Marshall Yard:

It’s hardly the season now but a good marketer always thinks ahead doesn’t he? What sport is associated almost exclusively with high rollers and money-bags? Almost certainly the answer is golf.  Congratulations if that’s your target audience. Now it’s time to think of this for your next trade show! How do you choose golf related corporate gifts or trade show giveaways? 

Is it really wiser to present golf related promotional products that cannot be really used in the game but they are nice reminders, that this game unites thousands of powerful and wealthy of supporters and players all over the world?Tradeshow gifts for golfers should be selected by someone who is equally as keen on this game as your target audience. The best time for golf giveaways at trade shows is around the beginning of April when the excitement about the looming start of the season is at peak.

Golf gifts  are irreplaceable in the business world today. Other than that, golf helps develop concentration, attention, precision and patience – something that any successful businessman possesses. Top honchos and wannabees – all play it either to keep the success and repute or gain it. Golf items as potential promo gifts at the next trade show are a must – your visitors will absolutely love gold-gilded accessories, golf souvenirs, imprinted golf tees and golf ball sets, golf bags or accessory holders. 

PGA Merchandise Trade Show will be starting January 17th - 19th, 2008 at the Orange County Convention Center

The Golf Industry Trade  Show - January 31st - February 2nd, 2008 - Orlando Florida with close to 1,000 exhibitors last year, covering almost 300,000 square feet of exhibit space.  

Golf seems to be taking on a life of it’s own,  whether you are attending a trade show or manning a trade show booth, it seems these days that these types of items will not be left behind.  

Words we didn’t hear 15 years ago, Squidoo, Flickr, Digg, Del.icio.us, text messages, Spinn and try this on for size, Blogengage?  Squidoo could have been something that we would have looked for while deep sea diving.  Flickr is something you did with those boogies that you had on your finger in first grade reading class.  Digg is something your mother did in the garden, and often times made you help.  I would have thought that something I picked up at the local Tastee Freeze was absolutely Del.icio.us.  Text messages where something that you got as a telegram, and had to drive to pick up.  Spinn was something that happened when you drank too much in college.  Then there is Blogengage, some folks find it hard just to get engaged these days.      

How much time a day does the average college student spend on social networking sites? Not wanting to spend a fortune to run an expensive study on this, just looking at a few of the students I know, I am going to throw out there three hours a day.  As these students have networked for four years during college, with people that share similar interest or don’t share anything at all other than cramming for exams.  

These are the people that will soon be sharing cubicles with us in the near future, when they are asked to research something, they will start with what they know and what they are comfortable with.  Submitting articles to various social networking sites, and being able to see your information come up organically in searches is what we are all striving for as we blog, flick and digg our way through our online marketing techniques. 

Blogengage is a site where you can submit your blog articles and have people engage them, similar in fashion to Digg, but strictly allowing blog  submissions, where the writing is a little more free flowing and less conforming to the large newswires. 

It is these sites that our decision makers of the future will be using, I see it similar to a consumer’s reports of the future.  Harnessing the potentia l places that your articles can reach with this type social media should be a no brainer.  I’ve only been at this for awhile, and think sometimes, what have I gotten into, but the more you read, the more time you can spend trying to wrap your arms around it, the easier it becomes.  Keep blogging and keep participating.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, ask for help! I have found creative answers from many people at Bloggeries Forum  as well as the Small Business Brief Forum.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions, it is the best way to learn and its amazing the people you will run into. 

When you are exhibiting at Trade Shows, it is as well a social networking atmosphere, you are there to extend your network of sources and clients.   Let them know about your blog, and your networking sites, encourge potential clients to visit and comment.  It is their opinion of your service and product that matters.  Spreading the word and getting feedback will help you make your trade show marketing more of a success.    Make sure that you are blogging about what trade show you will be at next, and always include your booth number. 

Different trade shows have different audiences, it is vital that as the New Year gets underway that you take the time to assess your marketing strategy and strategic development. Owners, Developers and Businesses in general need to remember that they need to market for IMPACT.

I = Image

Amplify your image; give yourself the flexibility for innovation and growth, by not marrying into a purchased exhibit, you can have the options of speaking to different audiences and conveying different messages quite easily.  Creative designs that will help your company stand out on any exhibit floor will give you more potential for reaching different divisions.

M = Marketing

When it comes to trade show marketing – remember it is not simply about the exhibit hall experience. It is about getting the message out, loud and clear.  That should be one of your primary goals, with a sold marketing partner; you can create a refreshing and effective message for new product lines and new services.

P = Potential

Potential clients, potential success! It should be all about clients, and the success that you should be able to bring to the table for them.  With the trade show abundance in the United States, there is never a loss of places to exhibit, research the potential shows and find out where you have the best fit, with an established exhibit house, you should be teamed with the correct professionals that can direct you to the best venue’s and upcoming shows.

A = Advancement

We are all in business to advance.  Climb the ladder of tradeshow success, get yourself out of that murky 10 x 10 pipe and drape exhibit and start showing off your willingness to advance in your marketplace.   When you take the time to invest more of your marketing dollars into the exhibit booth that will be your image, you will see advancement.

C = Communication

Not only communicate with your leads that have been generated by trade show marketing, communicate with your already successful relationships.  Communicate with your employees, who communicate with your successful relationships.  People like to be heard, they also like to be acknowledged, remembering small information from potential clients can take you far.

T = Traffic

Sometimes a nightmare, but in the trade show industry, this is what brings in those potential clients, that begin the communications for relationships.  Researching the best layout for your exhibit booth as well as the best possible area on the exhibit floor takes research, doing this in advance can help you land a prime piece of trade show real estate.

IMPACT 2008 with successful marketing and planning!