Trade Show Marketing Ideas & Tips

Nimlok Trade Show Marketing Blog

Is Trade Show Sponsorship Worth It?

by Leave a Comment

Contract to exhibit in any trade show and you are offered trade show sponsorship opportunities galore. From your logo on the show program to the tote bags everyone carries and everything in-between. What exactly does it mean to sponsor an event? Sponsoring an event means that you (as the sponsor) offer money, products or services to support a trade show or event. In exchange, your company gains business exposure. How do you determine if a trade show sponsorship opportunity is right for your company? Is it really worth spending part of your marketing budget on such sponsorships?

Trade show booth with bright vibrant graphics showing trade show sponsorship options for giveaways at booth.

Sponsorship Statistics

According to Exhibitor’s 2019 Trade Show Sponsorship Survey which queried more than 200 face-to-face marketers, the vast majority of marketers currently invest in sponsorships. The survey revealed that the majority of exhibitors are investing in sponsorships of some kind. It also noted that the average spend is nine percent of their exhibit-marketing budget. This is quite a substantial portion of the budget. It’s important to determine if sponsorship is the right fit for your company.

[Read more…]

To Speak or Not to Speak

by Leave a Comment

Why you should pursue speaking opportunities at trade shows and industry events.

Image of back of man standing in front of a room of seated people speaking at a trade show event

There are several ways that you can boost your return on investment at trade shows and industry events. In this article, we will discuss why applying for and considering speaking opportunities at trade shows or industry events is one great way to maximize your return.

Thought Leadership

Speaking at a trade show or industry event highlights and increases your thought leadership and credibility. This positions not only you, but your company, as experts in the field. This gain in credibility helps to reinforce your company to existing or former customers and introduce your company to new prospects. This type of thought leadership can put your company at an advantage over the competition.

Demonstration

When you are speaking, you also have the opportunity to demonstrate how your product or service can benefit current and prospective customers. You have the un-divided attention of the audience. At your trade show booth, you typically only have a few seconds to a few minutes to engage the prospect and educate them about your company.

[Read more…]

Tips to Improve Trade Show ROI

by Leave a Comment

Whether you’re a trade show exhibiting newbie or a seasoned veteran, it’s important to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck. You’ve taken the time to decide on a show to exhibit in. You’ve planned your budget, display and presentation. You’ve prepared the materials you will need at the show. Now you need to be sure you will achieve your return on investment (ROI). Trade show exhibition is an expensive form of face-to-face marketing, so it’s important to be sure that you get the best ROI as possible. There are a few things to keep in mind that can help improve your trade show ROI. According to CEIR, over 64% of heads of marketing agree the B2B exhibition channel is highly effective for multiple marketing activities. The value of trade show marketing is acknowledged, so let’s review a few tips to improve trade show ROI.

group of people meeting to discuss how to improve trade show roi

1. Have a Marketing Plan

To begin with, you should have a marketing plan for all of your marketing efforts. When exhibiting at a trade show, it’s a good idea to create a marketing plan for the show itself. This includes what happens before, during and after the trade show. This should include:

Pre-Show Marketing

Let your target audience know you’ll be there.

Make your target audience aware that you will be at the particular show. Give them a compelling reason to visit your booth and meet with you. Social media announcements, email newsletters and maybe even a good old fashioned phone call are some ways that you can make it known to your audience that you will be exhibiting. New product/service introductions, giveaways and interactive displays and games provide a reason to stop by. Just remember to make sure that your giveaway or game, etc. falls in line with your company values, goals and message. On occasion, you have access to an attendee list. In this case, it could be a good idea to reach out to anyone who appears to be a qualified fit for your product/service. Try to schedule an appointment with them during or around the show.

Contact the Media.

Contact the show organizer for a media list of those that are confirmed to be at the show. Reach out to the press with information and news about your company, products and services.

Show Strategy

Recruit your best staff for the booth.

You’ve got the pre-show down – you’ve done your pre-show marketing and have your booth designed and in the build process. Now consider what you will do during the show. If you’re not equipped for what’s happening once on the trade show floor, then all the pre-show marketing and stunning trade show booth display will be worthless. Make sure your best staff members are working the booth and are prepared with branded apparel, advertising materials, giveaway items, demonstrations and are trained on the in-booth interaction plans and anything they will need for success. The staff is working the front lines and will ultimately determine the success of the show.

[Read more…]

Trade Show Leads: What You Need to Know

by 7 Comments

We live in the age of the self-directed buyer, and today’s complex marketing and sales environment necessitates a strong lead generation plan to take full advantage of the self-directed trend. Trade shows are one of the most effective ways for a company to generate leads. With proper planning and attention to details, you can boost your trade show leads and create an environment that cultivates self-directed attendee booth staff interaction. This post will educate you on how to get the most trade show leads possible.

[Read more…]

Interactive Trade Show Design: How to Captivate the Crowd

by 2 Comments


To the average trade show attendee, the maze of booths can seem a little dry at times. With many companies boasting similar products and services, attracting a crowd of interested visitors can be a challenge.

That’s where experiential marketing comes into play. Face-to-face marketing events offer the unique opportunity to create an interactive trade show display, focused on boosting engagement and providing a memorable brand experience. In this post, we’ll share fresh ways to design an interactive trade show exhibit, complete with buzz-worthy activities, games and display technology. Get inspired!
[Read more…]