How to Create a Trade Show Plan
How to Create a Trade Show Plan
Planning for a trade show can seem like a daunting task, but if you break it down into smaller parts it's much more manageable. Before considering anything like presentations and talking points there are a few things to consider that are most time sensitive: your trade show booth, travel plans, accommodations, merch, and goals. Here's a rundown on how to tackle these crucial steps in the trade show planning process.
Designing Your Company’s Booth
Every company at the trade show you're attending will have the same goal: stand out and make an impression on attendees. Getting the attention of event attendees starts with your trade show booth. Here are some ways to ensure that your booth won't be overlooked by potential clients, customers, and partners.
Trade Show Booth Best Practices
- Stand out in the crowd by using vibrant and bright colors.
- Think outside the box by using unique design elements and themes.
- Give away custom merch to everyone who visits your booth.
- Also raffle off a high value promotional giveaway for added intrigue.
- For larger booths, include interactive elements like games or displays.
- Maximize branding opportunities with signage, banners, displays, etc.
- Be clear about your company's value proposition to attendees.
Planning Ahead for Trade Show Travel
Organizing travel for a trade show might sound like a simple business trip, but there is more than goes into it than you might think. Trade shows bring in thousands of people from all around the world, so there is a lot more demand for hotel rooms, flights, rental cars, and more. Here is how you can ensure that your trip goes off without a hitch.
Ordering Trade Show Supplies
To be sure that everything arrives in time for your event, you will probably want to order your trade show displays at least 3 or 4 months in advance. You'll also want to order any branded promotional giveaways or custom logo apparel for your team to wear at least two months in advance. If you are reading this just a few weeks before your event, we've got your back with these quick ship items, which can arrive in as few as 3 days!
Shipping Trade Show Displays and Supplies
Your trade show booth supplies and displays aren't going to fit into your checked bags in all likelihood, so you'll have to plan ahead to ship your supplies ahead of time unless you're driving. You want to do this way in advance to avoid paying extra for rush shipping or worse... not having your displays delivered in time. Take a detailed inventory of supplies that you purchased and keep receipts for everything. Finally, get in contact with the venue or hotel before shipping to confirm that they're able to receive your shipments.
Organizing Travel Plans for Your Team
For larger trade shows like industry trade shows, hotels close to the venue can fill up fast, so make sure to book rooms for you and your team as early as possible. The event organizer will usually provide you with accommodation recommendations if you ask for it and might even get you a discount.
After reserving your hotel rooms, the next task is booking flights and transportation for your trade show staff. This usually includes a flight and transportation to and from the airport. If your supplies needs to be transported to the trade show venue then it's smart to reserve a rental car for your team as well.
Setting Goals for Your Trade Show
Before you set goals for your trade show you have to determine what kind of goals you want to target in the first place. Are you looking to build brand awareness and recognition? Are you trying to generate leads for your sales team? Maybe your goal is simply networking with other industry leaders. No matter what your goal is, focusing on one target will go a long way in achieving your goals.
Once you've decided what type of goal you're targeting, you can start thinking about specific numbers. Your goal results depend on your budget though, which includes travel, supplies, booth marketing, giveaways, and accommodations. Your goals should also be based on the size of the trade show and the number of people you are sending to work it. Take all of these factors into consideration to determine your goal number of leads, contacts, or conversations.
How to Choose the Perfect Trade Show Giveaways
An expertly designed booth that's well promoted is the first step in making sure you leave an impact on trade show attendees, but having the best trade show giveaways can be the difference maker. People will start to notice others walking around the venue with your merch and wonder where they got it from. You can offer higher value promotional items as a raffle or in exchange for a meeting or contact information to generate leads too!
