Are you a growing business looking to gain more exposure and build your reputation? Trade shows are your go-to events for showcasing your brand, expanding your prospect pool, and networking with like-minded business owners in your industry. That being said, there is a lot of planning and organization that goes into pulling off a trade show successfully. Learn how to keep a creative edge on your competition and leave a lasting impression.

Create a “Buzz” Beforehand

If this is your first trade show, you’ll probably be fully focused on what type of marketing materials you’re going to display on the big day. Don’t forget to do some initial outreach in the weeks leading up to the event. Craft a self-mailer, email, or website advertisement letting everyone know you’re going to be there. Plant seeds in the local community, then give your prospects the opportunity to learn more by meeting you in person. If all goes well, your prospects will have everything they need to make an informed decision. Everyone loves higher conversion rates.

Outshine Your Competition

When the big day finally arrives, you’ll want to make sure you have everything you need to outshine the competition. Investing in custom trade show graphics will attract new customers and showcase the quality of your brand. Make sure you have plenty of takeaways for your visitors, like brochures, samples, gift bags, and more. Remember, all of these “freebies” will be branded, ultimately giving your business more exposure. Our creative team has more than a decade of experience helping small businesses get the most out of their marketing budget.

Some of our favorite trade show displays include:

· Custom-designed booths

· Pop up banners, table top posters and portable displays

· Bold color schemes, LED projectors or responsive lighting

· Digital advertising for optimum engagement

· Contest entry forms and giveaways

· Great promotional items (i.e. phone grips, flash drives, reusable bags, etc.)

Every design choice you make is a reflection of your company’s culture and authenticity. If you invest in quality products, your target audience is more likely to see the value you have to offer.

Post-event Follow Up

Make sure you get the most out of your marketing efforts by having a follow-up plan in place. If you collected business cards during the trade show, connect with your new prospects or partners within 1-2 days of the event ending. This is your chance to seal the deal, provide more information, and get honest feedback by retargeting the attendees. Consider sending:

· A personalized thank you card or email

· Photos and testimonials from the event

· Post-event engagement surveys

· Exclusive discounts on the products/services you promoted

· More information on these products or services

· A congratulatory email to contest winners

Keep your custom trade show graphics aligned with your brand as a whole. Your creative and messaging should always be consistent, whether you’re at a business event or doing outreach online.

Not all small businesses have the time and bandwidth to pull off a high-impact trade show. In most cases, it takes months of prep work to execute one successfully. Considering outsourcing your creative needs so you don’t miss out on the opportunity to leave a mark in your industry. Leave the planning, design, and execution to our marketing professionals, and rest assured your brand reputation is in great hands.

Ready to get to work? Give us a call at 732.922.6525 or reach out to us here.

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Gearing Up for a Trade Show? Here’s Everything You Need to Make it a Success