10 Tradeshow Mistakes That Can Lead To Disaster

Tradeshows present an excellent opportunity for businesses to increase their customer base and sales. However, there are right ways and wrong ways to go about exhibiting at a tradeshow. While some of these 10 tradeshow mistakes may seem a little funny and obvious, businesses make them at every tradeshow. Unfortunately, this often leads to disaster for a business.

You’re Never An Expert

Even if you’ve exhibited at hundreds of tradeshows, never think you’re an expert. The tradeshow industry constantly changes and you have to keep up with those changes through continuing education and knowledge. Never sit back, thinking you’re a tradeshow expert.

You Didn’t Pre-Promote

Promoting your appearance at a tradeshow is critical to success, especially promoting to local and regional customers and the local media. Don’t leave the promotion of a tradeshow up to show management, get out there and promote your appearance.

You Didn’t Read Show Information

Always discuss your appearance at a tradeshow with show management. Never just sign up and show up without reading and understanding the show information, include any regulations you must comply with or extra fees you might be subject to.

You Built Your Booth Yourself

Unless you’re a skilled artisan with knowledge in building tradeshow displays, it’s usually best to buy, hire out, or rent your tradeshow booth. If you don’t know what you’re doing, building your own tradeshow booth can lead to an unprofessional look, especially when surrounded by a show full of professionally designed and constructed booths.

You Didn’t Set Goals

You won’t know if your tradeshow appearance is a success if you don’t set goals. In addition to setting goals for the tradeshow, set a strategy for how you’ll accomplish your goals.

You Arrived Exactly At Showtime

If the show opens to attendees at 8AM, it’s not a good idea to show up at 8AM. You need to arrive early to setup and get your bearings to make your best showing.

You Didn’t Consider Everyone A Prospect

Everyone at a tradeshow is a prospect, even other exhibitors. Don’t pick and choose, speak to everyone passing by who is willing to listen.

You Didn’t Bring Enough Handouts

Whether basic flyers or glossy brochures, handouts are critical at a tradeshow. If you don’t bring along something to hand out, potential customers won’t have anything to remember you by.

You Didn’t Prepare For The Day

Tradeshow exhibiting is a long daylong process and you need to staff your booth to succeed. Prepare in advance for the day by bringing a ’survival kit’ that includes plenty of food and water for the day. In addition, consider other things you might need like aspirin, band aids, breath mints, and a sweater.

You Didn’t Follow Up

Real success comes from following up after a tradeshow. Don’t wait for people to call you, capture the contact information of visitors to your booth and follow up with them.

By keeping these tradeshow mistakes in mind when exhibiting at your next tradeshow, you are sure to walk away a success instead of walking away confused as to what went wrong.

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