Trade show season is in full swing. Besides creating an effective and memorable trade show exhibits, remember your loyal customers and stick to your marketing efforts. Instead, use this as an opportunity to get the most out of your trade show attendance by including your customers in the experience.
Here are some easy ways to get customers excited about your new products.
Kick off an online campaign a week or two before the trade show. Give it a fun name, like “Be Our Buyer.”
If you have it in your budget or live close enough to a trade show to avoid flight and hotel expenses, host a contest and have the prize be a day at the trade show. Have customers submit an essay.
If you are not able to bring someone to the show with you, bring the show to your customers. Crowd sourcing has never been easier than with the help of social media. While at a show, snap a few pictures and post them to Facebook. Then, ask your fans what they like best. This increase online engagement, and conversation.
One of the most exciting aspects of attending a trade show is getting a first look at upcoming trends. Share some of your favorite trends with your customers.
Even after you return from your travels, you can keep the excitement going with an inventory blowout. You will need to make room for your new products anyway. Use social media, email marketing and word of mouth to help spread the word. Let your customers know that you are having the sale to make room for your new product arrivals.
After spending time and effort creating excitement around the trade show experience, host a premiere party to announce your new product arrivals. Send invitations through email, creating a Facebook event and providing invitations. Lay down the red carpet, put out refreshments, turn on the tunes and you will start cranking out sales.
Bring your efforts full circle by offering special incentives for those customers who experienced the trade show whirlwind with you. From those who voted on product pictures to the folks who helped clear your shelves during the inventory blow out, give them the VIP treatment with some extra special savings.
For more ideas on successful trade shows, contact The Exhibit Source.
Independent Retailer
