Trade Show Faq: Running An Effective Trade Show Booth

By Melanie Tamsevicius

* What are some basic do's and don'ts of manning a trade show
booth?

Businesspersons or companies have been spending a lot of money
each year exhibiting at industry trade shows in order to gain
new customers and sales.

Here are some of the dos and don'ts in manning or operating
trade shows:

DO:

Give in to your enthusiastic attitude.

Keep things organized.

Be prepared to answer questions.

Keep calm and wear your brightest smile in facing the
customers.

Make company product literature readily available

DON'T:

Overkill by adding a great gimmick, game, or giveaway that will
overshadow the real purpose of your exhibit.

Overstaff your booth.

Block your booth by placing a table or counter in front of it.

* What are the best ways to generate leads at trade shows?

Do not just sit there and wait for clients or leads to come and
visit your show. Some of the best ways to generate leads at
trade shows are:

Contact them personally before the event. Talking one-on-one
with potential buyers provides an immediate gratification that
is empowering.

Contact an agency that specializes in providing qualified leads
to businesses. You can seek their help in producing leads at the
trade show.

Get online and research individual companies.

Offer a special promotion.

Take plenty of time to prepare for the event.

Be kind and friendly.

These steps will surely bring you some leads. Also, remember
that once you have generated some leads, make sure not to
disappoint them. Follow-up is important.

* How soon after the trade show should I follow up on leads?

After the show has ended, follow-up with a thank-you letter and
a brochure. After your prospects have had time to receive this
packet, it is appropriate for your sales representative to call
and discuss their potential needs.

* What kinds of things should be considered when doing
giveaways at a trade show booth?

In distributing your giveaways there are several things you
need to consider to make it worthwhile:

Offer a unique promotional item.

Choose giveaways that are useful and helpful (or edible).

See that your giveaways match the customer's interest.

Items for giveaways should be personalized with your company
name and logo.

Smile and be friendly.

* What kinds of promotional materials should be used at a
tradeshow booth?

There are various kinds of promotional materials that can be
used in conducting a successful trade show booth. These include:

Brochures

Flyers

Banners

Business cards

Gifts and Giveaways such as pens, magnets, sticky notes, mugs,
or erasers.

All these promotional materials should, of course, display your
company name and logo.

About the Author: Melanie Tamsevicius is editor of
http://www.my-tradeshow.com/, the online Trade Show guide. She
also writes Tradeshow FAQ's for
http://www.prettygreatanswers.com/articles/TradeshowQuestions/ .

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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