So much of business success hinges on standing out from the competition and finding your point of difference. If your product doesn't have this, it will fall flat on its face, but it's not only your product that needs to stand out from the crowd. Anybody showcasing a product to potential buyers, investors and partners will need to showcase their product at trade shows.
These can be intimidating events, particularly for a first timer, because your booth sits side by side with all of your competitors, and to stand a chance of making a good impression and leaving people interested in your product, you need to make your booth stand out. Here's how you can do it.
A killer sign. The main thing that people see when they walk past booths is a business sign, so this is the one visual thing that you need to ensure stands out. Don't be afraid to spend budget on this area, because a pixelated black-and-white sign is just going to look unprofessional. Opt for full colour with high gloss on a material that is robust and strong looking. Brief a print services company so that they are fully aware of the high quality you are seeking, and leave time to have the sign printed as you might need to have a test run before getting it right.
Don't forget business cards. You'd be amazed at how many people forget to bring business cards to a trade show event. Do not be one of those people. Have a stack of beautifully designed, high-quality business cards out front so that potential clients and investors can easily take your contact details from you. It's also a good idea to include a professional headshot on a business card. Guests at trade shows can meet hundreds of people in a day. They probably won't remember you by name alone, so a headshot is a great way of making a personal connection. Also work with a quality print service in this case to get a good result for your business cards.
Product demo. Talking about your product is one thing, and being a good salesperson can definitely make a difference at these kinds of events. But talking is one thing and actually using a product and getting a feel for it is quite another. Be sure to give people this opportunity, particularly if your product is something very new to the marketplace that is hard to explain. You could even give away free samples to during the day. Or if your product is something like a phone app that is about to launch, you could give people "beta access" to make them feel special.
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