How To Leave a Lasting Impression at Trade Shows

Trade shows are an amazing opportunity for any growing business. You surround yourself with potential customers, clients, and networking opportunities.
Ideally, you want your best and brightest to represent you at these types of shows so that anyone who spends time around your booth leaves with a positive opinion. If you’re wondering how to leave a lasting impression at trade shows, check out these effective, helpful hints to ensure that you stand out for all the right reasons.
Catch Their Attention
When running a trade show booth, remember that the key to leaving a lasting impression is to make a solid first impression. Far too often, companies set up trade show booths that comprise of a folding table with a taped-on sign. It’s not very exciting and does little to draw people in.
On the other hand, some companies go too far and rely on gimmicks like obnoxious lights or loud noises that leave passersby more annoyed than enticed. You want to find a happy middle ground that makes people curious about what your booth has to offer without coming across as off-putting. You can create an engaging exhibit at a trade show on a limited budget, so long as you do something to stand out from the crowd.
Offer Takeaways
It’s no secret that trade show attendees love getting free stuff. If your booth has some fun goodies to give away, they’re far more likely to drop by and talk to you, even if it is just to pick something up.
Some companies offer smaller-scale items like keychains or pens while others may go for larger items like customized stress relief toys or T-shirts. Free T-shirts are some of the best advertisements that your booth can get during an extended show, and they’re easy to order in bulk. You can work with a designer to make custom shirts for an event and find a way to distribute them to interested parties.
No matter what sort of giveaways you come up with, nearly anything stands out more than a business card or brochure.
Showcase Interactive Experiences
One way to leave a lasting impression at a trade show is to make your booth a more interactive experience. Tactile or mentally engaging experiences are surefire attention grabbers. People are more likely to remember you if you present them with an interactive app or fun physical challenge that makes sense for your company, such as a game, spin wheel, or raffle where guests can win prizes instead of simply receiving branded merch.
Overall, you want to engage with people who come up to your booth and entice them to listen to you or see what you have to offer. Word-of-mouth spreads pretty quickly, and you just might find yourself with the biggest crowd at the show!