“Did you get the sign?” “What sign?” “The one we ordered a month ago for this trade show!”
If this exchange sounds familiar, you might have run a booth at a trade show. You’re one in hundreds and by the time people get to your booth, they’re glassy-eyed and ready to go check out the refreshments.
You’ve got to knock their eyeballs out and get them to stop thinking about food and start thinking about your product. That takes a bit of prior effort on your part.
Here are some ways you can really attract the attention of even the most tired convention-goer.
1. Light Up Your Signs
Most people opt for a vinyl sign tacked onto the front of their booth. If they’re smart, they’ve probably even brought some sort of scaffolding for a banner.
We guarantee that most people don’t use lights. And if they do, they don’t use them to highlight their sign…from behind.
Lite Up Your Brand – Inklites is a company that specializes in bringing signs to life. You’ll shine brighter than the next booth.
2. Use Virtual Reality
If you’ve been to any of the major tech trade shows, you’ll be familiar with the lines people will stand in just to experience virtual reality. While, yes, headsets are expensive, it might be worth the money to immerse your leads in something incredible.
If you’re in, say, graphic design, you could put users in a sketching program and show them logos and graphics in 3D space. You can give them quick tutorials on how to create logos in 3D space.
If you’re worried that buying a set and a computer is too expensive, HTC Vive itself rents out headsets to businesses who need them.
3. Do Giveaways
Everyone does it. But you’re going to do it differently.
Most people put together some sort of basket of goodies or some sort of service package. The guy next door just gave away a free month of whatever the heck he does.
Why not do that?
Because everyone else does it. And if you’re stuck at the back of the convention hall, good luck getting people to sign up. Their wrists are tired and again, they’re thinking of food.
Instead, offer something grand. I once saw someone give away a three-foot-long camera drone.
This is marketing. You want to get as many leads as possible. And you want people to interact with your booth. A giveaway that gets people’s attention is a valuable giveaway.
Whatever it takes to stand out, do it. This could mean dressing up in a goofy costume and shooting money out of a money gun. It could mean putting on a play. Think outside the convention booth and get it done.
If you’re interested in more marketing advice, check out Shoemoney’s Shoeintology.