4 Tips to help you find new trade show success in 2009

Spring is one of those transitional times of year. Here, in New England, we are all ready to welcome the warm summer breeze, but it's still a bit too soon for that.

Spring is also the time of year that trade show goers are gearing up for the 2009 trade show season – that’s if it hasn’t started for you already.

Attending a trade show is a commitment from beginning to end. And preparing ahead saves time and money when it counts the most.

Here are some 4 TIPS to help get you on the right track.

TIP #1
For a small show start planning 3 months in advance, at the minimum. For the moderate size show start planning 6-8 months in advance and for the large national shows a year is preferred. With the smaller size shows but for the national shows, so much more money is spent just to be there. So planning ahead will make your show successful.

TIP #2
Most important, can't say it enough, if you don't get this right than just forget the whole thing. Number ONE most important piece to know and build your whole show presence on is... drum roll please... your TARGET AUDIENCE.

Who is at this show anyway? It's not about what you think of the service/product, it's what they think. Who is going to benefit from your services or product? The audience. What are their needs, what are their wants, what will they get out of your service/product?

Those are the questions you need to ask and figure out. Not just surface answers either, these answers must strike a cord with them and really hit home. It must be a deep benefit to them that makes you stand above your competitors. I must use that, oh, that service will make my life so much easier. What did I do without it?

TIP#3
Okay, so now you have the best advertising you could have come up with. How are you going to attract your target audience to your booth? What is going to invite them and engage them? Your GRAPHICS! Let’s face it, not all of us have been hit with the creative stick.

So that's when you hire, if you must, a professional. A trade show graphics professional. Someone with the experience in building the visual that gets those people to say, hey, who's that. If your graphics don’t speak to the target audience than you may as well go home. This visual must always be a positive one.

TIP #4
Set your GOALS high. Set them too low and fail at this challenge. It's like playing a championship game of football, being the quarterback and holding the ball in your hand while walking on the field and knowing... you're going to lose. Well, then the Law of Attraction says - lose you will. And who wants to do that! So, set those goals high. It's just like anything else, talk is cheap but effort makes you the MVP of your team. And that's where you need to be right now. You’re the teams Most Valuable Player!

This March, while the birds start flying home, the days get longer, and the smell of the air starts to change take the time to sit back and reevaluate why you want to go to trade shows and what extra business can come out of it.

Trade Show in these harder times, why?

This little pig went to the market
This little pig stayed home
This little pig had roast beef
This little pig had none and....
This little pig cried 'YES YES YES' all the way to the bank

This week has been pretty rough on us Americans, well, really the whole world. All anyone can talk about is this Bailout or Buyout or whatever you want to call it, the Dow is down, losing jobs, the housing market, the almighty dollar, etc. All negative things are being reported. And rightly so, it affects all of us the large and the small.

BUT... this post is to say - hold on here - the doom and gloom is really bad but we're still here aren't we. Let's not give up! We're not ready to throw in the towel or cut our loses. We're here for the long haul through the good and the bad.

Well, Americans might be down but we're not out and you aren't either. Keep getting out there, keep meeting new people, keep spreading the word about you and what you do, be seen by the old and new. That's what a trade show is all about. It's the place to smile and be proud of the company you stand for. Trade shows are a fundamental avenue for any business to prosper.

And you know what we think is great about being in the Trade Show industry? Everything!!! It's in these times our services and ability to serve our customers is the most important. It's in these times that effective marketing makes the difference. It's in these times that we become creative and are willing to try new things. It's in these times that we work harder to win.

If nothing else, this post is to give you positive reinforcement that we all can do it and keep doing it no matter how rough it gets. Let's all weather the storm together! Don't stop trade showing, don't stop presenting your business, don't give up.

Muhammad Ali says it best, "Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."

Make Your Trade Show Competitor's Jealous!

Your at the show, like usual you are putting your booth together. 5 minutes go by and done. With a simple clap of your hands together your display is done and your ready to go. You start to feel stares coming from all around, stares piercing in your back. You turn around to realize, it's your neighbors. Your booth neighbors are gwaking at you in pure jealousy. Your done and their, well... not.

The Banner-Mate banner stand system will make traveling a breeze and set up even easier. You'll look forward to going to those dreaded shows and everyone around will be envious to have their own.

Aim for the clean and clear message ... If you have been actively doing display research you already know that there are many varieties of displays to choose from - full size pop up or panel systems, table top pop up or panel systems and the popular retractable or pole banner stands. We would like to end your tradeshow display challenge by making sure you are aiming for the new fresh approach, the connected banner stands.

Aim for adapting and expanding ... How would you like to cover the same "real estate" as a full size pop up display at your next tradeshow and for a lot less? The Banner-Mate II™ will accomplish both! Pay less than a 10' full size pop up display and you could have yourself (3) separate units that form an 86" high x 105" wide straight mural backwall that is virtually seamless.

Unlike ordinary display systems, the standard 35" Banner-Mate II™ units can be linked together using the unique state-of-the-art edge to edge magnetic that will tightly hook the (3) units together. Design your graphics so that each individual unit may be used independently as well as connected, making the Banner-Mate II™ even more of a great marketing resource. This allows you the option of using only one unit and banner for the smaller applications. Get ready to throw the winning Game Shot for your company!

Another tremendous advantage is the clean edge to edge look. With no visible bases or feet exposed, only your top to floor graphics will be focused on. Keep your booth space functional with the 14.5" deep footprint leaving more space for you to move around - a perfect choice where space is limited.

