Powerful Trade Show Marketing Ideas Your Competitors Are Using

Companies all over the globe are looking for different ways to push their events and trade show spots to prospective customers. 

They want to gain an advantage over their competition and hype up their table for the big show! But how can you go about doing that?

The key is to start pushing the event several weeks in advance. In fact, as soon as you book your table at the trade show or lock in your location for the big event, you should start marketing.

Here are several trade show marketing ideas that you can use to get the juices flowing. Be sure to consider how these ideas can be a stepping stone for your marketing strategy.

1. Get Interactive on Social Media

The best trade show marketing strategies are the ones that can engage with attendees and potential clients long before the trade show even begins.

Think of the trade show as a conversation starter. It's something that helps you start interaction between your company and those that are interested in attending the upcoming event.

Now then... how can you capitalize on that interest and best engage with potential attendees? Social media! 

Your social media outlets are a game-changer when it comes to rallying the troops and getting everyone excited to see you at the show. 

One of the best ways to generate more attendees is to promote a contest for those that come. The trade show itself will have several events, sure, but you can't rely on those to direct any business your way.

Better yet, why not have people visit your website as a prerequisite if they want to be considered for your contest? The more familiar attendees are with your company prior to the show, the more business you'll do.

2. Use Geofencing as Your Aid

You live in a time where there's never been more marketing technology available to companies that are trying to reach new prospects. Use it to your advantage!

One of the best tools at your disposal is geofence marketing, which can help you launch both the trade show and your brand in front of your target market simultaneously.

Geofencing is all about creating impressions on those that you want to attend. The more impressions that you can place on each prospect, the likelier they are to make time to attend the event. 

It's also a great tool for brand recall to your specific company during the event. Those that see your geofencing ads will recognize your brand logo as they walk by it during the show.

That alone is enough reason for them to walk over and see what you're all about!

3. Use a Client-Referral Program

Every company has those go-to clients that you can entrust with literally any project you have for them. Their customer loyalty is so high on your brand that they would sing your praises from the rooftops if they could!

Well... now's their chance! Word of mouth marketing is as strong today as it ever was. Your company can kickstart that trend by promoting a client-referral program for the event.

Tell your loyal customers about the event, gauge their interest in attending, then tell them about the referral program that you're giving to all who attend with a friend.

This tactic is a no-brainer for all of your trade shows moving forward. It boosts customer loyalty, promotes natural word-of-mouth marketing, and guarantees you to meet qualified prospects at the event. The great Michael Scott would call that a "win-win-win" situation!

4. After One Event Ends, Another Begins!

Even if you didn't get a second to speak with them at the show, there's always one thing that you know about trade show attendees: they enjoy attending events.

Therefore, the name of the game is for you to collect as many names, numbers, emails, and business cards as you possibly can. Nice side note: having promo items to trade for business cards at the show is a great tool for doing that.

After the event is over, you should be calling everyone that you met or that placed a card in your contest bowl and thanking them for attending the show. Then, you should immediately promote another trade show that you're attending.

5. Hire an Event Marketing Recruitment Agency

If you find a weakness in your company's business structure, then team up with a business that considers it a strength, right?

In this case, hiring a trusted trade show recruitment company can be a substantial benefit to both you and the trade show event itself.

They can help take over the reins on things such as researching your target market, making cold calls, sending email campaigns, and other avenues to invite prospects to your event.

Not only does it market the trade show that you'll be attending, but it also puts your company at the forefront of their minds.

Better yet, their focus will be on organizing sales meetings between you and the clients after the event has commenced. Needless to say, they can make all of your sales conversions dreams come true.

Trade Show Marketing: Exhaust All Options

The best trade show marketing strategies are the ones that use every resource available to them to push the event. 

Be sure to read this article on how to grow your marketing database for those of you looking to expand the number of prospects on your list.

For more inquiries, please feel free to reach out via our contact us page and we'll be happy to assist you further!