All about exhibition stands

The fair is a great investment in money and time. So if you want to do it, do it right! This means that you have to think through every aspect, from what your booth might look like, to setting up and selling to customers when you get there.

How to sell on your exhibition stand or exhibition stand

Early start of the promotion

One big mistake many are making is to leave the promotion of their show to the last month or two. However, if you look at some of the biggest and most successful brands exhibiting, they start promoting their next exhibition right after the end of the doorof their current exhibition.

You should send a date at least eight months in advance to make sure you reserve a seat in people's diaries. Build communication from then on to keep everyone up-to-date and stay on top. Ideally, these lines of communication should remain open throughout the year.

You will be noticed by organizers and the trade press.

One of the best ways to promote your trade fair presence is to talk to the organizers about advertising opportunities. Some may request payment, but others, such as the production of a piece of thought for the website, are welcome. The trade press often also reports on an exhibition and is interested in all news published at the trade fair, such as a launch or a change of name.

Offer with special offers

Make sure you highlight your show deals so that shoppers know they need to buy at the fair to get the discount or special offer. Make sure your show-specis posted and very clear.

Competitions and promotions

Everyone likes to win something and competitions, promotions or sweepstakes attract people to your booth. Make sure you need something from attendees to enter the raffle or qualify for a prize such as a business card, contact form, orquestionnaire.

Snacks and drinks

Visitors to the fair are usually not used to walking around everywhere.

The range of snacks and drinks is highlyappreciated. Your beverage or snack offer should suit your corporate culture or theme. Water bottles and any packaging should be branded or business cardto remind them where they came from.

Sign contracts with new customers during the trade fair.

There are few situations that are more exciting than the average outgoing sales call. From the endless objections of the potential customer to the stress of losing a valuable sale, it is natural to struggle as a seller withdislocation and nervousness.

At a trade fair, however, the atmosphere is different. According to the Simmons Market Research Bureau, nearly half of visitors to the fairs shop at trade fairs. 91 percent of all trade fair visitors say that shows are "extremely useful" for their efforts to procure products and services.

Unlike traditional outbound marketing, where rejection is the norm, trade fairs are one of the few environments where your sales team benefits from an audience of potential customers who are really interested in developing your products and services to buy.