Your business is going to be featured at an expo! What now?
Business expos are a great opportunity to promote your company, connect with the surrounding community, and attract new customers and clients. And in order to help you make the most out of your experience, we at WideNet have created this Expo Survival Guide.
Below, you’ll find a pre-show checklist and some inside tips on how to engage visitors at your booth.
Before the Expo
A great experience hinges on thorough preparation. Before you head out to the event, make sure you complete the pre-show checklist.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
There are the obvious details you’ll need to know, such as the time and place, when you need to set up your booth, and any rules and restriction that might apply to your business. But consider the details that are easy to overlook. The more you know about the event, the better you can prepare your booth to get the most engagement.
- How many people are expected to be there?
- What other businesses will be there?
- Is there a theme you can incorporate to your booth?
- Will there be any media?
- Is there a social media hashtag?
HAVE YOUR STAFF & SCHEDULE READY
Make sure everyone who will be running the booth is on the same page. If you’re staff is rotating shifts, make sure everyone gets the schedule ahead of time.
PLAN AN ATTRACTIVE / INTERESTING BOOTH
Appearance is 90% of the game. Build your booth so that people WANT to check you out. Feature a demo of your product so people can interact. Plan a game or a fun activity that will attract attention. Set up your booth to stand out and get noticed.
GATHER EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BUILD YOUR BOOTH
Some of the most common items include:
- Tables and table cloths.
- Chairs
- Banners/signs
- Power strips and plugs
- Laptop/monitor
- A/V equipment
- Tape
HAVE MARKETING MATERIALS READY
Make sure you have plenty of business cards and brochures to hand out, and don’t forget the SWAG. Pens, notebooks, chargers, iPhone stands, buttons, stickers, cups, bags, the list goes on and on. Be sure to have something to give away. Check out New Leaf Marketing for great swag options. http://nlmstore.com/
DEVELOP YOUR MESSAGE
There are going to be a lot of businesses vying for attention. You may only have a short amount of time to engage visitors. Know what you’re going to say, hit the high points, and be prepared to answer questions.
HAVE A WAY TO CAPTURE LEADS
Make sure you have an official sign-up sheet, tablet, or computer ready so you can gather and store contact information from visitors to your booth.
During the Expo
You’ve prepped, your booth is set up, and you’re ready to go. Here are five tips on what to do during the expo to attract attention and engage visitors.
BE SOCIAL
Don’t just wait around for people to come visit your booth. Stand out in front. Talk to people as they walk by. Send someone to walk around the expo and hand out business cards, brochures, or swag.
GIVE, BUT ASK FOR SOMETHING IN RETURN
You don’t have to give away your swag for free. Don’t be afraid to ask for email addresses and contact information in exchange for free stuff.
SHOW SOME PRIDE
You’re there to rep your business, so have some pride. When people come to your booth, show them why you’re the best. Feature a live tutorial of your product or service. Let people interact with what you’re offering.
UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA
These days, most expo events will have an official hashtag. Use it. It’s a great way to interact with expo-goers and bring people to your booth. Have someone on your staff designated to post pictures and updates on your social accounts throughout the day.
DON’T STOP UNTIL THE LAST PERSON LEAVES
Just because the crowd starts dwindling doesn’t mean your job is finished. You never know what kind of quality lead could be lingering around in the final hour of the expo. Keep your booth up and running until the event is officially over.
We hope you find this guide helpful and we wish you the best of luck in your expo experience. If you have any questions or comments, send an email to tim@widenetconsulting.com or call us at 866.645.9235.
