Skip to main content
trade show food ideas

Trade Show Food Ideas That Will Win the Crowd

Written by Oser Communications Group on . Posted in Trade Show.

Trade shows consist of a whirlwind of flashy booths, endless meet and greets, and enough swag to fill a suitcase (new tote bag, anyone?). But if there’s one guaranteed way to get people flocking to your booth, free food is the ultimate conversation starter.

A tasty treat can draw visitors in, spark conversations, and help you stand out in a very crowded event center. But what are the best trade show food ideas for attracting a crowd?

As a leader in trade show publications, Oser Communications Group has seen some clever and delicious ideas. Here are the best ways to win hearts (and stomachs) at your next event.

Food Ideas That Turn Your Booth Into a Hotspot

You could put out a bowl of mints and hope for the best, but no one will seek out your display for fresher breath. You need to offer food that no one else has. After all, there’s no contest between boring wrapped candy and mouthwatering finger foods visitors won’t stop raving about.

Here’s how to keep your booth buzzing with happy, well-fed guests:

Branded Treats

Custom cookies, cupcakes, or chocolates stamped with your logo are like edible business cards, only tastier. Bonus points for individually wrapping them so visitors can stash one for later and remember you when they snack on it back at their hotel.

Gourmet Popcorn

Popcorn stations are pure magic. Trade show guests love getting creative with flavors and toppings — think cheddar jalapeño, caramel drizzle, or even truffle parmesan. The best part? It sparks conversation while people build their dream snacks.

Hydration Stations

Talking and walking all day makes people thirsty, so turn hydration into a winning strategy. Bottled water is fine, but you can step it up with infused water, iced teas, or smoothie shots for a refreshing pick-me-up your visitors will appreciate.

Hearty Snacks

Trade show food lines are notorious for being long and overpriced. Offering more filling snacks — like mini sliders, sushi rolls, or charcuterie cups — keeps people at your booth longer and away from the hot dog stand. Plus, when others see guests strolling around with your tasty treats, they’ll start asking, “Where did you get that?!” and drive even more traffic to your display.

Healthy Options

Health-conscious visitors are always on the lookout for fresh snacks. Veggie cups with hummus, energy balls, or trail mix are easy wins. You’ll earn points if you include options for different diets since vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free snacks are often in short supply and always appreciated.

Make Your Food Offerings More Appealing

Whatever food you choose, keeping things clean and safe is key. Opt for individually portioned servings when possible, and if you have staff serving food, make sure they wear gloves. And don’t forget to keep perishables chilled, or attendees will remember your booth for all the wrong reasons.

Get More Trade Show Ideas from Oser Communications Group

From trade show food ideas to lead generation strategies, Oser Communications Group helps you get the most from attending industry events. Reach out to the Tucson, AZ, office at (520) 721-1300 to learn more about publication opportunities.

trade show lead qualifying questions

Five Essential Questions To Qualify Trade Show Leads

Written by Oser Communications Group on . Posted in Trade Show.

Following up with futile leads wastes time. Save energy and money with a selective follow-up strategy. Experts in trade show advertising, such as Oser Communications Group, help you do just that with lead qualification services.

By asking leads the right questions, you’ll maximize the impact of each trade show. Here are our top categories of open-ended qualification questions.

1. Are You the Decision-Making Authority?

First, confirm that your contact is allowed to make decisions for the company. This way, you’ll know you’re talking to the right person. Pitching your service to an assistant won’t always impact the company’s leaders.

You’ll also waste time if you need to go through your pitch multiple times. By verifying whether you’re speaking to the decision maker, you’ll usually get in touch with the right person. At the very least, you can gain a better picture of their company structure and develop a strategy for expediting discussions with multiple people.

2. How Is Your Budget and Purchasing Timeline?

Ultimately, purchasing decisions depend on money. Buyers want to know early on what a solution will cost. Likewise, you’ll need to know whether you’re wasting time on a lead who won’t be able to afford your service.

