Jan 25, 2017

Tips for Winning Big at Your Next Trade Show

Hi everyone, Ping here. It’s Q1, and you know what that means: it’s the beginning of another tradeshow season! There’s no better time of year to get your brand in front of the masses, meet tons of new contacts, and show potential customers how you can help make their lives better.

We at The Icebox pride ourselves on being experts in the tradeshow sphere, and I’ve got some of my top tips for tradeshow success to share with you.

Swag
Promotional products help build brand awareness and have a much longer shelf life than any other form of advertising. If you’re looking for greater ROI from your next event, consider offering takeaway items. Here are a few important things to keep in mind when selecting the perfect giveaway.

• The promo item is the true staple of any tradeshow booth, but one size may not fit all. Consider having multiple tiers of promo items. You could have a small, more cost-conscious giveaway for anyone who passes by your booth, and have another more high-value item to present to visitors who show greater interest in your products or services.
• Ensure your booth will be remembered by being unique with your giveaways. If you want your business to stand apart, get creative with your promo items. Lucky for you, The Icebox has a team of Creative Experts to help you drum up some unconventional ideas that only we can provide. Contact us to get started!
• Order your promo items liberally. It’s true, people love a good freebie, especially if it’s super cool (like I know yours will be), so prepare for a run on your giveaway item. Our team of Creative Experts can help you determine an appropriate quantity to order based on the expected attendee count of your event.

Your Booth
Of course, promo items alone are not enough to get people to visit your booth. Catch the eye of passersby and set your booth up for success with these tips!

• Set your reps apart from tradeshow attendees so visitors know who to approach when they enter your booth. Logo shirts, pins, uniforms, custom clipboards, special badge holders or branded name tags are all great ways to set your employees apart.
• Keep your brand at the forefront of your booth design. Whether it be through signage, banners, interactive graphics or display screens, ensure that your logo is prominently displayed and the message of what you do is quickly and easily communicated to anyone who stops by your booth. Visitors should be able to determine who you are and what you do within three seconds.
• Keep it clean! During busy moments, your booth may fill with people. Keep the space organized and tidy with only the essential elements, so there’s plenty of room for potential customers!
• Keep your booth open. Avoid placing a table at the front of your booth. This blocks the entrance and may feel uninviting to potential visitors. Use a small podium instead so that attendees can move freely in and out of your booth.
• Be prepared. Don’t forget to pack a mobile office with basic supplies you might need during the show like tape, note pads, a stapler, and of course, business cards.

Tradeshows can be a fruitful way to drum up new business and build brand awareness. With a little booth preparation, and the perfect promo item giveaway, you can set yourself up for tradeshow success. If you’re looking for a partner who can get you prepared, look no further than the Creative Experts here at The Icebox. Our team stays up-to-date on the latest and greatest giveaway items, and we can help you create an exceptional strategy for your next show. Contact us to learn more!