Standing Out in Your Next Trade Show

So much work goes into conceptualizing, creating, building, and transporting your booth to a trade show. So, it can almost feel unfair when you get to the trade show and realize so many other businesses have put just as much time and effort into their booths, too.

With so many booths competing for attention from the same participants, how are you going to stand out? Luckily, there are a lot of ways to not get lost in the pack.

Build Buzz Early

A trade show might be just a few days long, but most of the businesses that are there will have spent weeks if not months preparing for their arrival.

You can build buzz early by staying on top of your marketing. Let your network know across email and social media that you’ll be attending. Not only will this cue participants who are already attending to look for your booth, it will also raise the visibility of the trade show itself, potentially increasing the number of people that show up in the first place.

Spend Time Planning Out Your Booth

Unless you’re spending a lot of money for a prime location and a larger footprint at the trade show, chances are your booth will be in a small square plot, among many other similar booths.

Make up for this lack by really spending the time to be thoughtful about how you are arranging your own space. By making an inviting and well-designed booth, you’ll naturally bring more people into your orbit! It’s also important to make sure that your designs and visuals aren’t just crafted professionally, but zippy enough to stand out from a crowd.

Consider bright colors and designs that rely more on images and logos than on text or copy. You only have a few moments to impress a passerby, and you’ll want to make sure it counts with graphics they will remember.

And don’t forget about unique collateral and freebies. Basically, every booth will have something, even something small, to give away to participants who stop by. Put thought into what kind of freebies you want to hand out at your booth. More importantly, consider making it something unique that will get people talking. Word of mouth is one of the most effective marketing tools available, and something that you’ll have in spades at a trade show with the right approach.

Scope Out Your Competition

Trade shows are a unique business environment because they allow you to see up close and personal the kind of products and marketing strategies you’re up against. Rather than shying away from the “big dogs” at the trade show, pay attention to their approaches. Check out what kind of merchandise they’re giving out. Doing so will provide a better sense of where you can improve your own strategies for next time.

Remember to Have Fun

It can be easy to forget. A trade show is, at the end of the day, something of a big business event. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be stiff and lifeless. In fact, the trade show booths that are having the most fun genuinely tend to be the ones where most participants will gravitate towards. No one wants to hang around booths where the most exciting thing that happens is getting handed a brochure.

Try to make your booth a fun and special place that people will want to spend time. If the trade show allows it, see if you can add music or even bubble or fog displays to really set yourself apart from the pack.

Seriously, Remember to Have Fun

Most of the strategies we’ve covered happen before you even get to the trade show. Things you do during the planning stages of your booth. The best way to stand out during the trade show itself is to make a positive, memorable experience for attendees. Stay engaging and take risks and you’ll separate yourself from the rest of those boring trade booths!