How to make the most of your trade show.

The promotional products industry is gearing up for the start of the Spring trade show season. As you begin to plan for the trade shows you will exhibit at, here are a few tips that can help to make them more successful.

The organizers of the trade show can make available to you a list of all registered attendees. This list can be very instrumental in making your show a success. Pre-show mailings can generate excitement about your booth, especially if you are launching a new product. There are many types of direct mail pieces that can be used, from basic postcards to various games that can be played for prizes at the booth.
Another thing you can do pre-show, is to put something in the trade show bags that each attendee receives at the show. This ensures that each attendee has an opportunity to learn about your company regardless of whether or not they stop by the booth to meet you.

One thing that all trade show attendees expect when they visit your booth is a giveaway. It is important to maximize your giveaway budget and get the most bang for your buck. One way to do this is to do a tiered system of giveaway items. Purchase a promotional product that is inexpensive, useful and will stay in the prospect's mind to give to everyone that stops by the booth. You will find that many people will stop by a booth just to see what you are handing out. The handout you select can impact the leads you generate as well, the better the item, the more people are going to come to your booth. Imagine an item so creative that you have a line of prospects at your booth! It is important to focus on those leads that come to your booth that you identify right away as qualified. You may know this based on the company they are with, their position or if you get to spend some time with them talking about their business needs and how your product can help them. For these leads, keep a small stash of higher priced items to give to them. This lets them know you appreciated their time and makes the feel good about the time they spent in your booth.

As important as getting the right people to your booth is how you handle the leads after the show. It is critical to follow-up with the leads as soon as you get back to the office. However, remember that they stopped at countless booths and they are being bombarded with materials from other vendors. You will need to do something to set yourself appart from the rest of the information they are getting. A creative promotional product can do the trick.

As you prepare for trade show season, talk with your promotional consultant about the shows you are attending and work with them to get the most impact out of your show. For great ideas, call Artina Promotional Products at 800-433-5587 or visit us on the web at http://www.artina.com/