Stand out at your next trade association trade show. Before you set up your booth or give away your first flyer, set your trade show booth up for success. Use these tips for creating and planning a successful trade show.
Plan ahead
Get the word out that your trade association will be attending a trade show far in advance. Engage a designer to create a cohesive look that will carry throughout the planning, promotion, and buildout.
- Pick colors and design elements that will compliment your company’s branding.
- Create promotional content that will look like your booth in the upcoming show.
- Use the same imagery and colors for your social media and email
- Create a landing page to promote when the trade show is happening, where it is being held, and the location of your booth on the showroom floor.
Potential visitors can find your booth in a flash if they recognize your branding. Use your branding, planning, and design to make a successful trade association trade show.
Create an Experience
A good way to draw people to your booth is by creating experiences. Add video to your booth with screens or tablets. VR is an excellent way to entice people to visit your booth. This gives an opportunity to start discussions and achieve the goals of the show.
The use of large graphics can catch the eye of a passing potential connection. Use the color that matches your brand and the theme of your booth. Make sure you can read the title statements of your banners or backdrops from far away.
Booth and Backdrop
The size of your booth for the trade association trade show will depend on your budget. If you can go big, then do so with large, clear graphics and messaging. You may also have a more traditional-sized booth layout plan. No matter the scale of your booth, brainstorm with your designer on the best way to showcase your brand and the message for that particular show. A very important step is to make sure you do the work to promote your show. Use a social media push*, emails, PR**, and word of mouth. This will pay off when the trade show attendees can recognize your branding and message from across the crowded floor.
Personality
The most important component of your trade association trade show booth is your people. Discuss and set your goals ahead of time. This will help start conversations and move them in the right direction. Have a direction or goal on how they would like the conversations to end, for example, exchanging business cards, offering literature about what you offer, or setting up a future meeting. Be as open and inviting as your booth and you will meet your trade show goals.
*Here are some tips on gaining insight into your current social media strategy
**Public relations tip from our PR department. Trade publications love pictures of your events so take lots of photos at the show!
If you have questions about trade shows, marketing for your trade show, email campaigns, promotional material and booth design, PR promotion, or are looking for a designer to help create your booth, contact The Cyphers Agency anytime. We are a full-service agency for marketing, advertising, digital, and public relations.
