Trading Up: 10 Tips for Success in Your Trade Show Booth Presentation
Is your trade show technique working for your business?
If you’re struggling to make it a success you may wonder if trade shows are worth the hype. Well, according to statistics, they are.
About 80% of visitors buy a product or service they interacted with at a trade show. Why? Because the samples or demonstration motivated them to do so.
Some businesses seem to have a secret recipe to success when it comes to their exhibition booth. But what’s the secret?
Read on for ten trade show tips that will expose all the secrets of a successful presentation.
1. The 30 Second Window
Did you know that we only have a 30-second window to make a good first impression? Whether it’s the beginning of your presentation or how you set up your exhibition booth, you’ve got to catch the attention of your audience.
Your exhibition booth should be unique but matching your brand. You should design your booth to catch the eyes of passersby.
For example, Polaroid created a summer camp-style exhibition booth. It had a treehouse with chimpanzee figures hanging around. It certainly drew in the crowds.
Your actual presentation should also draw the crowds in. Start with a video, music or a bold statement to grab attention. You’ve got to stand out, or you’ll get lost in the crowds.
2. Trade Show Presentation Ready
To make your presentation great, you need to set up your presenting area in a professional way. Here are some of the things you will need:
- A small stage area
- A podium for your iPad or notes
- A large screen or projector and high-quality speakers
- A preplanned slideshow or digital presentation
- Spotlight (the oldest trick in the book)
If you’ve got the right set-up, your presentation will come across as professional. Customers will be more likely to take you seriously.
3. An Experience to Remember
Instead of taking the stage and lecturing your audience, create an experience instead.
For example, Charity Water is an organization that helps remote communities around the world to have a clean water supply. As part of their presentation, they invite their audience to carry two 40lb buckets of water across a 50-yard platform. This helps the audience to understand the struggles some go through to have clean water.
Can you offer some kind of experience to make your brand seem engaging? This will create a buzz of excitement around your trade booth.
4. Mix It Up
To hold the attention of your audience, you need to mix up your presentation. It should include a variety of techniques. For example:
- Lecture (up to 5 minutes)
- Slideshows
- Charts (facts and figures)
- Animations and videos
- Audience participation
- Q&A
This will keep your presentation entertaining. Potential customers will feel motivated to stay throughout the performance. Instead of getting bored and leaving halfway.
5. Practice Makes Perfect
One of the most important trade show tips for your presentation is to practice. But don’t over practice as you don’t want to sound rigid or scripted. A natural, relaxed style will be appealing to your audience.
You can practice by writing out a script (but not word for word). Rehearse your presentation out loud, and make adjustments to the script accordingly.
Don’t forget to add humor! Adding humor to your presentation can create a relaxed vibe that will put the audience at ease.
6. Repeat Your Presentation
Remember to repeat your presentation throughout the day. Give it at set times during the trade show and have a schedule posted in your exhibition booth so that potential customers know when to come back.
This will help you to get your message out to a wider audience.
7. Be Generous
Give your guests a warm welcome. Not only in your manner, but also in how you set up your exhibition booth. Make it your aim to help your guests feel comfy and relaxed.
For example, have comfy chairs or beanbags. Give out free coffee and tea or try luring them with freshly baked cookies. Some businesses have created a zen den in their trade show booth (which is a place to meditate but also connects with the brand).
And don’t forget the freebies!
Promotional giveaways are like walking advertisements. Hand out wearables, stickers or anything that draws attention to your brand.
But make sure to give them their swag bags at the end of the presentation. Or they may be more interested with what’s in the bag than what you’re saying.
8. Don’t Forget Your VIP’s
It’s always easier to get a previous customer to buy again than it is to find a new customer. If your best clients aren’t going to the trade show, why not encourage them to do so?
You could even buy them a ticket as your VIP. Or hold a social media competition beforehand where the winner gets a free ticket to the event.
It might sound expensive, but you have a big chance of getting a return on investment.
9. Get Social
Don’t limit your audience to who are in attendance. Add an online avenue to your trade show presentation. This may extend your audience across oceans.
Assign someone to keep social media updates running throughout the day. You should post some portions live, such as one of your presentations.
Interact with online visitors to keep the connection. For example, during your presentation, you may hold a Q&A. Let online visitors ask questions too.
10. Reach Out
You may have stolen the show at the exhibition. But what’s next?
You must follow up with leads ASAP! The longer you hang around, the more likely they will forget about you. You weren’t the only business they interacted with after all.
Don’t be afraid to reach out quickly. Try to get in touch within a few days. This will keep the fire burning, and you’ll be more likely to make a sale.
Do Your Homework
Of course, these ten trade show tips only scratching the surface. If you want to make your next trade show a marketing goldmine, you need a killer strategy.
Do your homework and read more about these strategies. Trade shows are a huge investment, after all. You’ve got to make it worth your while, and you can only do that if you prepare thoroughly.
Steal the Show
As you can see, the key to trade show success is to prepare. Make it engaging, draw people in, and be unique to your brand. Give it everything you’ve got; you might just steal the show!
Are you trying to make a success of your business? Check out these amazing marketing ideas that will put your business on the map.
