Are You Exhibiting at a Trade Show?

Exhibiting at a trade show can involve considerable logistics, particularly if the trade show is in a different city from your headquarters. With so many elements to consider, where do you start to plan?

Well, you can start by setting a goal: what to you hope to attain by exhibiting at this trade show? Do you want to generate leads, raise brand awareness, sell a specific product? Are you looking to create partnerships or draw in new clients? Setting a goal will determine the design of your booth, which will in turn help you to determine what you need to bring with you to the show.

With your goal in mind, you can next determine what items you will need at your booth. For example, if you plan on selling a product, presumably, you will need to perform product demos at your booth. To perform software demos, you’ll need a computer and large monitor, so multiple attendees can view the demo at once.

Some trade show items are necessary no matter what your goal may be. Signage can make your booth stand out and draw in attendees easily. Innovative swag items can create buzz around the trade show hall. Business cards and documentation about your company are absolute necessities, no matter what.

Once you have determined what you plan to bring, it’s simply a matter of booking your hotel and shipping your items. The host hotel or the trade show management can assist you in shipping, but you can also mail them directly to yourself at the hotel.

Trade show exhibiting can seem like a daunting process, but if you approach it with a singular goal in mind, you’ll see how all of the elements come together to achieve that goal. With some advanced planning and by answering some simple questions, you should be able to more than exceed any trade show goal you set!