There are many ways to successfully create conversions, from architectural designs like the Timber City exhibit at the SEGD Design Awards to keeping it small and building relationships with everything in between.

But what are some details to focus on to maximize conversions, you ask?

To help, we’ve gathered nine of our favorite trade show tips that can lead to successful conversions and an overall successful trade show booth. Keep reading to learn how to snag trade show leads and make these B2B trade shows worth your time.

Then, with your new marketing tools in hand, start preparing for your next trade show and knock it out of the park.

1. Create a goal and action plan and be prepared
Check list

Organizing a great trade show requires a lot of preparation before you attend the show, identifying your goals and choosing the right trade shows to achieve them.

If you’re looking at short-term goals like converting leads, your action plan will focus more on meeting potential clients and sales pitches than going to or speaking on panels and meeting industry leaders. to meet with

Trade shows are also great places to get media time, create and present social media content, invite investors and clients, and create a comfortable place to sell them, see what the competition is doing, Consolidate your position in the market, network, introduce or launch a new product, and name some more potential targets to generate more leads to get people to sign up for your mailing list.

Get the right trade shows on your calendar.
Before planning your trade show schedule for the coming months and year, familiarize yourself with your options for shows in your industry. Often, exhibitors have more success at smaller regional shows but not always.

Again, it depends on your goals. If you’re launching a product and want major media coverage, for example, you want to pick shows where you can get it.

Be sure to fill your calendar with time to prepare. You want your team to be able to get to the booth and make all the connections on time. Ideally, you want a lead time of at least three months to get the most out of the show.

Do ready footwork
Once you have a show on schedule, meet with your team and tell them the goals. Come up with an action plan.

Things to think about and act on before the show include:

The overall theme
Physical booth design and creation
Producing leads to meeting on the show.
Planning and writing press releases
Printing business cards
Printing flyers and banners
Scheduling your sales team’s presence
Reaching out to clients and scheduling meetings
Getting your trade shows on your website
Creating a social media campaign around the show
You may think you can do these things at the last minute, but you and your team are likely to do better if you are well prepared. And some things, like printing and building your booth, have built-in production time that you can’t ignore.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with a social media management tool like Hootsuite before the show. This tool lets you post once and send your content to all the social media outlets you request.

Also, there is a mailing list system so that you can collect those emails efficiently.

2. Put the best team in your booth
It’s great to have your executives come to the show, rub elbows with industry influencers, and speak on panels or give keynotes themselves, but it’s your sales team that will give you the ROI you put into the booth. i want

Your sales team is your sales team for a reason! They know how to change.

Prepare them well with your overall goals and give them the tools they need to sell such as samples, swag, technology, on-site media, a professional-looking space that showcases your business, products, and Reflects the culture, and private conference rooms to make them. There are deals.

3. Attract visitors to your booth with an expert.
Bring in an expert to discuss your product or industry, to help attract your target clients to your booth to meet your amazing sales team.

People want information more than they want a pen with your brand on it.

Come up with a question or more that you know your clients are curious about and ask your expert to provide answers.

Be sure to let people know about the event ahead of time. Mention it in your newsletter, on your website, and in emails announcing your presence at the show.

Get it on the trade show calendar, on their website, and in as much media and press as possible. If it’s a big enough name expert, put out your own press release.

Create flyers, posters and banners announcing your booth schedule.

4. Go old school with networking.
Everyone is inundated with emails and social media posts. You know how it goes. You select the one that pops out and ignore the rest

ed business cards still go a long way to getting solid leads and real conversions just like a solid handshake and your conversation.

This gives you and your sales team the opportunity to ask questions to help determine your market’s needs and wants. This allows you to pitch your product well. And it lets you gauge the initial reaction of your clients.

5. Attract people with a stunning booth design.
Expo display

There are tons of fun ways to attract your ideal clients to your booth so your sales team can work their magic to generate conversions and leads.

To start, come up with a theme that embodies your product. For example, if you have an eco-friendly product, use eco-friendly materials to build your booth and also get plenty of foliage by creating a living wall of plants.

Here are some more tips for creating an epic booth:

Engage clients with an activity like an on-screen game or quiz.
Use bright colors.
Keep outdoor space open to create an inviting flow of foot traffic
Create something architecturally unique
Add a fun picture to the wall.
Add a video monitor yourself.
Make it comfortable so people want to sit and chat.
Offer refreshments.
Be creative. Talk to a designer. If you don’t have a huge budget, print eye-catching banners, and use colorful steps and repeats and bright colors to draw people in.

6. Leaning heavily on social media
Social media is usually a long-term brand strategy, but you can attract some people to your booth now if they’ve been following you during the trade show.

Tweet and post on all socials during the trade show. Know your audience and who they’re looking at to know where to focus most of your energy.

Learn important hashtags for trade shows and your industry. Your audience may be following them.

Create as many social media photo opportunities as possible in your booth. As already mentioned, go one step further and create a photo wall with other branded banners.

For example, you could have a video or photo booth that sends clients a digital video or photo of yourself with your built-in brand and hashtag. Post their photos and videos on your social media too.

Future Tripping
Take lots of photos during the event. When you go back, post as much as you can and tag and hashtag when possible. Include people in your newsletters and on your website when possible.

7. Contact your leads and set up meetings ahead of time.
Yes, this is also in tip #1 but it is important. Be sure to schedule as much ahead of time as possible.

Email your mailing or newsletter list. Talk to the customer. Find out who’s going to be on the show. Email these people individually.

Also, email any clients who are in the show area and invite them to your booth and any of your events. Also, check out the trade show website and find other vendors who will be there who might be clients.

Use trade shows and your niche booths and events as a great excuse to visit.

8. Connect with the media.
Trade shows attract media that cover your industry. Use this opportunity to connect with journalists.

Create a press release if you have news, especially if you currently have a new product release or launch. Try going to a panel that has been covered by the press if relevant.

If you don’t have an in-house PR or social media team, consider hiring a PR firm that specializes in your industry. If you don’t have the news, however, it’s a waste of time and money. Don’t let a PR firm convince you otherwise.

9. Follow up after the show.
Your work isn’t over when you take down your booth. Be sure to follow up with all your leads after the show.

This should be part of your action plan.

Also, debrief the team and figure out your success statistics. You’ll use this information in the future to decide which shows and tactics work for conversions and which don’t.

The best trade show tips for you
Now that you have our top trade show tips for success in your back pocket, you’re ready to hit your next trade show and maximize those conversions.

Did any of these tips stand out to you? Start from there. Lean into your strengths first and then try other techniques.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. We are here to help you create the most successful trade show booth for your business with supplies and design and consulting services.