Ben Camerota
Ben Camerota is the President of MVP Visuals, suppliers of custom branded displays for trade shows, retail promotion and corporate events
8 Foolproof Ways to Make an Impression at your Next Trade Show
May 7, 2016
Forty-six percent of decision-makers attending trade shows determine what to purchase during the course of the event. If you can deliver a strong impression during your next trade show, you stand a better chance of selling your products to those in attendance - making the trade show well worth your investment of time and money. To stand out from the rest, use our 8 foolproof ways to make a great impression.
1. Invest in displays and custom tents.
If you have a colorful, branded trade show booth, visitors will be drawn to your display. Investing in custom tents, banners, flags, and custom tablecloths or spandex table covers makes your booth look polished and professional.
If you are new to trade shows, this is one of the best ways to make your brand look bigger and more established than it is.
2. Send your best reps.
Put your best, most charismatic and knowledgeable people at the trade show to maximize your effectiveness and reach. This is simple, yet many businesses fail to do it.
To help your reps convince and connect, provide them with product literature and coach them on demonstrations. They will reward you by showing off your products in the best light.
3. Practice your pitch.
In the lead-up to the trade show, write your pitch - and practice it. When staff have a script for product pitch, FAQs, product demos, and more, they'll be confident and charismatic at the show.
4. Have a freebie or giveaway.
Freebies or giveaways entice attendees to give you their contact information. They also draw crowds to your booth, which generates more interest.
5. Make your booth feel welcoming.
Just as you might feel tired during the course of a long show, so do attendees. If you make your booth feel welcoming by incorporating a lounge space, you will naturally attract people who want a short break.
When people are sitting down, they'll take in more of your pitch or demo because they're comfortable, and they'll walk away with a positive impression of your brand.
6. Keep the booth open.
A rookie mistake is to set up your booth to actually deter users from coming inside. By putting a table across the booth's front you create a bottleneck. Make sure you have enough of an opening to welcome users inside.
7. Don't overlook lighting.
If you've ever walked away from a trade show booth because you can't even see the product on demo, then you know the harmful impact of poor lighting.
For peace of mind that your products will look their best in any convention center, buy inexpensive, bright LED lights. Use these to spotlight your booth or shine on your products.
8. Post social reminders.
It can be easy to ignore social during the event, when you're handling booth traffic.
Yet you can actually drive more traffic to the booth by tweeting with event hashtags, sharing demo videos, and posting trade show reminders on your social channels.
Trade shows are time intensive, but high preparation rewards you with successful lead generation and sales during the event. Leave yourself and your events team enough time to implement these 8 tips before your next trade show. You'll be rewarded with positive press.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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