Perfect Promotions for Trade Shows

A trade show is the perfect place to get your brand identity out and reach a wide audience of potential customers. Being visible with a booth or table is important but using promotional products to drive traffic, create long-term brand awareness, and generate goodwill is where you see the real return on your marketing investment. From signage, to giveaways, to prizes for booth games, promotional products support your trade show marketing objectives in every way.

Here are some promotional products that can elevate your presence and impact at your next trade show, fair, Farmer’s Market, conference, or event.

Event Booth Signage Package

This total event booth signage package is perfect for a Farmer’s Market, Chamber of Commerce business expo, or other special event. The package includes three different custom pieces, all printed with your logo and message in large print. Items can be used indoors or out. And production is fast – usually less than two weeks. This booth signage set is ideal for drawing in crowds with fun color options and high visibility.

Lanyard

Most trade shows offer name cards or entrance slips, making a branded lanyard a perfect option for a trade show promotion. Sponsoring an event? Think about providing every visitor with a lanyard with your logo. The potential for brand awareness and visibility is tremendous. Lanyards come in several colors and full color imprint is available.

Portable Speaker

This waterproof, bluetooth, portable speaker is yet another fun way to draw attention to your space at a trade show or event. Play fun music and you’ll create an ambience that will attract more booth traffic. Then raffle a few of these sought-after prizes to visitors. One color logo imprint available on the bottom of the speaker.

Table Cover

A table cover is a high visibility item to showcase your logo and brand colors. The cover features a large printable surface for a four-color logo or message that will entice guests and ensure that your logo sticks with visitors and even people merely passing by. It covers four sides of the table (so you can hide boxes underneath) and is machine washable and wrinkle resistant.

Tote Bag

Trade show guests always need tote bags to carry around the business cards, product literature, and giveaways they collect throughout the show. They tend to extend goodwill to the companies that provide these carryalls. This canvas tote is not only a high visibility product that will drive traction to your booth and provide brand visibility long after the event, but it is also practical for storing and carrying your own items at the trade show. These bags are durable, feature a good price point, and allow for a one-color imprint on one side.

Stylus Pens

I have to say, this is one of my favorite pens. It looks so elegant and “expensive” but it’s also really comfortable to write with. And it’s a great price point. Bonus! These customizable stylus pens serve as a high visibility everyday item for trade show visitors. The pens come in a variety of colors and offers a one-color imprint. This pen comes with an attached stylus as well, making it a more versatile product for office and technology use.

Boost your brand and drive more traffic to your next trade show booth or table with these durable, high quality and high visibility items. Your company and customers alike will appreciate and use these items long after the event is over.

I love helping my customers find the right signage, giveaways, and gifts to maximize their trade show investment. For more trade show promotional ideas or to place your order, call us at (847) 398-5500 or email me at dona.blunt@newportpros.com.

Win Your Way to Increased Trade Booth Traffic With a Prize Wheel

If you are looking for a fun, unique, and effective way to drive traffic to your trade show booth and score big at your next conference or event, try a prize wheel! Between the interactivity and the chance to win a cool prize, setting up a game is a great way to stand out among the sea of other booths, keeps people in your booth longer, encouraging attendees to engage with your booth staff.

Prize Wheels Draw Trade Show Booth Traffic

Prize wheels work to draw trade show booth traffic and they definitely encourage people to stop at your booth long enough to learn about your company. Plus, prize wheels are easy and fun for everyone to try. Simply ask trade show attendees to spin the wheel for a chance to win a number of prizes. For those who might not be as coordinated as a skilled bags game player or a prize putter, spinning the prize wheel is a good way to keep the winning barrier low if you’ve got some creative booth prize ideas that are great for generating leads. 

Using Foldable Pocket Guides to Market Your Next Big Event

Big events like trade shows, conferences and conventions are wonderful ways to get your brand in front of the most influential and interested members of your audience. However, for attendees, these events are big, confusing, and there’s often a lot to navigate. There is danger that they might never make it over to your trade show booth to learn about your great products and services or even realized you sponsored the event. So instead of getting lost in the crowd, use that large event to your advantage and wow attendees with branded, foldable pocket information guides that make their life easier. 

Whether you’re hosting an event with tons of booths, sponsoring a conference, or you’re promoting your venue, foldable pocket guides are an ideal way to convey all the information your audience needs about the event in a pocket-friendly, easy-to-carry format.

For trade shows, we love the idea of creating a map of the event with your booth highlighted and some additional information on the surrounding area with places to eat, things to do, and sights to see. You can also add an incentive for people to re-engage with your business after the event with a coupon code or special bonus only offered to event attendees on your foldable product.

For example, TripBuilder Media created a memorable and easy-to-carry handout for an event hosted by The National Association of Elementary School Principals. The handout they designed folds down to smaller than the size of a credit card, yet opened reveals the full event schedule, floor plans of their venue and Exhibit Hall, and also contains other important info attendees should know.

This handout for the The Philadelphia Arts Association, also designed by Tripbuilder Media, shows how you can incentivize people to patronize your business using foldable products. This handout features information about all the Philadelphia Arts Association member museums and contains a special front cover card pocket with an admission discount card tucked inside.

So, what do you think? Does your event lend itself to using a foldable pocket guide to convey information and grab attendee attention? Give us a call for pricing and ideas at 847-398-5500.


More trade show and event marketing ideas:

Get in the Game to Get Sales from Your Next Trade Show Booth
5 Unique Ideas to Drive More Traffic to Your Trade Show Booth
3 Ways to Choose a Branded Promotional Product People Will Love

3 Ways to Choose a Branded Promotional Product People Will Love

There’s a reason branded promotional items are one of the go-to marketing pieces for trade shows, conferences, and other large corporate events. It’s because everyone loves a freebie, right? But just because sought-after promotional products are an easy way to get attention, it doesn’t mean finding the right branded promotional items to market your business is easy. What is the right product that will support your brand well and that people really want to use?

