In trade shows, B2B marketers place a big sum of money in getting their own desired trade show displays on place. With that big investment made, their primary concern is getting a positive return of investment, nullifying the expense of purchasing the display alltogetherl. Boosting that trade show ROI is precisely influenced by your actions and choices, putting success under your control. But that control comes a risk as well, giving you a favorable or unfavorable performance.
Take the time to go through our 8 ways to Boost your Trade Show ROI. These things are what seasoned exhibitors use to ensure their display and all efforts produces a positive return.
Take the time to go through our 8 ways to Boost your Trade Show ROI. These things are what seasoned exhibitors use to ensure their display and all efforts produces a positive return.
1. Re-Evaluate your Trade Show Schedule
Logically, you wouldn't want book yourself in an antiquated hotel that you went to a decade ago. Chances are that this hotel doesn't have the facilities you need, new hotels have opened, while this hotel has grown old. The same logic applies to trade shows. Ask yourself why you go to the same trade shows you went for the last decade, knowing your markets have evolved and some shows never grown while others have coped up with the new trends. Tailor your trade show schedule appropriately, know which shows benefits your company more, and see which of the events draws attention to your top customers.
2.Reserve a High-Traffic Area
The higher attendee traffic you have near your exhibit booth, the higher your chances of having to meet and engage attendees. If the venue is familiar to you, the advantage is you already know the busiest area on the venue. If not, sometimes there's a premium payment for the same or exact size of space thus giving you a hint on which area is best for you. A spot on the corner near a major aisle-way is a good spot, enabling you to engage from many sides and your booth will be more noticeable not packed between two other exhibitors.
Remember that being in the best or the most advantageous spot in the venue wouldn't count if you have a poorly designed display. That's one big reason to choose your exhibit designer/builder wisely when planning to attend a trade show.
3. Set Specific Objectives
Most often, companies attend trade shows simply because their competition will be there as well. It actually does comprise our sample goals list.
Sample goals:
After setting the objectives, then it's time to set the quantifiable objectives. For example, your goal is to generate leads. Calculate the exact number of leads you should expect from the show then, plan and staff your booth to meet that objective. Be sure to make it into writing because a written plan can help establish support for the objectives and supply a valuable tool to measure your trade show performance.
4. Observe simplicity in your Exhibit Design
During trade shows, all eyes from attendees will set on the hundreds or thousands of displays from local and non-local exhibitors on the trade show floor. Make sure to get the attention of attendees through a clear message. Attendees usually ignore displays that have too much words, messages, and images.
5. Not choosing the right Booth Staffers
Most of the time we choose booth staffers because they are sales people, or because they know how to sell, or because they know your products well. Worst than that, you choose a booth staffer because you want that new employee experience his/her first trade show. These kinds of choices will get you booth staffers that will not convert or leave you with low trade show statistics.
Choose booth staffers who are eager to staff and that your are certain they will give a good impression to your company. With a little training, they'll likely to become positive brand ambassadors and be able to create a solid tie between your company and your customers. Train them on how to staff the booth, give them ideas on how to handle both leads and current customers, and tell them everything they need to know about your services, products, company and industry.
6. Promote your Event
Trade Shows are only for meeting new leads but are also opportunities for you to meet-up with your current customers. Be sure to have a pleasing face-to-face environment because it is the best time to strengthen your relationship with them.
Getting your customers to attend the show and visit your booth will need you to be proactive and promote your trade show attendance in weeks or even months before the event date. Make an email blast using your mailing list or you can promote also through direct email. Spread the word through social media. Get your event published in your local newspaper. If possible share photos w/ captions on the stages of your event planning or your exhibit design, and don't forget to add on your announcements your promotional giveaways.
7. Offer Giveaways that Suits your Target Market
Offering or bribing your prospects with promotional giveaways is one great way to give them a compelling reason to stop at your booth. Give attendees giveaways that suits their personal demographics or jobs. In this way, you wouldn't just base your choice by how much is it worth. If you give them cheap or low quality giveaway, worst thing is they will have a bad memory of your company. Just be sure you are getting them a good quality freebie that attendees are likely to keep and use long term.
