Trade Show Season is almost here. Is your business ready?

As fall and winter approach, so too, does trade show season. Yes, conventions, conferences, and trade shows are just around the corner. If you’re in a B-to-B industry, trade shows create the ideal atmosphere to meet new prospects in person and reconnect with existing customers. It’s the time to launch new products, roll out incentives, and make the sale. Are you ready to put your company’s best foot forward?

Here are our Top 5 Tips for trade show prep:

Booth Design:

Is your trade show booth up to date? Do the photos on your booth backdrop and pop-ups match your latest product designs? If your booth is larger or smaller than last year’s booth, you may need to make adjustments, add new elements to freshen it up or correct your branding to be consistent with any changes in logos, taglines, colors or styles.

Handouts:

Have you checked your inventory of handouts and product slicks? Is what you have still current? And do you have enough pieces to last the full trade show season?
Have you launched new products to promote this fall and winter? Do you have the collateral you need to tell that new product’s story?

Swag:

Do you have branded giveaways for the booth such as pens, hats or other branded swag? Everyone loves to get something for free. Make your freebie cool and useful, something that makes sense for your industry. For example, if you’re in the building industry, a measuring tool might be something your customer would actually use. If it’s got your logo on it, they’ll be reminded of you everytime they use it. If your customer works at a desk, branded notepads are an inexpensive way to keep your name in their awareness.

Get the Word Out:

Do you have news to announce that requires some publicity? Do you know where to start to be regarded as a thought leader at upcoming conferences? Public relations, networking with magazine and blog editors in your industry can get you interviewed for a story, and instantly raise your prestige and brand awareness, maybe give you a touch of celebrity.  What company doesn’t want that?

How about advertising in trade magazines in print or online? Do you even know which magazines your customers read and go to for advice on new products and purchases? How about social media? Have you identified the hashtags for the conference and plan to use them in your social posts from the show floor? Because you are going to post pics of your booth with your booth number before, during and after the show, right?

Video:

Do you need a video to run at your booth? A video is an excellent way to communicate your message in your booth, especially when the show floor is packed and you’ve got customers waiting to speak with you. Video can act as an extra salesman who won’t get bogged down in a conversation.

Like any big project, planning and design and take time. Often more time than you’d expect. Be sure to leave yourself enough time to plan, design, get approvals on, and order the products or collateral you need to be successful. Your show will be here before you know it!

At What’s Your Avocado? Marketing & PR, we create brochures and handouts, design trade show booths branded to your company, produce videos, and create buzz around your booth on the show floor with PR & social media. B-to-B is our expertise. Contact us today!