The key to not sounding absorbed by money is to ask about their budgets before sharing your pricing.

You should also discuss their timeline for implementing your solution to see if your needs align.

3. What Pain Points and Business Challenges Do They Face?

Find out the specific problem that is driving your prospect to act now. Perhaps they’ve just lost their old vendor or recently stumbled upon your service.

Understanding whether their needs are urgent can help you adapt your sales plan better. Non-urgent prospects might need a little more convincing and education before they jump.

4. How Did They Find You?

Learn how a prospective lead heard about you to determine their familiarity with your brand. Those who already know your company are more likely to trust your services and customer experience. Make it a priority to educate new customers on why people love your company beyond a single service.

The golden ticket is a prospect directly referred to your brand. When past clients recommend you, new clients already trust your service a little more.

5. Is There Obvious General Interest?

Gauge how invested a prospective lead is in your service. Determine whether they feel a solution is required or whether doing nothing is an option. Sometimes, you may be able to convince prospects that not acting isn’t an option, but often, these half-hearted leads go cold.

Trust Oser Communications Group With Your Leads

Contact Oser Communications Group for guidance on lead scoring and prioritization. Our experienced team will help you with everything from engaging trade show attendees to developing your follow-up strategy and engagement plan.

Make the most of your next trade show by having a plan to nurture only the best prospects. Call us at (520) 721-1300 to get started on your customized strategy today.

social media marketing for trade shows

How To Build Hype for Your Trade Show Booth Using Social Media

Written by Oser Communications Group on . Posted in Trade Show.

Drawing people to your trade show booth can be tough. Consult a professional trade show advertising agency for strategies that spark the most excitement. Oser Communications Group offers tips to maximize engagement with your booth.

Social media marketing for trade shows is key to modern promotion. The following will help you hone your online presence before your next show.

Develop an Event Hashtag Strategy

Part of your pre-trade show checklist should be creating a unique hashtag for your booth. Use this dedicated tag to build anticipation around the event by offering sneak peeks at new products or services.

Later, encourage attendees to use the tag when they post about the event or your brand.

Use Live Social Media Coverage

Consider posting live updates throughout the event. This offers your followers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the show. A livestream on Instagram or YouTube is a great hands-free option if you know you’ll be too busy to post.

Schedule Content Ahead of the Show

Preparing for a trade show is often hectic, but it’s important not to let your content slip through the cracks. Consistent posting is essential to maintaining an active following. Schedule your posts in advance before things get too hectic.

Try an Influencer Collaboration

Collaborate with influencers to build buzz around your exposition. Encourage them to share your products and remind followers of the show’s details.

These interactions keep you at the forefront of viewers’ pages.

Design Pre-Event Engagement Campaigns

Start advertising well in advance of the trade show. Begin your campaign as soon as your booth is confirmed. Share demos of your product or service in action and remind viewers that it will be available at the trade show.

This is also a great time to collaborate with other vendors to build anticipation for the range of creatives sharing their work.

Understand Lead Nurturing and Follow-Ups

Right after a trade show, capitalize on the buzz by interacting with attendees. Respond to messages and comments with gratitude and share customers’ posts from the show.

It’s also worth using a lead capture form to organize social media contacts and remind yourself to follow up personally.

User-Generated Content Sharing

Encourage your customers and followers to create content about your brand. You can incentivize this with giveaways or shoutouts.

Sharing real-life supporters of your brand is a creative way to foster trust and engagement.

Consult Oser Communications Group

If you’re at a loss for how to promote your booth at an upcoming trade show, get professional support. Oser Communications Group offers comprehensive social media marketing for trade shows to draw more people to your booth.

Our expert marketing team can also craft a trade show press release to build anticipation ahead of time. Oser Communications Group helps make online engagement hassle-free with structured plans and a responsive support team.

Let us turn your next trade show into your best yet. Call (520) 721-1300 today to get started with a customized marketing strategy.