Trade Show Promotional Products ? Boosting Booth Traffic
I was about seven or eight years old when I learned the value of promotional items at trade shows. I just didn't know it yet. I was at a home show with my parents. As we walked through the hall it was held in, I noticed people walking around with yardsticks. I really had no need for a yardstick, but seeing them made me want one. So, to make me happy, my parents kept an eye out for the booth passing out the yardsticks. I got my yardstick, and my dad got a deck from the contractor who was passing them out. I use that example to paint a picture that promotional items can and do work at trade shows- although the target audience usually isn't a third-grader with a $10/week allowance!
The whole idea of a trade show or seminar booth is to gain new customers and perhaps repeat business from past customers. The whole idea of using a promotional item at your booth is to attract people to your table, generate interest and hopefully provoke questions. However, promotional items can also be dangerous. Why? Because people love free stuff- so you have to do this properly.
You cannot confuse an effective giveaway with a 'freebie'- many trade show attendees love to walk around and simply collect everything in sight. You do not want this to happen at your booth. But, some trade show booth workers are quick to just lay the items out and sit back and read the paper, while qualified leads walk away with the stuff. A few suggestions to avoid that are to keep your giveaways out of arm's reach. Then, when people approach your table, grab one and hold it, and strike up a conversation by asking a question. Then, hand them the item. Perhaps the conversation will even continue. This way, they will be walking away with the item, but also with a message about your business. Or you can offer an item to people walking by, and when they approach you to take it you can surprise them by asking qualifying question to strike up a conversation.
Another way to utilize giveaways is to create a theme for your booth, and incorporate your promotional items into that theme. Your whole booth will stand out, and will make a lasting impression. Perhaps you are an HVAC dealer. You could use the theme "Stay Cool This Summer" and have people sign up for a free air conditioner. As they fill out their entry forms (which you will use as leads), you can pass out cheap plastic sunglasses with your name on them. Or, perhaps you can even hand out bottled water with your label on it. The whole theme idea is a cohesive way to build leads, build recognition and even excitement.
There is also a lesser-known way to promote your trade show booth. You can actually promote your giveaway before the show even happens. You can send out an invitation to customers you know typically attend the shows, and on that invitation you can say, "The first 100 people to stop by our booth will get a free travel mug!" This will build traffic before the show even opens. Another way to do this is to send out a note to current or potential clients with a small item, such as a pen or magnet and then asking them to drop by your booth. They may feel obligated to since you already gave them something.
The secret weapon here is not just in the product itself, but how it is distributed. With the right product and the right salesperson working the booth, promotional items can be a very powerful tool. The leads and follow-up business will prove it!
Cindy Carrera is a freelance creative author who's written numerous articles about PR including: business promotional items, custom promotional products and wholesale promotional items.
 Google News Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:49:07 GMT Plaxico Burress takes Giants to school with tired act - New York Daily News
New York Daily News - Plaxico Burress with his son after the Giants win Super Bowl 42. Burress will need to get his act together if the Giants are to repeat as champs. Burress Returns to Giants, With No Regrets Unapologetic Plaxico Burress returns to Giants Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:10:29 GMT Three Europeans win the 2008 Nobel for medicine - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - By Lawrence K. Altman The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded Monday to three European scientists who discovered viruses behind two devastating illnesses, AIDS and cervical cancer. Aids and cervical cancer pioneers share Nobel award Nobel Prize to HPV Researcher Highlights Importance of Cervical ... Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:50:01 GMT China's Reputation On Product Safety Reaches a New Low - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Blaine Harden Even Burma -- where one of the world's most repressive and isolated military governments relies on trade with China -- has now warned its people to steer clear of all Chinese dairy products. Video: No Traces of Melamine in New Test of Milk Powder China vows overhaul of 'chaotic' milk industry Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:55:33 GMT As Palin Brings Up Ayers, Obama Team Cites Keating - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Anne E. Kornblut and Michael Abramowitz The presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama for the first time criticized Sen. John McCain for his role in the "Keating Five" savings-and-loan scandal yesterday, saying the issue was fair game after a ... Video: AP Campaign Minute McCain ready for combat in 2nd presidential debate Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:17:08 GMT Computer Chip to Monitor Teen Drivers - ABC News
ABC News - By LISA STARK, MATT HOSFORD and KATE BARRETT Car keys -- long perceived as the keys to teenagers' freedom -- may soon be the best way for parents to monitor their every move. Going Along on the Ride With Junior Ford: Key limits speed, stereo volume Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:16:34 GMT Rays roll over White Sox, punch ticket to ALCS - Sports Network
Sports Network - Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - BJ Upton hit two solo homers, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Chicago White Sox, 6-2, to clinch their first berth in an American League Championship Series in franchise history. White Sox eliminated from post-season with Game 4 loss to Rays Rays Finish Off White Sox to Reach ALCS Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:14:13 GMT Injury forces May-Treanor to sit out this 'Dancing' - USA Today
USA Today - By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY Two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor may be sidelined from ABC's Dancing With the Stars, but she says she won't let a leg injury suffered during rehearsals stop her from competing in beach volleyball. Misty May-Treanor drops out of ‘Dancing’ May-Treanor vows torn achilles won't end her volleyball career ... Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:09:39 GMT Add RSS Feeds to My Website |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Postcards are perhaps the least expensive way of reaching a... Read More You probably read my headline and thought, wait a minute,... Read More The Pitchers: SalesLet's say you have a new baseball team... Read More Available to all small businesses are business lists, which come... Read More For years now we have been inundated with offers of... Read More Do you ask prospective clients to go too far?Must your... Read More My niece recently graduated from high school, and my family... Read More Have you ever wondered why the phones aren't ringing the... Read More Yellow Page users are the hottest of all prospects ?... Read More While focused, strategic networking is usually the most efficient way... Read More BREAK FROM HO-HUM MARKETING ? IT'S TOO BORING! Once you... Read More Have you thought about starting your own business? Have you... Read More I met Sue at a recent networking event. She is... Read More Whether you're creating a sales letter, a brochure, a newsletter,... Read More It's 1954. Yes, Mrs. Patricia Smith has been a good... Read More 5000 B.C. -- somewhere near a cave in MontanaOg the... Read More Do you feel uncomfortable when you're in the trade show... Read More Personal contact with customers is a crucial element in the... Read More Subtle adj. Showing or making, or capable of showing or... Read More More and more people are realizing that the Internet offers... Read More Last week I took our two boys on an all... Read More In his classic best-seller, "How To Win Friends And Influence... Read More Your business depends on the success of your marketing efforts.... Read More Personal marketing makes it easier to sell, by building relationships... Read More Cause marketing is a relationship between a for-profit and a... Read More
Adsense
websites
Postcard Direct Mail Marketing Tips And Ideas
Ready, Fire, Aim!
