Start Trending at Trade Shows With High-Quality Promotional Products
Whether big or small, it’s safe to say that most of us have either attended and/or exhibited at a trade show at some point in our careers.
Exhibiting at trade shows is a fantastic way for businesses to build relationships with their existing clients by getting that all important face time. They are also a tried-and-true method of engaging new potential clients. For many exhibitors, this is the focus when they participate in a show. You are meeting a lead that is interested in your items/services, face to face for a discussion and they come to YOU! What?!
Planning and Budgeting
Once you have identified the shows you want to attend, you need to determine your budget. This is critical to track spend and determine ROI of the event as well as your cost per impression on the ever-important branded merchandise. You will also need to determine if you will do anything additional such as sponsorships or donations. This can greatly impact your budget but also increase your visibility to potential leads.
According to industry experts, a quick way to determine the budget is to multiply the cost of your booth space by three. In some cases, that can be a hefty amount with booth space costing anywhere from $100-$150 per square foot. Once you determine the overall budget, how do you determine what to spend on promos? Ultimately, that is up to you and your team but 5-7% of the entire budget is the industry standard.
When determining your promo budget, it is important to take a big picture approach. Consider branded apparel for the booth staff. This creates a cohesive look and makes your team easy to spot for attendees. Your booth display should also be visually appealing and stand out. You can add table throws, backdrops, pop up banners, flags and more. You also need to consider traffic builders and giveaways. Coordinating your giveaways with the show theme (if there is one) can be a fun way to attract attendees to your booth.
The Power of Booth Giveaways
Booth giveaways play a vital role in the trade show world. Remember, your giveaway does not have to be expensive, just impactful. Take the example below from an Artina customer.
This client previously used a neutral gray shopping tote for their conference giveaway. It was a standard bag with one color imprint on both sides, the customer logo on one side and sponsor logo on the other. She knew that she wanted to improve the bag but was not sure she could make any real improvements given her budget.
The Artina team went to work and even looked at the conference microsite to get ideas. The client’s response was more than favorable. She described the bag as “a beautifully designed colorful bag – which promoted our brand, reinforced the conference branding and beautifully showcased the sponsor. On the sides of the bags, we used QR codes to promote the following year’s conference and on the other side, we promoted our social media. The logo was even on the bottom of the bag. So, we were using all sides of the bag to work for us.”
“We got so much praise on site from the attendees, and the sponsor quickly signed up for the tote bag sponsorship for the following year. The staff was so impressed with my team, and everyone was shocked I could make such an improvement,” said the customer.
Remember that the most memorable giveaways are those that are thoughtfully crafted and designed with care, regardless of the budget. A well-considered product speaks volumes and leaves a lasting impression on your audience.
