Trade Shows are a great way to reach your audience, connect with potential new business, provide information, network or to simply wave the flag.
Before committing time, money and personnel to an exhibition booth we suggest you make sure it is the right fit for you by asking the Show Organiser the following questions:
What kind of visitors are you targeting and how will the event be marketed?
Simply put, find out if people attending the show are the kind of clientele you are looking for. Do the show's marketing strategies align with or compliment your own? What kind of people will be attending along with an estimate of the expected numbers?
What lead generation tools are you offering?
Most exhibitors are there primarily to find new leads for the business, so ask how will they be assisting you to gather them? If they are not utilising a lead-gen tool like Poken or an event app, you may have to implement your own way to gather and compile information such as competitions, survey forms etc.
What strategies are in place for encouraging networking?
While we all love sales leads, the other great benefit of tradeshows is networking with like minded people who maybe organisers, guests, exhibitors or speakers etc. Ask about networking opportunities in social settings where it is relaxed but not too noisy? Will they be providing a platform or will you need to exchange business cards? How will you find and connect with them via Linkedin, Facebook or Twitter when the event is over?
How will you help minimise paper waste?
Sadly, we have all seen how much paper is wasted at events. Visitors don't really want to collect and carry around huge bags of brochures when all they really need is a web address, PDF file or email. Ask if they will be providing a digital platform as part of your booth or whether you will need to find your own alternative like QR codes?
Note: If are providing paper brochures, you will need to allow for printing and transportation costs in your budget.
Will Social Media be utilised before, during and after the show?
If you are using Social Media to market your business, ask what the show will be doing. Will they connect with you via the various channels? Do they have a Linkedin or Facebook group which you can join and connect with others before the event? Will they be promoting your business through their channels? How will they encourage visitors to promote the show via Social Media? Have they established and will they promoting a hashtag for the event?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sue Whittaker
Askew Vision / Poken Australia
Event Technology and Marketing Solutions
What kind of visitors are you targeting and how will the event be marketed?
Simply put, find out if people attending the show are the kind of clientele you are looking for. Do the show's marketing strategies align with or compliment your own? What kind of people will be attending along with an estimate of the expected numbers?
What lead generation tools are you offering?
Most exhibitors are there primarily to find new leads for the business, so ask how will they be assisting you to gather them? If they are not utilising a lead-gen tool like Poken or an event app, you may have to implement your own way to gather and compile information such as competitions, survey forms etc.
What strategies are in place for encouraging networking?
While we all love sales leads, the other great benefit of tradeshows is networking with like minded people who maybe organisers, guests, exhibitors or speakers etc. Ask about networking opportunities in social settings where it is relaxed but not too noisy? Will they be providing a platform or will you need to exchange business cards? How will you find and connect with them via Linkedin, Facebook or Twitter when the event is over?
How will you help minimise paper waste?
Sadly, we have all seen how much paper is wasted at events. Visitors don't really want to collect and carry around huge bags of brochures when all they really need is a web address, PDF file or email. Ask if they will be providing a digital platform as part of your booth or whether you will need to find your own alternative like QR codes?
Note: If are providing paper brochures, you will need to allow for printing and transportation costs in your budget.
Will Social Media be utilised before, during and after the show?
If you are using Social Media to market your business, ask what the show will be doing. Will they connect with you via the various channels? Do they have a Linkedin or Facebook group which you can join and connect with others before the event? Will they be promoting your business through their channels? How will they encourage visitors to promote the show via Social Media? Have they established and will they promoting a hashtag for the event?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sue Whittaker
Askew Vision / Poken Australia
Event Technology and Marketing Solutions
