Trade shows are platforms where you can discover new clients for your products and services. Are you looking for ways to increase your trade show performance? While exhibiting at a trade show, mistakes can happen, regardless of whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newbie. Learning from the failures of past exhibitions is one of the best ways to improve your marketing strategies. Having been in the business of selling trade show displays for so many years, we have formulated a list of common mistakes you should avoid:
Poor Trade Show Displays
Underselling your company with bad graphics is the number one mistake. Bad graphics do nothing to encourage visitors, which means potential clients won’t want to know more about your products and services. Exhibiting your products and conveying your marketing message through attractive fabric trade show displays is essential. A great exhibit can tell booth visitors about your business and brand image. Buy from our range of trade show displays to create a long-lasting impression with your customers.
Wrong People in the Booth
Inadequately trained booth staff can be a huge disappointment. Staff hiding in a corner all the time, or staff focusing on their smartphones, don’t help attract aisle-walkers to your booth. Poor staff can negatively affect your ROI and leave a bad impression with your customers. Instead, you should bring the best team to engage every passerby—you want to draw attention to your brand and services. It is vital to train staff if you want to generate a positive experience for attendees and bolster your brand.
Ignoring Social Media Marketing
It's 2019. If you aren’t advertising your business on social media and interacting with potential clients, you’re in big trouble. Be active on social media pages before, during, and after the event. Use social media tools to generate buzz for the event. Make images, videos, and posts about what’s happening at your trade show event. Come up with a hashtag that’s specifically used for hosting contests. Create a gallery of your exhibition’s imagesonInstagramor Pinterest to improve your online presence. Encourage people walking by to stop at your booth so they can take photographs with your branding logo. Post statuses and updates on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+, and be active on a variety of other social media outlets.
Focusing on Quantity over Quality
You may be tempted to focus on the quantity of leads rather than the quality of the leads. Qualified leads are not excited by the opportunity to win a prize or receive giveaways—they are the ones who may have spoken with you for long enough to know about your products and services. Four or five qualified leads are better than collecting hundreds of business cards from people you don't know anything about. A quality lead is the one that results in a sale. Ask open-ended questions while engaging with prospects to understand their mindset.
These are some of the common trade show pitfalls you need to avoid. Learning from these mistakes is a key to success. Have you made any mistakes that negatively impacted your ROI? Share with us in the comment box below.