Teaming Up Marketing and Sales
Off The Shelf Software for Making Business Lists
Has the Free Report Had Its Day?
Attracting Clients With Incremental Marketing
Cook Up Something Special: How To Create A WOW Experience For Your Clients
How Effective Customer Surveys Will Help Innovate Your Business
Maximizing Your Yellow Page Investment
The Top 10 Ways to Market your Business or Professional Practice Without Networking
Know Thy Competition
Marketing Person You Think You Arent
Strategic Internet Marketing
How to Write Irresistible Promotional Pieces that Attract More and Better Clients
Meaning and Marketing - The Eye of the Storm
How To Use The Og In All Of Us To Make More Money
Always On Stage - 3 Quick Tips for Trade Show Exhibitors
Customer Retention with a Personal Touch
B2B Marketing - Why it Should be Subtle
To All Internet Marketers - How To Get My Business?
Private Practice Marketing: A Soaking Wet Marketing Marvel
2 Little Words That Work Marketing Magic
Mortgage Marketing - What Your Client Wants
Build Relationships
Marketing For Just Cause
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Marketing Tips: Free First
When people think about promoting their business, the first thought... Read More
Lack Of Business Isnt Always The Problem
When you're just starting out in business, it's a safe... Read More
Utilizing Your Best Hidden Asset To Increase Sales
You probably already have in your possession one of the... Read More
Translation and Your International E-Commerce Strategy
Most businesses realize that they are simply a click away... Read More
Using Purchased Leads
A little advice about using leads that you purchase from... Read More
Beyond Fear And Greed: Emotions That Sell
Fear and Greed. The stock-in-trade of sales. Appeal to them,... Read More
Getting Into Marketing Momentum ... The Accelerated Way
GETTING INTO MARKETING MOMENTUM: The 5 Power Principles for Getting... Read More
New Years Planning Critical Success Factors
New Year's is a good time for strategic planning or... Read More
E-commerce : The Bottom of Pyramid Approach
For centuries and most of the decades in the 20th... Read More
A Tool For Selling New Ideas!
Imagine tossing a pebble into a crystal clear pond on... Read More
Marketing is More Than a Token Process
"Necessity is the mother of invention!" The first time I... Read More
Client or Customer? There Really Is A Difference
Some people use the words "client" and "customer" interchangeably or... Read More
Voice Mail Can Be Your Buddy
Voice Mail is a classy name for "answer Machine". Problem... Read More
Get More Clients From Networking - Follow The Rules Of Dating!
If you're a business owner, you probably spend quite a... Read More
How to Set (and Get) the Right Prices
Which product feature of yours is every buyer keen to... Read More
Meaning and Marketing - The Hurricane
I step outside my back door and look at some... Read More
Becoming The Obvious Choice In A Sea Of Competition
Differentiation, niche marketing, and positioning. These and other related business... Read More
AIDA From A Different View - I Call It the 5 Ws
My childhood was my foundation for how I write and... Read More
Marketing Messages: Your 10 Most Important Business Principles
As a self-employed professional, you have two basic strategies for... Read More
Marketing Strategy - Getting the Marketing Groove
Wouldn't it be great to have a year where your... Read More
Unleash the Power of Post Cards
Direct mail marketing is essential for a business to survive.Choosing... Read More
Six Secrets to Creating Successful Tourism Marketing, Websites, Ads, Tradeshow Booths, & More
If you want to substantially increase your tourism prospects and... Read More
How to Discover your Primary Market and Where to Find Them
Whether you market online or offline, you already know the... Read More
Successful Non-for-Profit Fundraising Letters Share Eight Qualities
You'll be encouraged to know that the art of writing... Read More
Judge Rules in Consultant?s Favor with 80-20 Rule
I opened the registered letter and was shocked. My best... Read More
Marketing |