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Tips for Running a Successful Exhibition Stand

StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |Successful Exhibition Stand|Tips for Running a Successful Exhibition StandRunning an exhibition stand is a key component to growing your brand – if done successfully! Not only does it help you reach a new audience, but it also helps keep your company at the forefront of your current customer’s minds as well as show people you are still relevant within the market. There are a number of exhibitions you can sign up for depending on your target audience, some are consumer-based, and some are business based. They also operate around the world, helping you reach new markets.

When running an exhibition stand, there are a number of things for you to consider. Below we look into several tips for running a successful exhibition stand.

Follow up with your customers

See every customer that you speak to at your stand as someone who you can sell your product to. Make sure you take as much information about them as possible and then follow up with them in the following days after the event. If they say yes, sign them up for your email marketing campaigns, and if you can, offer them a special discount as they visit you on your stand. Remember every customer will visit many stands at the exhibition. If you are not following up with them, it’s easy for them to forget about you.
Have merchandise to give out on the day


Reach out to a company like sugarcookiemarketing.com and have them design some merchandise that you can give out on the day. The type of merchandise you choose to give out is completely up to you – pens, hats, t-shirts, notebooks, tote bags – these are all good ways to help your potential customers remember you. Along with the merchandise, some companies choose to run a competition on the day. This is a great way to collect data from your customers who you can email and get in touch with after the event. It can also fall as part of your growth strategy when trying to improve your business.

Create an appealing stand

At the exhibition, you will be surrounded by other stands, many of whom could be your competitor. For these reasons, it’s important you make your stand, “stand” out from the crowd. Make it bright, appealing, and eye-catchy. You want everyone to notice it and approach you to ask about your company. If it’s boring and dull, people won’t take any notice of it, walking straight past. If you are unsure about how to design the stand yourself, you could use a freelancer from a company like People Per Hour or Fiver to design one for you. Make sure your stands can be reused, this way you can exhibit and use your designs for future exhibitions.

What tips do you have for running a successful exhibition stand? Are there any tips that we haven’t included that you think are very useful? Which of the points above do you most agree with? Let us know in the comment box below. We would love to hear from you.

Trade Show Setup: 5 Best Tips for Preparing for a Trade Show

StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |trade show setup|Trade Show Setup: 5 Best Tips for Preparing for a Trade ShowIf you’ve been to trade shows then you know just how valuable they can be. This is even truer if you’re a small startup or a growing business.

These shows provide an avenue for you to promote your brand, meet and network with prospective clients as well as to gain some sales. That’s the upside, but it’s also easy to not have as much success as you’d like.

This can either be due to a poor exhibition in comparison to competitors or simply a lack of overall planning and execution.

Are you trying to figure out how to have a great trade show? Read this article to learn the best tips for trade show setup and how to prepare for the show.

1. Preparing for Your Trade Show Setup

There is an old adage that says, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”Never has it been truer than when it comes to trade shows.

Sit down and make plans with your team so they will be ready for everything well in advance.

Book your flights early and reserve your hotel rooms well ahead of time. Make plans for any news release and be sure to get giveaways ready for the show.

2. Strong Social Media Presence

Inform your customers of your participation in the trade show via social media platforms. Do teasers, announce the latest news, and offer to let them meet the team.

On the day of the show promote your booth using social media and invite customers to stop by, visit, and shop.

3. Be the Talk of the Show

Use a vast array of colors and decorations to make your booth stand out. Be sure to include company colors and your logo.

Use a presentation board to display your company’s name and logo. You can even include pictures of products on your display board.

As an added bonus, have a slide show or show images of products and clients’ reviews. Distribute pamphlets, brochures and print outs of products, achievements, and other important information.

4. Prizes and Surprises

Giveaways, especially company-branded ones are vital. Pens, buttons, and business cards are a few of the best items you can give away.

Having a hospitality suite where you serve light refreshments is a plus. Gift certificates are always a good idea for your customers as well.

Get your visitors to sign in a guestbook, get them to add their email addresses or phone number in the book too.

5. Warm Welcome

First impressions last!

Put on your best customer service game and focus on what you can do to help the customer. Avoid being too pushy about your product.

Simply welcome each visitor, make conversation, and be sure to introduce yourself and your brand briefly but make it fun.

Ready to Shine!

Knowing what to do for a trade show setup is key. Use these tips to be the highlight of the show. Remember advanced preparation is vital.

