Trade Show Displays

Have you wondered about the ancient Chinese practice referred to as Feng Shui, and how it might benefit you with your next trade show participation, or in other areas of your life?  What exactly is Feng Shui anyway?  In brief, Feng Shui is the Chinese art of placement, which means that placing certain objects strategically in certain areas (based on compass direction) can help you to attract positive energy (Chi).  Feng Shui is an ancient practice that has been a part of the Chinese culture for many centuries, and if done correctly, really does work.

All trade show exhibitors have had the fear, if not the actual experience, that they would attend a trade show and find that no one seems to notice them. The masses of prospective clients and customers just file past your trade show booths without giving you or your products a second look. Your trade show displays and banner stands are impeccable and your presentation is spot on, your brand has integrity and a great reputation yet you can barely generate any leads. 

A friend recently out of grad school was chatting with me about inbound marketing, what he'd learned, and where he thought his prof had missed the boat. As he related, many marketing gurus these days discuss inbound and outbound marketing, and tell their students that inbound marketing (i.e., businesses positioning themselves to help them be found by customers looking for product info) is the best way to succesfully promote products.

When it comes to trade show exhibits, the rule of thumb is often like that song from the musical hit "Chicago": Give 'em the old razzle-dazzle!

Have you ever counted the many ways that trade show marketing helps your business? Studies show that participation in trade shows is a viable choice for companies that wish to promote their products and/or services to a large group of people who are looking for specialized products or services.

How much time have you put into creating your trade show budget? Have you even considered creating a trade show budget, or have you just been moving along, hoping that everything will fall into place? Without a realistic budget, it's highly unlikely that everything is just going to...fall into place. Listing everything you need may seem tedious, but the fact is, if you can't list what you need to bring, rent, and use at a show, you're much more likely to forget one or more of those items.

You have a product or a service that you would like to promote at a trade show, but you don't know where to start, or how to get started.  There are a number of resources that you can use to gather the necessary information to get you started.  When you do decide to promote your product or service at a trade show, make sure that your display is done in a professional, tasteful manner. Remember, the trade show display is a reflection of your company, and the first impression that many of the attendees will have of your company.

Let's be honest. We might be grown-ups (allegedly) but going to a big trade show is a lot like being a kid on Christmas morning. You have to have a will of steel to not walk out of the convention center with a giant bag full of swag, even if half of it ends up completely forgotten within a couple days. I, for one, fully admit that I'll even visit trade show displays I have no real interest in, if they happen to have some fun freebies to give out.