Author: Oser Communications Group

Trade shows are an excellent way for businesses to get exposure but carry their own unique challenges and costs. A successful trade show requires careful planning and time, and getting something wrong is easy if you don’t have experience. 

Oser Communications Group will share some of the most common trade show mistakes you can make. 

Are you looking for a trade show advertising company? Contact us today!

1. Picking the Wrong Trade Show

One of the most common mistakes is picking the wrong trade show to present at. Nearly every industry has at least one trade show, often multiple shows yearly. You need to determine which show would give your business the most exposure. 

Ask yourself a few questions to decide which show would be best. 

• Do I need a consumer (B2C) or industry (B2B) trade show?
• What kind of product or service do I want to show?
• How many attendees does each show get?
• How much does it cost to rent booth space?
• What kind of reputation does the show have?

Unfortunately, many business owners get off the wrong foot by choosing the wrong trade show, so think carefully about your needs and goals. 

2. Overshooting Your Budget

You can expect to spend about one-third of your budget on booth space, but you also need to factor in costs for stands, staff, services, promotional materials, and transportation and logistics. Depending on the venue, you may also have to pay for internet or utilities, so ensure you have a detailed pre-show budget plan.  

3. No Storage Space

You should have enough storage space to keep your booth clean and clutter-free. A simple set-up like a trestle table with a tablecloth provides extra storage for cheap. You can also opt for other solutions like cabinets in your exhibition or storage buckets. 

4. Not Performing Marketing

Another one of the most common trade show mistakes is neglecting marketing. The event host ensures you have space, but they won’t advertise for you. It’s your responsibility to market your presence before the show to get people to come to your booth. You cannot just hope that people who attend the show will randomly flock to your booth. 

In addition, you should start promoting the show a few months beforehand. A trade show advertising company like Oser Communication Group can spread your message to your intended audience through materials like ads, business cards, and more.

5. Not Following Up Leads

Once you pack up your booth, the first thing to do is start following up on leads. Trade shows are great for qualified leads; following up is how you turn those leads into paying customers. 

Trade Show Advertising Services

Trade show success can be the first step to business success, as long as you avoid these common trade show mistakes. If you would like to learn more about our technology trade show publications or want to schedule a consultation, contact us online or call today at (520) 721-1300!

You can participate in effective trade show advertising through these excellent trade show booth ideas. Make your trade show event a success by intriguing customers in your product or business, standing apart from other booths, and offering something people will remember with positive feelings.

1. Draw Potential Customers with Bright Colors.

One of the best trade show booth ideas is making it fun, fabulous, and eye-catching. You can do this by:

• Having more high-quality pictures than words, using what little words you have to deliver a specific message.
• Using bright and fun colors, but beware of a color scheme that clashes or is “too busy” to be enjoyable. A helpful method is to have a primary, secondary, and accent color that seems fitting to put them together and flows well.
• Placing a small rug to bring people to your booth.

2. Craft Your Booth to be Exciting and Approachable.

You want your booth to stand out on the trade show floor and people to feel comfortable enough to come to see what it is all about. Ways to do this are:

• Having a friendly greeter
• Having someone operate the booth at all times
• Not blocking access to the booth with chairs

3. Avoid Clutter with Some Necessary Whitespace.

A blank or empty booth is not going to show what product you are advertising nor convey who your brand is. On the other hand, a booth filled with papers, objects, pens, and everything else can be an eye-sore and way too cluttered for people to interact with.

One of the best trade show booth ideas is to find a happy medium and strategically use whitespace.

4. Work in the Intended Emotion for Your Customers.

Your trade show booth design should work with an emotion in mind, so what feeling do you want to convey through your booth? Use sight, smell, taste, and touch to center an emotion.

5. Make Simple and Clear Instructions for Interaction.

Unclear instructions or confusing ones are a sure way to draw people away from your booth, which is the opposite of your goal. Visually-appealing signs or posters with a clear message can help maximize interactions.

6. Offer Free Samples for Guests.

Everyone loves free samples, and many people will visit booths and events or engage in activities to get a prize after. It may sound insignificant, but having trinkets with your branding and social media handles on them is a fun way to interact. You might be surprised at the number of booth visitors you get!

Oser Communications Group for Trade Show Advertising

We hope we helped you with some trade show booth ideas to make your next appearance a success. Oser Communications Group has worked with many trade show publications and looks forward to helping you. Learn more about our trade show food publications and contact us today for more information. 

Fill out our quick and easy online form with a few details, or call us today at 520-721-1300!