Social media is your best friend too. A great display and prizes will also add some much-needed flair and make great Instagram pics.

If you would like more tips to help you succeed in business, please contact us.

4 Tips to Help You Plan Your Corporate Event

StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |Plan Your Corporate Event|4 Tips to Help You Plan Your Corporate EventIf the task of organizing a corporate event for your company has fallen onto your desk, then you might be wondering where you should begin in the planning process. It can be a challenge to plan the perfect event, especially if you know that attendance is meant to be high.

If you are looking for how to start planning your corporate event, here are a few tips to help get you going on the right path.

1. Get Organized

The first step to planning the perfect event is to take the time to get organized. There are so many moving parts that you will have a handle on throughout the planning process, so in order to set yourself up for success, it is critical that you plan accordingly.

Make sure that you surround yourself with the right people who share your vision and who you can trust to get tasks done in a timely manner. Set realistic timelines for yourself and your team and take measures to ensure that everyone is aware of important dates and deadlines. With everyone on the same page from the starting line, you are more likely to avoid common mistakes later on.

2. Set and Stick to Your Budget

As with anything involving business, one of the most important things that must be kept in mind is the budget. It can be very easy to go overboard with spending when it comes to corporate events and seminars.

There are so many different things that must be kept in mind in regards to how much you invest in your event. Primarily speaking, though, you want to be sure that you aren’t setting yourself up to lose money through your event.

3. Find the Perfect Keynote Speaker

It is critical to the success of your event that you find and hire the right keynote speaker. If you secure the right person, then you will be able to generate good buzz during the lead up to your conference and ensure that those in attendance have a positive experience.

If you aren’t sure where to look, organizations like Saxton Speakers have many speakers to choose from. You are able to search for the perfect speaker using the exact criteria that you’d like so that you can better tailor the type of speaker you hire to the event you are planning.

4. Book an Appropriate Venue

Once you have certain particulars of your event nailed down, it will be time to search for and book an appropriate venue. The venue should be able to accommodate the theme and size of the conference without going over your budget.

Keep in mind that the price of the room rental is only a portion of what it costs to book a venue. Other expenses can include insurance as well as parking for your guests. The security deposit for the place you book is one of the upfront charges that you should be prepared for.

Making the Most Out of Trade Show Attendance

Trade shows can be a wonderful way to grow your business, whether you are hosting a stand or visiting as an attendee. They are a great way to make connections with clients, customers and suppliers, show off your business, find ways to save money and to learn about the latest developments and tools that might be available to you.

But, they can also be hectic. Trade shows tend to be busy. There are often many different stands offering similar things, and it can be hard to get noticed, or to remember the people that you have spoken to. Trade shows can be overwhelming, and we often don’t get as much out of them as we perhaps should.

If you want to host a stand at a show, here are some of the things that you can do to make sure you get the most out of it, instead of wasting your time.

Send the Right Staff

If you are hosting a stand at a trade show, you might spend a long time planning your displays, the marketing materials that you want to take, and any freebies that you might want to offer your visitors. But, the staff manning your stand are just as important. These are the people that make you businesses first impression and that really sell it to potential customers and clients.

You’ll probably want to attend yourself, but you’ll also want to send enthusiastic and experienced team members who can speak confidently and answer questions easily. Take enough staff that you can spend some time wandering around and meeting other businesses, instead of being stuck to your stand all day.

Attend the Right Shows

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There are trade shows for different kinds of businesses, niches and industries. Some will be close to home, others further away. Some will be large, others small. Hiring a stand at every single one is a mistake, a waste of time and a waste of money. Take some time to research up and coming shows, find out more about them, and choose those that you want to attend carefully. If you are hosting a stand, this will give you the chance to condense your budget, and spend more time and money on your stand.

Make a Great First Impression

It can be hard to get noticed at a busy show where many companies are bidding for attention. that’s why your first impression is so important. Plan your area carefully. Add banners and signs, and use color to stand out. Consider props and use of your logo, and think about wearing uniforms, or bright clothing.

Get Some Free Advertising

Trade shows are a fantastic place to advertise your business. Some advertisements, like displays with a fabric tension frame system, can be eye-catching and effective. But these come with a cost. Others are free. Create a buzz for your attendance on social media, and encourage visitors to take your business in their posts.

Make Connections in Advance

When you do your homework, you might get an idea of who else is going to be in attendance. If not, reach out and ask on social media. Take the time to introduce yourself to other businesses before the event to give yourself a head start.