Are you working on your booth display for an upcoming trade show? We know the pressure to impress can be heavy, because trade show displays are one of the most important ways a brand or company can make a long-lasting impact on their target audience. Companies across a wide span of markets and industries believe that organizing trade shows, setting up booths, and having attractive banners are a remarkable way to show consumers a glimpse of what you can offer them. However, a lot of effort, time, and money goes into organizing, designing and promoting one’s booth at a trade show. Therefore, if you’re ready to jump into this let’s make sure you’re avoiding classic trade show mistakes.

10 Rookie Booth Display Mistakes You Absolutely Need to Avoid

1. Lack of a clear and well-defined goal for your booth display

If the layout and graphic presentation of your booth has not been designed with a clear goal in mind, it is highly unlikely that it will hit hard in the minds of the consumers. The designing process can be laborious and challenging at times, but honing in on the aspects you want to present to your audience will definitely pay off.

2. A lack of pre-show promotion decreases booth display effectiveness 

Have you notified your audience and built up the anticipation of your trade show? Did you invite all your customers to visit your booth display at the trade show? It is important that you send out direct mail, email messages and social media reminders in order to make sure your trade show investment pays off.

3. Forgetting crucial expenses

Are you forgetting to include some really important expenses in the fervour to design and create your booth? Things like shipping or logistical expenses, along with meals and labor costs can sneak up on you and are likely to accumulate during the event, so plan ahead and add them to your overall budget.

4. Love Tech? A Booth Display Needs Balance

Technology is impactful and engaging, but please remember to keep it simple.  You have a very short time to get someone’s attention and an even shorter time sharing your product or service.  Don’t waste time fidgeting with too many “bells and whistles”.  If you do go super tech, remember to have a non-tech backup plan to showcase your business in the event someone forgets the power strip!

5. Low quality Lead Generation

Handing out hundreds business cards, giving out free samples, or a bottomless candy jar does not secure new customers to your brand.  You need to make sure all leads are followed up with efficiently and the booth display staff is super engaging the customer to determine their actual interest level in your brand.

6. Abundance of giveaways

Trade shows are all about giveaways, albeit water bottles, pens, calendars, notebooks or other trinkets to give your audience. But hey, these giveaways are an investment that you’ve paid big bucks for, so don’t just give them away to the casual strollers, rather, save them for serious prospects.  This will also make your prospect feel special for receiving something that isn’t just laid out on the table for any passer-by to have.

Unsure of whether or not
Trade Show props are right for you?

We know all the tips and tricks for Trade Show items to be used all year round!

7. Lack of engagement with attendees

Is your staff doing their best at engaging and interacting with your customer audience? Are they Snapchatting, glued to their phones as attendees stroll in and out of your booth unnoticed? Your staff needs to be trained to actively engage your booth visitors.

8. Minimizing social media

Trade shows have strong social media potential. Forget to maximize this tool by using all the right hashtags, location tags and shared content? Consequently, you’re missing a huge opportunity to inform your audience and get them excited.

9. Failing to check out competitors

Trade shows provide you an excellent opportunity to check out what your competitors are up to. In fact, you can use this opportunity to examine the entire industry, build up your networking, and take some new strategies home with you.

10. Chaotic packing and unpacking: Simplicity in Booth Display

 

Try to keep it simple and hassle free. Have a plan, a setup system! Know what gets unpacked/packed first and keep a checklist of everything you bring.  Sometimes setup can be chaotic.  The more complicated or unorganized your booth is, the more stressed you will be, therefore risking damaging your booth display materials. Plan ahead, handle your equipment with care, and make sure you have enough time (and help) to setup everything nicely.

Hopefully this helps you out before jumping into your next booth display and consequently into more business. Finally, let us know how we can help your next show go smoothly and look fantastic!