8. Follow Up on Leads
This has always been listed and pointed out in various trade show tips provided in the web. The main reason for this being mentioned many times is because many companies have failed on this area. Collecting leads is only half of the equation. After the show, it is crucial to follow up on your leads through email or best through phone. A lot of exhibitors oversees this part and instead, they shelf their hard-won leads with the intention of calling them when they themselves have the time. Don't wait for your leads run cold as for targeted leads age too quickly.
Logically, you wouldn't want book yourself in an antiquated hotel that you went to a decade ago. Chances are that this hotel doesn't have the facilities you need, new hotels have opened, while this hotel has grown old. The same logic applies to trade shows. Ask yourself why you go to the same trade shows you went for the last decade, knowing your markets have evolved and some shows never grown while others have coped up with the new trends. Tailor your trade show schedule appropriately, know which shows benefits your company more, and see which of the events draws attention to your top customers.
2.Reserve a High-Traffic Area
The higher attendee traffic you have near your exhibit booth, the higher your chances of having to meet and engage attendees. If the venue is familiar to you, the advantage is you already know the busiest area on the venue. If not, sometimes there's a premium payment for the same or exact size of space thus giving you a hint on which area is best for you. A spot on the corner near a major aisle-way is a good spot, enabling you to engage from many sides and your booth will be more noticeable not packed between two other exhibitors.
Remember that being in the best or the most advantageous spot in the venue wouldn't count if you have a poorly designed display. That's one big reason to choose your exhibit designer/builder wisely when planning to attend a trade show.
3. Set Specific Objectives
Most often, companies attend trade shows simply because their competition will be there as well. It actually does comprise our sample goals list.
Sample goals:
- Establish or enhance company awareness and credentials
- Write contracts and orders
- Launch new product lines
- Generate targeted leads
- Meet and Strengthen existing customer links
- Evaluate your competition
- Recruit dealers or employees
- Inform and educate your marketplace
After setting the objectives, then it's time to set the quantifiable objectives. For example, your goal is to generate leads. Calculate the exact number of leads you should expect from the show then, plan and staff your booth to meet that objective. Be sure to make it into writing because a written plan can help establish support for the objectives and supply a valuable tool to measure your trade show performance.
4. Observe simplicity in your Exhibit Design
During trade shows, all eyes from attendees will set on the hundreds or thousands of displays from local and non-local exhibitors on the trade show floor. Make sure to get the attention of attendees through a clear message. Attendees usually ignore displays that have too much words, messages, and images.
5. Not choosing the right Booth Staffers
Most of the time we choose booth staffers because they are sales people, or because they know how to sell, or because they know your products well. Worst than that, you choose a booth staffer because you want that new employee experience his/her first trade show. These kinds of choices will get you booth staffers that will not convert or leave you with low trade show statistics.
Choose booth staffers who are eager to staff and that your are certain they will give a good impression to your company. With a little training, they'll likely to become positive brand ambassadors and be able to create a solid tie between your company and your customers. Train them on how to staff the booth, give them ideas on how to handle both leads and current customers, and tell them everything they need to know about your services, products, company and industry.
6. Promote your Event
Trade Shows are only for meeting new leads but are also opportunities for you to meet-up with your current customers. Be sure to have a pleasing face-to-face environment because it is the best time to strengthen your relationship with them.
Getting your customers to attend the show and visit your booth will need you to be proactive and promote your trade show attendance in weeks or even months before the event date. Make an email blast using your mailing list or you can promote also through direct email. Spread the word through social media. Get your event published in your local newspaper. If possible share photos w/ captions on the stages of your event planning or your exhibit design, and don't forget to add on your announcements your promotional giveaways.
7. Offer Giveaways that Suits your Target Market
Offering or bribing your prospects with promotional giveaways is one great way to give them a compelling reason to stop at your booth. Give attendees giveaways that suits their personal demographics or jobs. In this way, you wouldn't just base your choice by how much is it worth. If you give them cheap or low quality giveaway, worst thing is they will have a bad memory of your company. Just be sure you are getting them a good quality freebie that attendees are likely to keep and use long term.
8. Follow Up on Leads
This has always been listed and pointed out in various trade show tips provided in the web. The main reason for this being mentioned many times is because many companies have failed on this area. Collecting leads is only half of the equation. After the show, it is crucial to follow up on your leads through email or best through phone. A lot of exhibitors oversees this part and instead, they shelf their hard-won leads with the intention of calling them when they themselves have the time. Don't wait for your leads run cold as for targeted leads age too quickly.