qualified? Indeed, it's challenging to qualify dozens or even hundreds of leads efficiently in the short time you have at a trade show. You'll need to stand out from the crowd with memorable displays to find new leads and maximize your opportunities.
Finding qualified leads should start before the trade show begins. One way to do this is to create buzz around your booth long before the show starts. Publish teaser posts on social media, or announce the trade show to your email list. Building excitement for your booth ahead of time can maximize your opportunities and help you find new prospects and close deals. Below are several effective strategies for maximizing your booth's potential at the next trade show.
Want an easy way to get prospects to remember you? Trade shows can get crowded, and many people will simply forget your business if you have a hum-drum display. Make an impression with bold images and a photo op wall behind your display table. Those in attendance will enjoy having a chance to share a fun and memorable photo with their friends or business partners.
Attendees will also have an easy time remembering your booth since they didn't just walk past the display or have a quick conversation with you. They actually did something and have a photo to remember it. For you, you'll benefit from the increased exposure and the fact that people will most likely remember your booth because of bold imagery and the chance to snap a photo. Remember to make sure the photo op is branded to maximize this opportunity.
An interactive booth display is a great way to showcase your products and get attendees talking about and interacting with your brand. Interactive experiences engage your audience's senses and help them remember you. You don't have to spend a lot of money building an interactive display, either.
For example, a food vendor should think about using your company's ingredients in an interactive booth display or use something else that perfectly captures your brand and the company culture. Make sure attendees can participate in the creation of the final product and have the opportunity to sample it too. If you sell anything food-related, an interactive booth display might be the ideal way to maximize your next trade show opportunity and find qualified leads for your business.
This is a popular method for finding qualifying leads, but stay with us - there are a few ways you can get your brand to stand out with this strategy. First, have attendees perform a quick, easy task that enters them into a drawing. It could be something as simple as filling out your lead capture form or giving their email address, or tagging your brand on social media.
When you give away prizes or freebies, make sure you give the winner a huge bag, or a brightly colored bag, or something more memorable than just a standard prize bag. If you hand out a large bag of prizes, trade show attendees are likely to place their smaller bags into your larger bag. At trade shows, always make sure the biggest, most memorable bag attendees will carry comes from your brand.
Another way to stand out from the crowd at trade shows is to offer attendees something useful and relaxing, like a charging station. Chargers are something that practically everyone needs, and if your booth is the one to provide it, word will quickly spread throughout the trade show. Your booth will bring in more people and give your brand more exposure. For the charging station, be sure to set up comfortable chairs and a small table. Make the area branded with a custom table cloth that has your company name and logo on it.
People will be there waiting for their phones to charge, so don't let this captive audience go to waste. Maximize your opportunity here with pamphlets and other reading material for people who are waiting. Don't forget to leave out your lead capture form so you can reach out to them later.
Pro tip: make sure your booth is inviting and relaxing. People will remember who provided them with a comfy place to chill at a busy trade show. This could take on many forms. You could provide snacks or bottled water. If your booth is the one offering useful things like chargers in a hospitable environment, your booth will be sure to attract a crowd.
Handing out free samples of your products is a tried-and-true way to find new leads and get exposure for your brand. Think about it this way - your dentist hands out free pens, so why shouldn't you do the same for your business at a trade show?
Free samples and swag work for many reasons. For one thing, people love to get free stuff. For businesses, handing out free samples at trades shows increases their exposure. Consider handing out branded t-shirts or hats along with a free sample of your product. Attendees will get to know your brand and associate it with positivity when they put on their new hat and t-shirt. Clothes can become a walking billboard for your company.
Does your business have a trade show coming up soon? At Unveil Production Group, our skilled technicians can put together an eye-catching, unforgettable display booth for your unique brand. Contact us today, and let's start the conversation.