Is a Trade Show a Worthwhile Investment for a Small Business? Jan 4th
Before social media came to the fore, trade shows were considered to be a hot ticket for small businesses. It was an opportunity to forge strong relationships with your peers, meet new customers, and learn more about the latest products and services being offered by competitors. These days, however, there are so many newer types of marketing to take advantage of that a trade show is seen by some as distinctly “old fashioned”.
Trade show tickets are expensive, and for top events aimed at a global audience, the cost of attending can be astronomical. Not surprisingly, many businesses cut back on this type of expenditure during the recent economic recession. With your back to the wall and not enough money in the bank to pay the bills, forking out for a trade show pass is never going to be a priority. Now that things are picking up again, business trade shows are becoming more popular and if you want to make new contacts and introduce new products, it can be a worthwhile investment.
Start Off Small
For a small business, a large trade show is not necessarily the best outlet. It is easy to get lost in amongst the big names, so to start with target smaller trade shows that are specific to your niche. This will give you a better feel for how they work and afford you the opportunity to practise your techniques before you hit the larger events
Networking Opportunities
For new and not yet established businesses, a trade show can be a goldmine of networking opportunities. This is one of the few places where you are likely to see most of your peers and potential customers under one roof, so make the most of it. If this is your first trade show, canvas customers to find out if they are going to attend, and if so arrange to connect with them on the day.
Product Demonstrations
One of the primary advantages to attending trade shows is that it gives you the chance to give customers live demos on how your products work. A live demonstration is worth a thousand glossy brochures so make the most of this valuable opportunity. Practice your demo techniques before the event to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Presentations serve as a valuable platform for positioning your business as a market leader, but it’s essential to strike a balance, making them interesting without being overly sales-oriented. You could also consider the option of hiring a skilled trade show presenter to effectively captivate the audience and convey your message. Their expertise in engaging presentations can not only capture attention but also ensure that your key points are communicated in an impactful and memorable way.
Design a Great Trade Booth
Trade stands need to be well-designed, so if you don’t have a clue where to start, consider putting in the groundwork necessary to make your booth stand out. For starters, you could prepare the signage by employing Large Format Printing to make sure that your company or the product is displayed clearly.
Next, you should prepare brochures, presentations, and business cards for your display so that interested individuals and prospective clientele can learn about what you have to show them. Consider utilizing an eco-friendly booth as it could not only be a sustainable way to display your products and services, but it could also work well for your company’s public relations.
Of course, if you’re not confident enough to take on this task on your own, you could consider working with an experienced trade show designer too. There is valuable information you can find about designing a trade booth by conducting some research on the web. Learn the many advantages of cnc cutting (Computer Numerical Control) and make a crisp stock piece for advertising that will make your booth stand out from the rest.
Also, make sure that you display banners with interactive signage as it could give your booth a distinct look. We’re not talking website banners here, we are talking professional banners made by a printing company usually. You can have roll up style banners, easy to dismantle your stand in the evening. Or a hanging banner, ideal for short term or long term promotions. These come equipped with hangers that are reusable and are easy to install and store away. Additionally, you can also enhance your brand’s visibility and draw in more foot traffic by hanging or mounting a few Custom Feather Flags onto the wall outside your trade booth.
Follow Up on Leads
Don’t forget to take contact details during the event and once it’s all over, follow through on these to thank people for attending and keep your business’s name alive in the mind of a potential customer.
If approached in the right manner, a trade show is a worthy investment for a small business, but if you don’t have a huge budget to spend, only target the shows that are likely to be the most beneficial to your niche.
Jan 4th
Before social media came to the fore, trade shows were considered to be a hot ticket for small businesses. It was an opportunity to forge strong relationships with your peers, meet new customers, and learn more about the latest products and services being offered by competitors. These days, however, there are so many newer types of marketing to take advantage of that a trade show is seen by some as distinctly “old fashioned”.
Trade show tickets are expensive, and for top events aimed at a global audience, the cost of attending can be astronomical. Not surprisingly, many businesses cut back on this type of expenditure during the recent economic recession. With your back to the wall and not enough money in the bank to pay the bills, forking out for a trade show pass is never going to be a priority. Now that things are picking up again, business trade shows are becoming more popular and if you want to make new contacts and introduce new products, it can be a worthwhile investment.
Start Off Small
For a small business, a large trade show is not necessarily the best outlet. It is easy to get lost in amongst the big names, so to start with target smaller trade shows that are specific to your niche. This will give you a better feel for how they work and afford you the opportunity to practise your techniques before you hit the larger events
Networking Opportunities
For new and not yet established businesses, a trade show can be a goldmine of networking opportunities. This is one of the few places where you are likely to see most of your peers and potential customers under one roof, so make the most of it. If this is your first trade show, canvas customers to find out if they are going to attend, and if so arrange to connect with them on the day.
Product Demonstrations
One of the primary advantages to attending trade shows is that it gives you the chance to give customers live demos on how your products work. A live demonstration is worth a thousand glossy brochures so make the most of this valuable opportunity. Practice your demo techniques before the event to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Presentations serve as a valuable platform for positioning your business as a market leader, but it’s essential to strike a balance, making them interesting without being overly sales-oriented. You could also consider the option of hiring a skilled trade show presenter to effectively captivate the audience and convey your message. Their expertise in engaging presentations can not only capture attention but also ensure that your key points are communicated in an impactful and memorable way.
Design a Great Trade Booth
Trade stands need to be well-designed, so if you don’t have a clue where to start, consider putting in the groundwork necessary to make your booth stand out. For starters, you could prepare the signage by employing Large Format Printing to make sure that your company or the product is displayed clearly.
Next, you should prepare brochures, presentations, and business cards for your display so that interested individuals and prospective clientele can learn about what you have to show them. Consider utilizing an eco-friendly booth as it could not only be a sustainable way to display your products and services, but it could also work well for your company’s public relations.
Of course, if you’re not confident enough to take on this task on your own, you could consider working with an experienced trade show designer too. There is valuable information you can find about designing a trade booth by conducting some research on the web. Learn the many advantages of cnc cutting (Computer Numerical Control) and make a crisp stock piece for advertising that will make your booth stand out from the rest.
Also, make sure that you display banners with interactive signage as it could give your booth a distinct look. We’re not talking website banners here, we are talking professional banners made by a printing company usually. You can have roll up style banners, easy to dismantle your stand in the evening. Or a hanging banner, ideal for short term or long term promotions. These come equipped with hangers that are reusable and are easy to install and store away. Additionally, you can also enhance your brand’s visibility and draw in more foot traffic by hanging or mounting a few Custom Feather Flags onto the wall outside your trade booth.
Follow Up on Leads
Don’t forget to take contact details during the event and once it’s all over, follow through on these to thank people for attending and keep your business’s name alive in the mind of a potential customer.
If approached in the right manner, a trade show is a worthy investment for a small business, but if you don’t have a huge budget to spend, only target the shows that are likely to be the most beneficial to your niche.
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