Going to tradeshows can be a huge benefit for a company, especially those that primarily operate as business-to-business or B2B companies. This is the perfect chance to get your products and services in front of those who are responsible for purchasing for their business. Even tradeshows that are aimed at the general public can boost your sales and grow your customer base.
There are a few different key components in a tradeshow booth. You’ve got to have the right setup and layout of your space, plus the perfect graphics, signs, and other elements. You should have handouts prepared that answer any questions attendees may have. You need something to draw people in—you’ll be fighting for attention with hundreds of other booths. Even if you bring people over, your team has to be prepared to discuss your offerings and their value. It’s a lot of work, but it can be worth it.
If you haven’t done tradeshows before, here are some of the reasons why outstanding tradeshow displays are great for marketing and how working with TNT Signs is the best option for creating these displays.
Get Your Brand in Front of People
The biggest benefit to tradeshow displays is that they get your brand in front of people who may not otherwise see you. The people who attend tradeshows are typically very serious about finding new vendors or partners. They may have to pay to attend, and many may have travel costs. They’re not attending a tradeshow for fun, especially those that are aimed at others in the industry and not the general public.
In addition to getting your name out there, tradeshows also help reinforce your standing in the industry to your current customers. They will see that you’re right there among the top brands, which will help reinforce the fact that you’re one of the best. It will give them confidence in your brand, plus you have the chance to strengthen their bond with your company and talk about new opportunities with them. You may walk away with contract renewals or expansions.
Tradeshow Booths Provide In-Person Opportunities
Marketing online certainly has many benefits, as does placing ads in trade journals or on billboards. However, sometimes the personal approach is the best. Potential customers can’t ask an ad a question. While they can do that through social media sites or websites, there’s still typically a delay in getting an answer. It’s not always easy to start a dialogue through these platforms. While customers may give you their phone number and ask for a call, there’s a delay there, too, plus it’s not always easy to find a time to talk.
Tradeshows remove all of these barriers. Potential customers can talk to one of your representatives in person, getting answers to all of their questions and making a personal connection to your business. While there are other obstacles—customers have to attend the show, which often means traveling—the chance to talk in person can be what makes or breaks a sale. This is why your display has to be perfect and your team has to be fully trained and prepared. An outstanding tradeshow display can draw in people, let them know what you’re all about, and in some cases, your display will close the deal on its own.
Get Feedback in Real Time
Being able to discuss your products and services in person with a potential customer is great, but that discussion does go both ways. You can get feedback about your company, including feedback from current customers who are in attendance. This can be very helpful in designing new marketing materials for your next show and in revising your products and services. You may find that your potential customer pool is currently dealing with a new challenge that you were unaware of. You can get ideas on how your products could address this issue, allowing you to get ahead of the competition.
Bring in More Leads
Tradeshows are perfect for generating leads. You never know who is looking at your display or is taking your handouts and pamphlets. You may get back to the office only to receive calls or emails several weeks later asking for more information or to discuss your products and services. Great tradeshow displays that draw in people can bring in these types of leads, even if it’s not immediately apparent on the show floor. The effects of a good tradeshow can last for weeks or even months.
You Can Forge Partnerships, Too
In addition to growing your customer base, your tradeshow display can attract other businesses, too. You may find the perfect new business partners at a tradeshow after they notice your booth and come over to learn more about what you do. Tradeshows can be a great place to form these partnerships or even begin discussions about merging with or acquiring a competitor. You may find a company that handles distribution that’s a better fit than your current distributor, or you might find a manufacturer that can provide components you need for a better price than your current partner.
Creating the Best Tradeshow Display and Booth
What does it take to make an amazing tradeshow display? You do need to do more than just show up with some banners, graphics, and handouts. Here are some of the components of an outstanding tradeshow booth.
Plan things out
Before you start designing signs and banners, you need to think through what your tradeshow booth will look like. What is your goal? What products or services do you want to highlight? If you have a new product, you may want to put it front and center. If you don’t, you may want to focus on some of your underperforming services. Regardless of what the focus is, you should decide on what the goal of your booth is before you start designing.
Make a list of what you need
What items will you need for your booth? If you’ve done tradeshows before, you may already have some of these items. However, you should check to make sure they’re in good condition and reflect the current state of your company. If your banners are damaged or your signs have your old logo on them, it’s time for an update.
Some of the items you may need include signs, banners, and photos that showcase your products and services. You’ll also need to decide what you’re going to create your booth from. Some vendors use metal grid panels. Others bring in wooden structures. Some venues offer to supply your booth with tables, chairs, walls, and more, but that could come at a cost. It all depends on what your overall aesthetic is.
Don’t forget your business cards, pamphlets, and other literature to give to attendees. You may also want to have promotional materials like ink pens or items related to your industry to hand out. Bags with your company logo are also useful, especially if people are going to be picking up a lot of stuff. Don’t forget other necessities, even if they’re not branded. You’ll need a lot of basic things such as tape and pens.
Designing your banners, posters, and other items
Once you know what you need, it’s time to start designing the various elements of your tradeshow booth. You will want these items to look good together, so be sure to carry over things such as colors, fonts, and other design elements from sign to sign. This will create a cohesive look for your booth. You’ll also want to make certain everything you’re designing can easily be read. Remember, people may not be able to get up close to all of your signs if your booth is crowded, so you want to be certain they can be clearly read from several feet away.
Why Quality Materials are Important in Tradeshow Displays
Tradeshows typically take place in major cities. Las Vegas is a major tradeshow destination, though it’s not the only one. The difficulty here is that you have to ship all of your tradeshow booth components to the location, set up your booth, and then tear it down and ship it home at the end. If you don’t have materials made from quality components, they can easily get damaged in transit. Even if they aren’t damaged in transport, they could get damaged in storage if they’re not carefully put away.
TNT Signs uses materials that are designed to last. Our banners and signs are printed on high-quality stock, while the inks we use are designed to remain bright and clear for years. When you work with us to design and print your tradeshow displays, you know you’re investing in materials that you can use for years to come.
Need Tradeshow Materials? Contact TNT Signs Today
TNT Signs can help you design and print a wide range of materials for your tradeshow and for other uses. Whether you need custom signs and banners or stickers and vehicle wraps, we’re here for you. We will even help with designing your materials if you need them. Don’t let your next tradeshow go by with a substandard display. Contact TNT Signs today at 707-528-8523 to get started.