The blogosphere provides some tasty solder fodder for the Marshall-Yard to report on…
A client that we’ve enjoyed working with over the years had some very gracious things to say via their company blog - the B2b Marcom Blog. Check out Rick Short’s blurb, which also includes a very good explanation of our rental capabilities. Check it out…
I’d say more, but it would spoil the ending.
There are several tradeshows that are upcoming in the spring time, while researching a few of the events that will be taking place at Offshore Technology Conference on May 5th, in Houston, Texas. I thought the theme “Waves of Change” was a very fitting not only to OTC 2008, but could be equate this to each and every industry we come across.
When you are launching a new business and trying to break into the fast paced growing industry standards, your marketing endevour for first time exhibiting can be quite frustrating, I recently read a post at Domestic Diva that brought to light the struggles of exhibiting for first timers.
Decisions to exhibit should be weighed carefully and several months in advance, looking for prime trade show floor space with alot of traffic. If you start early, you are more apt to get a prime location for your exhibit. National Hardware Show is another tradeshow that will be taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center - May 6th-8th. There will be over 18,000 buying attendee’s, planning to exhibit at a tradeshow in your industry could bring in new relationships, transmit your message to a large audience, help with service related issues and stimulate add-on sales.
Looking ahead at trends in booming marketplaces can become a complex process, recent advances in technology can help you capture your prospective clients attention. If you are not infront of them, someone else will surely jump at the chance.
If you are contemplating exhibiting and marketing your business in the trade show arena, look ahead and start your strategy with an exhibit house that can offer you customized solutions. Customized Rental Exhibits give you flexibility and can assist in your branding efforts. Offering you a valuable opportunity to introduce your products and services in a 3D Marketing environment.
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!
By: Susie Kleiner
I recently pulled up Make your Business Stand Out and I found some profound statements written. Brand Awareness continues to be at the fore-front of many marketers minds as it should be in the competative arena for any business. Award winning trade booth design has always been the approach that has worked in our industry.
Being Different as stated in the article written by Nikole Gibbs in the marketing section caught my attention, because if you leave an impression and give your potential clients, something different, they will not only become repeat clients, but they will become loyal clients.
When you give your clients solutions they will remember the product and service that you have provided. 3D marketing can speak to an turn your company into a trade show superhero.
One of our clients was questioned, in a pre-show survey, and stated they thought that just 26 percent of attendees considered the company a market leader. But after the CEO was in the booth at the exhibition talking about the industry, and the research and development staffers were talking about new products during the show, 96 percent of those surveyed post-event perceived the company as a market leader.
Rule number one in any marketing plan should be questioning your clients and gathering feedback from potential and current clients. People in general love to hear themselves speak, and they also love to hear that their opinion is wanted. Without information, and in the information age, if you don’t..shame on you.
If for a moment you forget that on the other end of the phone, email, conference call or contract is a human being, you could have lost a potential project. 27 Exhibiting Do’s and Dont’s by Susan Friedmann has some very valid points, and I enjoyed #10-Don’t” “throw up” on attendee’s, it made me laugh, but it validates my point, ask them questions, let them talk. They are going to be the one’s using your product or services. Do not tell them constantly what you can do for them, let them tell you what they need done, and collectively come up with a solutions.
Designing exhibits for upcoming trade shows, can be a challenging task, listening to our clients, and understanding what they are trying to convey in their industry can only be learned by hearing what the client has to say.
It doesn’t matter what they are called - promotional items, trade show giveaways, chachka or tchotchkes so, ready, set, eat! We are closing in on the Thanksgiving Holiday, and food will be of abundance. I just saw a trade show giveaway that I thought was a fantastic idea and one that will not be left behind! Cookies! Who doesn’t love cookies? We all know when we are walking the trade show floors, we get hungry and tired, and a little boost of sugar may be just the ticket!
Chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookes, peanut butter and oatmeal! Put your company logo on a cookie and take a bite out of your competition. I can say this honesty, I’d be hunting down the exhibit booth that was giving out cookies, but that’s coming from the mouth of a sweet tooth. A great little piece on The World Almanac Blog shows how much candy per capita we consume! Oh..my! Pass me the dessert tray!
Exhibit Displays & Tradeshows!
Why are people doing it? Why should I spend the money? I have six valid reasons that your appearance at trade shows can benefit and build your global business marketing plan and strategy.
Build Brand Awareness
Increase Leads
High Customer Visibility
Increased Market Competition
Launching a new identity
Launching a new product
No matter what market you are in, medical, automotive, gift market, landscaping, electronics, multi-media, gaming, photography, there is a trade show out there for you. There is also a whole bunch of competition. There are enormous opportunities waiting for those who get it right. Opportunities not only for your company, but for you within the company. Opportunities to capture leadership within your business, or business position.
Ask yourself a few questions?
Why Exhibit?
How do I do it successfully?
When should I exhibit?
Where should I exhibit?
Know your market place and know your competition! Success in a trade show program is about focus and targeting resources and energy. If you are unsure of some of the above questions, we can direct you to the best strategy fit for your given situation.
There are several reasons people give away promotional items in the trade show setting, usually at the top of the list is traffic and visitors. Remember to keep in mind the type of visitors and traffic you are hoping to draw in.
First off, when trying to decide what types of items to “give-away” do some research first and get a reputable company. You want your promotional item to be remembered, you want it to convey a message of what your company does and who you are in the market place.
Does your trade show booth follow any sort of theme? Are you trying to give your booth visitor an education? Each one of those could support a different promotional item. Do not forget your “brand awareness” in this process, and make sure that the item will send that message.
Promotional items can be costly, make sure you plan well in advance for any given trade show and order early and follow a strategic plan in order to acquire the give-aways at the best cost, often times in bulk if you are planning on exhibiting at more than one trade show.
In order to capture your prospective clients make it an item of desire, but do not hand them out freely, or just have them displayed somewhere so they are easy for the taking. You want to be able to engage the prospective client in conversation so that you can establish a relationship and further the process from prospect to client.
If the convention center offers any sort of pre-show advertising, this may be a great chance to include a stop at our booth with this certificate. That way you will get them engaged in a more detailed conversation of your product and services.