Tips on Preparing for a Fall Trade Show

Trade shows provide your business with the perfect opportunity to showcase its products and services and establish itself as an authority in your industry.

Attending a fall trade show can broaden your reach and generate an exciting buzz about your business that propels both your popularity and revenue.

Here are reasons to showcase your business at the next fall trade show, along with tips that can help you make the most of this traditional marketing event.

What Are the Benefits of Attending a Trade Show?

A trade show gives your business the opportunity to network with professionals and competitors in your industry, meet new potential clients, and learn about the latest industry technologies.

Here are several other benefits to attending fall trade shows.

Increase Your Brand Awareness

If you run a startup, trade shows are great for getting your name out there and boosting brand awareness. Branding is essential because it gives your business an identity, makes it memorable, and encourages consumers to buy your products and services.

Your presence at the trade show alone can help increase brand awareness, but you can take other steps to maximize this effort. For instance, you can display your best products, your company name and logo, and important contact information, including your website URL, social media channels, email, and phone number.

Meet Highly Targeted Leads

Consumers who go out of their way to attend trade shows likely have a high level of interest, or need, for the products and services being featured at the event. Your business will be exposed to a great number of highly targeted leads gathered under one roof, which could make it easier for your team to generate leads and close sales.

Showcase your best products, highlight their benefits, and understand that many consumers will be caught up in the excitement of the event and ready to buy. For those who aren’t quite ready to buy on the spot, set up appointments and follow up with those leads to close the sale later on.

Scope Out the Competition

Trade shows are an opportune time to scope out other booths and exhibitions to see what your competitors are up to. This can give you new ideas in terms of product development and also help you identify gaps in your own marketing strategy. Take note of what your competition is doing, and brainstorm ways to do it even better.

Recruit New Team Members

If your business is in need of new employees, trade shows can make for the ultimate recruitment venue. Keep this factor in mind when chatting with those who are highly enthusiastic and passionate about your industry, and share contact information with those you think may be a great fit for your brand or company.

How to Prepare for a Fall Trade Show

The process of preparing for a fall trade show is relatively straightforward, given the goal is to set up a booth that showcases and highlights your best products and services. Here are some tips to help you prepare.

Budget Accordingly

Trade shows require you to spend some money up front, though a successful experience may pay off in terms of revenue and greater brand awareness. Some factors to consider when budgeting for a trade show include:

• Fees for the booth and its space and location at the venue
• Cost of your exhibition supplies, such as the stand, tables, etc.
• Transportation fees to and from the exhibition, including any trailers to tow your equipment
• Cost of print marketing materials, such as brochures and flyers
• Wages and accommodation fees for staff attending the trade show

The trade show host or website may also provide resources that can help you budget and plan for the event.

Develop a Strategy

Determine what you hope to accomplish by attending the trade show. For instance, is your goal to generate leads, or is it to increase brand awareness? Establishing your goals early on can help your team devise the best approach when creating your exhibition. A good way to get started is to identify the products and services you want to highlight, as well as the types of marketing materials you want to distribute.

Create an Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is a short professional introduction about your business that lasts about 30 seconds. The goal of an elevator pitch in this context is to help you start a conversation with consumers and other professionals that inspires them to learn more about your business. Elements of a great elevator pitch typically include brief statements about your company’s mission and values that are shared in an interesting, simple, and conversational way.

Design Your Booth and Presentation

Booth design is incredibly important during a trade show, as a great design is key to attracting people to your exhibition. A boring and dull-looking booth will likely be ignored and pull in less traffic, while a vibrant booth that stands out is bound to compel people to stop by and see what your business is all about.

Focus on clear messaging when designing your booth and presentation, given how this can make your space more inviting and help people understand your products and services. Also, try to show how your company is different from competitors, and keep your presentation short and simple to keep people engaged and to make it memorable.

Your first trade show may seem overwhelming, but with the right preparation, these events can go a long way toward generating leads and increasing your revenue. If you need help with visual branding or with developing high-quality print marketing materials, consider hiring an experienced marketing agency that can help.

At Katava Marketing, your vision is our mission! Our full-service traditional marketing agency offers design branding, video and photography, website development, and everything else your business needs to increase its revenue. Contact us today at 973-998-8008 to get started!