Successful Trade Show Participation Part 1: Planning Ahead

We're halfway through the trade show season. This week MQPR is revealing its expertise in how to maximise your participation in trade shows through a series of blog posts. Today is Part 1 - Planning Ahead.

Participating in a trade show can be a valuable opportunity to engage with potential customers face-to-face and promote your products or services. However, it requires careful planning and preparation to make the most out of this marketing platform. In this series of blog posts, we will explore the five steps to ensure your trade show participation is a success. In this first part, we will focus on the importance of planning. Let's dive in!

1. Define Your Objectives: Having well-defined objectives before participating in a trade show is crucial. Ask yourself important questions such as:

• Is it a branding exercise, or are you looking to generate sales leads?

• Will you be launching new products or using them to entertain existing clients?

• How many sales leads can you realistically achieve, and how will you accomplish this

2. Spread the Word: To maximise your reach, informing your clients and prospects about your trade promotion is essential. Consider these strategies:

• Utilise email communication to send targeted messages to your database.

• Update your website's front page with an announcement about your booth and what visitors can expect.

• Leverage social media by using country-specific sponsored ads to reach your target audience.

• Personally invite your clients during sales calls, highlighting the benefits of attending the trade show.

3. Tap into Organiser Resources: Trade show organisers offer valuable resources to connect with your target customers. Consider these opportunities:

• Request attendee demographics from the organisers to tailor your message and offerings.

• Explore potential sponsorship items the organisers offer to increase your visibility among attendees.

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MQPR has done PR and Marketing for 40 trade shows, exhibitions, and conferences. They have worked both in-house and as an agency, so they have lots of insights on maximising participation at these events. Contact us if you want to boost your trade promotion.