How To Stand Out At An Exhibition

Exhibition design has been a small part of the overall market until now where more businesses are showing up to exhibitions to advertise their products and services to the public that attend. Exhibition designers have to be able to design stands for a number of different events. They are conferences between businesses, public exhibitions such as the Chelsea Flower Show, industry exhibitions, for example a plumbers and builders convention. They are also able to set up stands for local businesses that want to advertise their products and expertise.

Exhibition designers need lots of practical skills to be able to create the many different stands that need to be built for each client as every business will have different needs to the next. These skills may include good design and drawing skills have a very good eye for colour and different shapes as each exhibition stand will be shaped differently and will have to grab the publics attention with in your face colour schemes and attractive combinations. They will also need good knowledge of computer based design programs where you can see the design in three dimensional formats very easily. Also, they need to be able to have a good interest in art and design due to the work being based all around creativity and design.

Communication is key within exhibition design because each business will have different needs and the designers will need to listen to the business to get the stand to their preferences. This means that all employees will need to have good communication skills and will need to be open to discussion and negotiation. Due to the complex nature of designing each individual stand most designers will let the business come and visit the stand before it is transported to the exhibitions to check that it is to their liking and there are no important pieces missing. This ensures that the business is 100 happy with the work and there are no mishaps.

Due to many different businesses attending an exhibition it is likely that you will find your direct competitors attending. This means you will need to make your stand and pitching much better than your competitors to ensure that you attract more attention towards your stand. This means that choosing the right style and colours for your stand is very important that will allow you to get a leg up on the competition. This is because attractive colour coordinations and bold styling will grab the attention of the people attending the exhibition and get them interested into the products or services you are advertising.

This is where the business and the exhibition designers will have to work together to produce the best stand possible. The business may also want some extras that may help to advertise the business. This may include TVs for videos of their products in action or running water for a plumbers stand for example. All of these little features are very important if the business wishes to attract attention and be successful at the exhibition.

The pitch is also very important and this is why the business will take its best employees at salesmanship and pitching as it will be the salesmans voice and discussion talk that may draw more attention to the stand. This means that sometimes the employees go on a training course that allows them to learn the tricks and skills needed to be able to deliver a good pitch and explanation.


About the Author

Exhibition expert Catherine Harvey looks at what makes an

Relaited Links:

• Getting Inside Your Customers Heads
• The Importance of Marketing Mix and the 4 Key Mix Elements
• Providing What Attendees Want at Your Trade Show Exhibits

Trade Show Contests: A Great Tool in Trade Show Marketing

trade show contests should play a huge role in trade show marketing; after all, it will drive visitors directly to your trade show exhibit. An effective trade show contest produces brand recognition and adds to the visibility of your company at a trade show. It is vital to plan your trade show contest well to ensure it brings about success from your trade show marketing efforts.

Consider a Theme for Your Trade Show Contest

The first step in your trade show marketing is to decide on a theme for your trade show contest. Select a theme that fits in with your company's products and services. For instance, if your company makes power tools, a water park theme is not as enticing to targeted do-it-yourselfers as a home renovation and construction theme. You should include your theme in all of your trade show marketing and in your booth decor, so select your trade show contest theme wisely.

Select Your Prizes

As with your trade show contest theme, the prizes you give away should be a good representation of your products and services. For example, a great prize for the power tool manufacturer may be a selection of power tools or a home improvement store gift certificate.

Money is often the trade show contest prize that will bring attendees running to your booth. Cash cube money machines that swirl money around for people to catch is always a fun draw for any business. Massages, spa gift certificates, and vacations can usually be made to fit nicely into trade show marketing themes.

Make Sure Your Contest Does Not Break Any Rules

You may have an incredible contest idea, but if it violates the rules of the trade show, your incredible idea will not fly. It is essential that you understand the rules of the trade show and double check with the staff before advertising your trade show contest in your trade show marketing. If you fail to do this, you could end up with a worthless contest and a show full of angry attendees who came especially for you.

Hire Enough Staff Members

You should have one person in your staff that does nothing but manage the running of the trade show contest. You do not want people visiting your booth with the purpose of participating in your contest, just to turn away because everyone is busy and no one is responsible for the contest. By having one person dedicated to managing the contest, you have the chance for that person to talk about your products and services with a person who may have only come for the contest. Do not just put out slips of paper and a drop box. You do not want to lose the valuable conversations with potential customers because you were understaffed.

market Your Trade Show Contest

Make the effort to market your trade show contest before the show so that people know about it and can arrange to come by your booth. Add information about your trade show contest on your company website and send trade show marketing materials to customers containing the same information. Sending out personal invitations to participate in your trade show contest also usually produces nice results.

Continue marketing your trade show contest at the trade show and even at locations near the trade show. Place flyers about your trade show contest at the airport, hotels, outside the venue, and anywhere else you think possible attendees may be lurking. Make sure you clearly provide directions and list your booth number in your trade show marketing materials so attendees can easily find you.

Trade show contests are a fun and efficient tool in trade show marketing. A well-planned trade show contest will always draw new contacts and potential customers.


About the Author

Christine OKelly is an author for trade show marketing consultant Jonathan Edelman. Jonathan is the founder of Ideas 4 Now, a trade show marketing company offering promotional products such as video game attractions that drive traffic to trade show booths. Edelman is also the founder of the trade show vendors directory Trade Show Vendors.com.

Relaited Links:

• Providing What Attendees Want at Your Trade Show Exhibits
• Ideas About Direct Response Marketing
• How to Drive Free Traffic to Your Website - Part One