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.

Did you know?

The Olympic Games is the largest single broadcast event in the world, broadcasted in 220 countries to more than 3.5 billion people. WOW!!! Who knew...

Gabbing At A Trade Show

BLAH -- BLAH ---- BLAH ----- BLAH ------

You advertise with newspapers, magazines, online, before and after the trade shows - the list goes on and on. Has that been working for you? Of course, your still in business aren’t you. But, a whole new world can open up with this marketing tactic at your next trade show.

Let’s see if you can guess it:

1. It is rarely talked about and has the potential to boost you not only in general but at a Trade Show tool.
2. If done right, it costs nothing.
3. If you have a great product it should come easy to you.
4. It carries far more weight than any of the other media methods above.

Can you guess what it is? If you answered Word of Mouth Marketing, you were right. Word of Mouth Marketing is a ‘consumer-to-consumer’ based marketing technique.

Myth: Word of Mouth Marketing is about getting others to spread your ‘marketing message.’

Truth: Word of Mouth Marketing is really about building a great product and letting your customer pass on the news however they feel.

Word-of-Mouth marketing builds immediate value and worth for your company/product because it comes from a trusted source – business partners, peers, relatives, friends and so forth. How many times have you tried that new razor or brand of gum just because someone else told you how great it was? I bet you can think of at least one time and it may even be recent. That was Word-of-Mouth advertising – effortless to do and great for the product.

But how can this be encouraged and transfer over into a trade show environment? Word-of-Mouth can greatly increase the interest at your booth during a trade show.Try some of these simple techniques to help boost the word that is spread about you at a trade show.

1. Engage the attendees. Like we have said before it’s all about keeping the attendee entertained. Product demonstrations are a great way to engage the attendees giving them the ‘wow’ factor you are looking for. The ‘wow’ factor is what prompts them to turn around and whisper in the ear of others – check out xxx’s booth, their product is really cool.

2. Interact with them. Take their photo at your booth. Utilize this a couple of ways: either send a white paper after the show with their photo or let them know you will be using it in your newsletter or posted on a web page thanking all of the visitors you had. Conducting interviews or surveys gives you an opportunity to mingle and gather valuable feedback information all at the same time.

3. Ask their opinion. Asking for their honest opinion of your product or service can prompt conversation as well. This is a opportunity to get some feedback from the end users, giving you an incite into what they may be saying to others out there. Ask if they have ever recommended your product to anyone they know. This may give you a good idea on how word of mouth works for you.

4. In last months July newsletter, we talked about choosing your Promotional giveaway. Well, this little item is also intertwined with word of mouth at the trade show. If it unique enough the show-goers will be spreading the news – visit booth # to get your own. The giveaway can work for you throughout the whole show. A carrying type item will do the advertising for you.

5. Lastly, start early with your advertising efforts. Promote your strongest reason to get the attendees to start talking about visiting your booth before the show even begins. Enticing them to tell their fellow associates attending the show will draw more visitors to you. In the end more word of mouth will be spread.

Remember, it’s not about you, it’s about your product and how much they – the users – like it. The more buzz you create the greater word spread will be achieved. Isn’t that what you are aiming for?

Trade Show Tips - Spread the Word

T.I.P.S. #1
Try encouraging referrals, offer incentives, discount the next order or send a gift - do whatever it takes to encourage your current customers to spread the word and start talking about your product with everyone they know. But, keep in mind, it only works if it’s a great product/service backed by great customer support and the honest belief in your product/service. Simply put – that is the key.

T.I.P.S. #2
Ask for testimonials. Why? People believe testimonials and you can use them to your benefit too by adding them to your advertising campaigns.