Put Text Messaging To Work to Make Your Booth Buzz at the Next Trade Show
By Steven Kelley, MESSAGEbuzz.com CEOIn today's economy, many small business owners find it tough to attract new customers while working hard to retain their existing clientele. One way to accomplish both is to travel to trade shows. Trade shows are big business for small business. In a world of e-mails and websites, trade shows offer an opportunity to build customer relationships with face to face contact. But tapping technology can go a long way to helping the entrepreneur get the most out a trade show. For example, an e-mail blast to your clients is important to announce your participation at a trade show or business fair. But those e-mails can often be forgotten by the time the show starts and you are competing with all the other exhibitors on the trade show floor. That is where text messaging can come in. Sending out text messages to your contact list will not only remind them that you are a part of the show, but alert them to special promotions you have underway at your exhibit.
Text messages at a trade show are often the most economical and effective way to contact those in attendance. Most people attending a trade show or business exhibit will not carry around their laptops all day, but they will have their cell phones with them. You will be able to target those people who have opted in, or given you permission to send them text messages about your services or products.
Text messaging is just one of the steps an entrepreneur should consider when planning to exhibit at an industry event or business show. Here are a few other tips to take to help you get the best return on the money spent for displays, exhibit space, and travel costs for your next business event.
- Do Your Research On The Event
Know which trade shows will give your firm the best exposure with your target audience. Find out what the particular trade show's objectives are and evaluate the show's audience with your objectives. - Set Goals For Your Exhibit
Will your trade show appearance focus on promotion or the launch of a new product? It is important to be clear about what your participation in the trade show is going to achieve. How can your promote your exhibit before and during the event? - Plan Your Event Space
It is important to try and book your space in a high traffic area of the trade show. Find out everything you can about your space including what kind of other exhibits will be around it and the physical conditions of the booth. All signs and display items should be pleasing to the eye and designed to get attention. - Do Your Own Promotion Before The Event
Experienced trade show exhibitors don't wait for the show to start to try to see customers and make new business contacts. To get the most traffic at your booth, send out announcements before the show inviting your prospects and clients to stop by your booth. - Make Your Booth the Buzz of the Show
A giveaway or gimmick will attract people to your booth if they know it is going on. Send text messages before and during the event to alert participants of the special activities underway at your exhibit. Having some sort of prize drawing or contest is a great way to collect contact information from booth visitors. A demonstration or interactive display will draw people's interest and get them to cluster around your display. - Have Plenty of Promotional Literature On Display
Make it easy for booth visitors to get the information they want on your products and services. Have business cards displayed so potential clients may pick one up if the booth staff is busy with others. - Train Your Booth Personnel
Choose your booth staff carefully and insure they are prepared to answer basic questions. People approaching your booth at a trade show should be engaged as they walk by without intimidating them or overwhelming them. Plan to have your trade show booth manned at all times with staffers who have an introductory speech committed to memory - Follow Up
Have a plan in place to follow up on contacts and leads you made during the trade show as soon as possible. The faster you send out information to prospects, the more your firm will stand out from the competition. Text messaging can be a fast and easy way to thank thousands of prospects for stopping by your exhibit.