Stay fresh and new by interchanging different banners with the easy to operate grip rail system. No double face tape or velcro needed here, just open and clamp down on your banner material.

The solid Chrome weighted base will ensure the stability and support needed. Don't fuss with a telescoping pole, the included 3-section corded Graphic pole requires no adjusting to the right height needed so you easily achieve the right height every time. Supply us with your full color graphics and we will print them on our high quality Lexan banner material. With a photo finish your artwork will represent you!

Included with each stand is a 3-section corded Pole, Chrome weighted base and Canvas carry bag with inner tube for added protection.

Aim for success ... Finally you'll discover how mobile a banner stand system can truly be. Meanwhile others are lugging around large crates and struggling to lift them in and out of their vehicle, you are traveling light.

Each stand and banner packs small within a convenient Canvas travel bag weighing only 8 lbs. For your next show, take along only as many stands and banners as you need -- throw them over your shoulder and put them in the front seat of your car all with ease.

That is what the Banner-Mate II™ system can do for you - become a more efficient tradeshow attendee. Again you are the one that stands out!

P.S. Don't forget illumination! Add one Halogen Stem light per banner to further enhance and lighten up your custom graphics all for $120.00 each. Easily attaches to the top of the pole. Ship frequently? Shipping case available to hold up to 9 stands and banners.

Ready, Set, Smile.. time for Trade Show pictures

Bring your camera! There's a whole list of things to remember to bring but don't forget your camera. After all the work that goes into creating an exhibit, time spent at the show and the traveling involved, a picture to remember it all by will be helpful in the future.

A camera at your next trade show is a great way to show off the exhibit and the atmosphere at the show to colleagues who could not be there, give yourself a reference point for next year, and to use in advertising as well. Remember to take pictures of things you want to change, so you can remember what not to do next year.

Try this... if you want to use your photos for professional print publications, or if you want to blow them up to make graphics, make sure your camera takes high-resolution pictures.

Tip: Pictures taken with regular 35-mm film or digital pictures taken in the TIFF format with at least a 300-dots-per-inch resolution are your best bets. Digital cameras with at least 3 Megapixels usually offer this option. Cameras that only take pictures in low-res JPEG formats are fine for your Web site, but are not good enough quality for print publications.

Tips to Improve Your Trade Show Image

Introductions… where do I start?

Establishing an instant bond is crucial when introducing yourself. A little thought and practicing can go a long way in achieving the best YOU that you can give.

Meeting new people is something everyone in business deals with on an ongoing basis and it all seems like common sense as to what you should do. Here is the simple stuff: smile, make eye contact, and maybe even offer a nice confident handshake.

Do you do it every time you meet someone new? Probably not. Here are the reasons why you should. Try a nice bright smile (fresh breath too) which is inviting and creates the feeling of a warm positive vibe. Eye contact shows you are focused on listening and you care. A controlled handshake demonstrates self confidence; a minimal squeeze is all that is needed.

You offered a smile, made the eye contact and shook hands. Now, what do you say?? Being a specialist in your specific field is what sets you apart from the rest. Properly conveying what you ‘specialize in’ can make or break the interest from a potential client standing in front of you asking, “What do you do?” Your Goal: respond with a well-chosen description to engage them in conversation.

Let’s start with some examples. Take a lawyer for instance. When you hear someone say “I’m a lawyer” your automatic thought is a question. What kind of lawyer are you? Stop the questioning in advance with your well thought out response. Try this, “I practice entertainment law and I draft contacts between film and production companies and movie stars.” Now that gets your listeners attention.

Or let’s take a writer. “What do you do?” Response is “I’m a writer.” Again, well, what kind of writer is the question that will instantly pop in your listeners mind. “I work with non-profit organizations writing their monthly newsletters that are sent to their sponsors.”

Specific and to the point is what you need to aim for in your response. Work out what you do by coming up with a few responses that will pique your listeners curiosity to make them want to talk to you longer. Hook, line and sinker.

Remember… practicing does make a difference in the quality of your actions and responses so start rehearsing in the mirror or to your spouse or friend. You may even chuckle while doing it creating the warm vibe you are aiming for.

New Way to Capture and Keep Clients Around

Following up on Trade Show Leads

Lead gathering and building future relationships, both new and old, is what a Trade Show is all about. Your communication with new and old clients should be a positive one making them want to come back, but what should you do to make that happen?

When the show or meeting is all said and done, what is the next step? It should be to follow up, shouldn't it? How do you follow up and what method should you use? First things first: Timing. Always, follow up by the end of one week of the show date with any follow up avenue you take. Strike while the iron is hot!

Here are the traditional ways:
>> A personal phone call always makes a positive personal impact. This should be done the following business day – wait any longer and they may not remember. Keep good notes and refer to the conversation you had when you last spoke at the show.
>> Direct mail to send specific information – other than what you have already given to them. This must be sent within one week from the show date and try to include a hand written note to add the personal touch.

Here is a NEW way to show your potential prospects and returning customers that their relationship to you is important, before, during and after. Try a Pre-printed CUSTOM Post cards, Cards, or Tri-fold brochures from an online service. Use SendOutCards.com, they specialize in YOUR custom greetings.

SendOutCards.com is an On-Line mailing service that allows you to send individual or bulk Custom printed Post cards, Cards, Tri-fold brochures and all for less than you think. You can connect with your clients anywhere at anytime! They print it, stuff it and mail it -- all for less than a greeting card at the store. An actual stamp placed on the front for that added personalization, just as though you did it yourself!