Trade Show Tips

rade shows are a useful tool to get your name out there in the industry, make contacts and sell your product. Before you start the trade show route though you need to be very clear about what your goals are for attending shows. Shows are not a cheap investment. You have to rent the space your booth will occupy and buy or rent your display booth itself, not to mention have someone on duty at the booth the whole time to sell your product. It's a huge time commitment and a financial investment and at the end of the show you want to be successful in your goals whatever they may be. So before you begin looking for shows ask yourself what are your goals? Just like any good business plan you need to have a clear understanding of what you are hoping to accomplish and a clear idea of success when you do.

If you are still sure a trade show is for you the next step is to locate shows in your industry. Ideally you are planning well ahead so you can get the best possible location for your booth at the trade show. Where you are located at a trade show will have a big impact on how successful your business will be. Everyone wants the best space and that means many return clients have already reserved those spaces well ahead of time, not the week before the show starts, so start to plan early on.

Take advantage of the shows and advertise your presence. Use hanging graphics to draw attention to your location from above where many consumers look when they are trying to find a particular booth and remember the rule of fifteen when planning your graphic displays. Future clients need to be able to read your logo or name from fifteen feet away in order to find you. Make your graphics easy to read, colorful and simple in line with this rule.

You should also have plenty of brochures and literature on hand and on display in literature racks to hand out to customers. And don't forget about your customers back home- make sure they are also aware that you will be at the shows by advertising on your web site. Take plenty of photos of your successful endeavor to post on your web site later on too so your clients and future clients see that you are on the cutting edge of a competitive business world.

Most importantly make the best use of your time at the show and make a positive name for your business while having fun. After all there are a lot of shows to attend and this may only be the beginning of a long line of successful shows yet to come.