Trade shows can be an amazing opportunity, but it’s no good if person after person walks past the booth without stopping. The key to having a successful trade show is to get as many people to stop by the booth as possible, and there are a number of ways to do this. Some of the newest ideas for ways to attract more people during the trade show include the following.
Create an Attractive Booth
The key is to create an attractive booth. Most are just tents with tables underneath, with maybe a few displays to let visitors know what the business has to offer. A lot of them look the same, even though they’re for very different types of companies. When designing a trade show display, go beyond the basics. Create a booth that looks amazing, that stands out against the competition, and that offers things that people can’t find elsewhere at the trade show. This will encourage them to stop by and take a look.
Consider Live Shows
Don’t forget about customers who can’t make it to the trade show. Have a live show to showcase everything that’s happening at the booth. Those who hear about what’s happening through the live show or from friends and family may be more willing to stop by the booth. Plus, those who are at the trade show might enjoy being a part of the live show, so they’ll be sure to stop by the booth during filming. They might even get more people at home to watch and see them when they’re on the live show.
Have Games for Visitors
Games are always a great way to bring new visitors to the booth. A spin wheel makes it easy for visitors to win something small, and the gift they win can be branded to help boost the branding for the company. Have contests for something bigger to encourage people to sign up for a mailing list. Anything fun that people will enjoy can help encourage them to visit the booth. If there is a chance they’ll win a prize, they’ll be more likely to stop, sign up for more information, and interact with the booth.
Use Interactive Touchscreens
Touchscreens are a great way to make the booth more interactive. Many people will be willing to check out an interactive touchscreen to learn more, even if they might not stop by the booth otherwise. Use the touchscreen to teach them about the business, let them play fun games, or potentially win a prize related to the business. They’ll have a lot of fun on the touchscreen and will get the opportunity to learn about the business.
Create a Photo Booth
Encourage visitors to stop by and take photos in the booth. Everyone loves a good selfie spot and will enjoy taking photos at a specially designed photo booth. Use different backgrounds, props, and more to create an amazing photo booth that visitors will enjoy using. This can also be used for branding if the background or props have the company logo on them. Consider an instant-print camera that can automatically add branding when it prints photos for visitors.
Set Up a Coffee Bar
There’s a lot to see and do at trade shows, so it’s no surprise that many people need a little bit of a pick-me-up. A coffee bar encourages more visitors to stop by, grab something to sip on, and check out the booth. They’ll enjoy being able to have a hot cup of coffee with any ingredients they enjoy. To do this, though, make sure to have any permits and follow local health regulations.
Have a VIP Lounge
Consider having a VIP lounge where visitors can sit and relax, getting a quick break from the trade show. They’ll be more interested in the booth and what the company has to offer, and they’ll have a quick break that gives them the energy they need to make it through the rest of the trade show. Consider only letting people who sign up take a break in the VIP lounge to encourage more people to sign up for more information.
Have a Charging Station
Phones are going to lose battery as visitors to the trade show do live shows for others, take photos and videos of what they see, text others, and post to social media. A charging station is an excellent way to bring in more visitors, as many people at the trade show will appreciate a way to charge their devices while they check out the booth. Don’t forget to have a variety of chargers available so any device can be charged easily and quickly.
Design a Social Media Wall
A live display for related social media posts can be a great way to encourage more interaction with the booth. Consider a screen that automatically shows the latest posts with a specific hashtag. Those who take a photo with the booth and upload it to social media could get the opportunity to see themselves on the screen. This can be a ton of fun and can help encourage more people to visit the booth, take photos, and share information about the booth with others.
Play a Trivia Game
Trivia games are a fantastic way to get attention from visitors, encourage interaction, and give away branded materials. Have a selection of trivia questions ready, ranging from easy to hard, and give away small gifts for a correct answer. Larger giveaways can be given to those who answer multiple questions correctly, encouraging people to learn as much as possible about the business to get the largest price.
If you’re worried about attracting more people to your trade show booth, try out some of these ideas. Anything that can help grab their attention, things they might not find at other booths, will encourage them to stop and learn more about your business. With the right setup, you’ll have an incredibly successful booth and be able to bring in new customers for your business.
