Trade Show Marketing Ideas & Tips

Nimlok Trade Show Marketing Blog

Stretch Your Trade Show Budget

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50'x50' island exhibit with custom hanging structures and brand-forward graphics.

Introduction

There is no way around it, exhibiting in a trade show can be costly. However, there are some things you can do to stretch your trade show budget. From booth space fees to drayage, electricity and more costs can add up fast. Since face-to-face marketing truly holds its place in the marketing world, trade shows are a required component for many marketing programs – after all, face-to-face is one of the most impactful ways to market! Keep reading to learn a few tips to make the most of your trade show budget.

How to Stretch Your Trade Show Budget

Evaluate the trade shows you exhibit in

Calculate your costs and your ROI, and determine if that trade show is truly a good fit. Does that particular trade show attract your target audience? If your ROI isn’t what it should be, or that trade show does not attract the right audience, it may be time to cut that show from your plan. You can use the savings to exhibit in a larger space at a show that provides better leads, or you can add another show in its place. You can research your competitors to determine trade shows that they exhibit in and see if any of those may be a good fit for your company. Read more about things to consider when choosing a trade show or event.

Plan ahead and order early

There are often early bird rates for securing your booth space. If you are certain you are exhibiting in a particular show, check the cut-off date for early-bird payment, this can definitely save some money. Once you pass this date, it is often more costly for the booth space. The same goes for any services you may need at the show such as internet, electricity, lead retrieval, labor, etc. Often if you reserve these services in advance, you save money. If traveling, booking your hotel and airfare a minimum of 3-4 months in advance usually helps save as well, however, that takes some planning and assurance in terms of staff that will staffing the booth. If you wait until the last minute, you’ll most likely pay a premium.

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Three Cost-Effective Ways to Refresh Your Trade Show Booth

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Weblinc - 20x20 - trade show exhibit

Think about it. How long have you had your trade show exhibit?

How many miles in shipping, how many hours in storage and how many times have you subjected it to the installation and dismantlement cycle?

All of these factors and more contribute to the gradual decline in your exhibit over time.

As any home or car owner can attest, routine maintenance is an integral part of protecting your investment. Similarly, keeping up on the maintenance of your trade show exhibit is crucial in helping extend the life and performance of your biggest face-to-face marketing asset.

If your display is feeling a bit outdated, before you spend the money on a new display, consider these three cost-effective ways to refresh your trade show booth.

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Trade Show Booth Set-Up: Tips, Tricks and Advice

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Trade Show Booth Set-Up

Having a dynamic and attention-grabbing trade show booth is essential if you are looking to gain an edge over your competition at your next event. It is important for your exhibit to look ready and be ready when the exhibit hall opens its doors. In this post, we outline how to strategically navigate the installation and dismantling (I&D) process to ensure a smooth and stress-free assembly and teardown of your trade show booth.

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The Three Keys of Trade Show ROI

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While planning for a trade show, exhibitors should take the time to set up a proper framework to gauge and maximize the results of their trade show program and overall trade show ROI.

According to a recent study conducted by Demand Metric (Event Engagement: Accelerating the Customer Lifecycle), 20% of event marketers do not possess a clear understanding on how to properly track or measure their trade show ROI.

In this post, we cover the three most important areas of trade show ROI: aligning organizational goals with trade show objectives, maximizing trade show ROI and tacking and measuring key event marketing metrics to help you exhibit better.

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Intro to Trade Show Planning

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Trade shows, expos and conventions provide companies with a one-of-a-kind marketing opportunity to showcase products and capabilities and engage face-to-face with prospects and clients. In fact, an organization may achieve more at one event than they could over the course of weeks or months of marketing through other mediums.

To reap the many benefits of exhibiting at a trade show, exhibitors need to properly plan for an event. Successful trade show planning takes time, discipline and foresight. This means that exhibitors need to choose the correct show, set clear event marketing objectives, design an effective trade show exhibit and properly promote their presence at the show.

This article will help you prepare for your next trade show by outlining the best practices for planning a trade show, from setting a trade show planning timeline to choosing the right trade show exhibit for your company’s needs and more to help you become a better exhibitor.

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