We’ve all seen promotional giveaway items that are uninteresting and are more of a nuisance since “not only do I have to carry this around all day with the rest of my stuff, but then I feel bad about tossing it in the trash when I get home.”

You don’t want to spend all that money on a promotional product just to find out that people throw them away further down the trade show floor. To avoid making any mistakes, here are my top 3 tips for choosing a winning promotional item for your next big event.

Think About Your Audience

Yes, everyone likes free stuff, but in today’s world of marketing, free stuff has become the norm for generating leads. So, because giveaways at trade shows, conferences, and events have become such a mainstay, it takes more creativity to get someone to truly say, “Hey, I want that!”

That means that throwaway, trick-or-treat type of giveaway items just don’t make the cut. You have to think about your audience and what kind of items they find useful, fun, and worthy of holding on to.

Take a deep look in to your ideal customer, and then think of the things they may use while at work and at home. Do they travel a lot? Do many of them work in home offices? What would they keep on their desk? What do they do for fun? Do they have kids?

All of these factors play in to finding a promotional item that your ideal audience will find intriguing instead of unworthy of taking up space in their bag.

Don’t Cheap Out

One thing you might find while searching for a great, useful, and relevant promotional item for your audience is that with quality comes cost.

Yes, more value means more money, but in the long run, these are items you’re using to generate leads, so you need to make sure it’s something that actually…generates a lead.

Don’t be afraid to invest more in a quality product. The ROI will be worth it, because when you spend your marketing budget on cheap and uninteresting promotional items for your audience, you’ve actually thrown money away since those items won’t be bringing you any return. To protect your investment, don't give the promotional product to just anyone who walks in your trade show booth. Make them earn a higher quality item by leaving your their business card, filling out a survey, or winning it in a raffle.

Don’t go for cheap, go for quality, and see the pay off.

Get Your Numbers Right

You might still be concerned about cost, but here’s another thing to keep in mind: don’t overbuy.

Almost every marketing manager or event buyer has experienced the mass surplus of items after wrapping up an event at one point or another, and that just means you didn’t get your numbers right.

When determining how many items to buy, take in to consideration that you may not be coming into contact with every person who will be attending an event. Many people purchase the same number of items as people in-attendance, plus some “just in case” extras, and that’s just a waste of your budget.

Take a close look at past events that were similar in attendance, or start tracking how many people come to your event this year so you have a clearer picture the next time you participate in the event. If you are afraid of underbuying, don't worry about it. If you run out of your promotional item, just collect business cards from the people who are really interested in your product or service and mail it to them later with some product brochures or have your local salesperson hand deliver the item and use it as a chance to tell your brand story.

Keep these three things in mind and I know you’ll have a winning promotional product strategy that gains your audience’s attention, grabs leads, and fits your budget. If you need more help with any of those aspects, please give me a call at 847-398-5500 or shoot me an email at dona.blunt@newportpros.com. I’d be happy to guide you to the perfect items for your audience!

For more trade show marketing ideas, you might like these other posts:

How to Choose the Right Promotional Products to Drive Trade Show Booth Traffic 

Three Ways to Drive More Traffic and Spur More Engagement at Your Trade Show Booth

10 Ideas Using Promotional Products That Will Drive Traffic to Your Trade Show Booth

Our Best-Selling Trade Show Giveaways

Choosing items to giveaway at your next trade show event can be overwhelming just with the sheer number of choices available. After all, at Newport Promotions we have over a thousand products to fit every kind of themed event and type of audience. 

Then consider that you have to factor in your budget, what your audience would like or find useful, and how many items you need. This might put you at a complete loss for what giveaway items to select.

Through years of experience, I’ve found that the best-selling and most-popular branded promotional items and trade show giveaways aren’t always the grandest or most expensive, they’re the items attendees will get the most use out of. 

Here are some of our best-selling items to consider for your next trade show or event. You can’t go wrong with any of these great items: 

Best-Selling Cotton Tote

Between brochures, giveaway items, water bottles and wallets, trade show and event attendees need an easy and non-cumbersome way to haul it all around. Help them out and give them a tote bag.

Our best-selling tote not only provides a huge space for displaying your brand, but it’s also eco-friendly since your attendees are sure to use it time and time again.

Double-Ended Lanyards

Give your trade show booth visitors a way to represent your brand all day long with our double-ended lanyards that have two separate attachments. 

This is the perfect giveaway for any event that requires wearing a badge or holding on to other items such as meal tickets, breakout session tickets, etc. Attendees can keep everything right within reach at an affordable cost for you. 

Custom Trail Mix

Hey, everyone’s got to eat, and unfortunately snacks can be hard to find at many trade show and conference venues. Rather than resorting to overpriced snacks at the closest hotel or venue gift shop, give attendees the energy they need right when they need it. 

With our choices of trail mix, salted peanuts, gummy bears, chocolate covered raisins, jelly beans, and more, there are plenty of options for keeping attendees satiated. 

Unique Refreshing Towel

After your attendees eat their snack, make sure they have a quick and easy clean up! 

Our unique, branded refreshing towels are ideal for trade shows and conferences where lots of hands are being shook and people are touching the same door handles, etc. Give your attendees the peace of mind that they can clean their hands, if a washroom isn’t in sight. 

Portable Battery Charger 

Solve one of the most common problems at trade shows and conferences - providing power! 

It never fails, at every big event you’ll always find attendees sitting on the floor by an outlet looking to boost their battery for another couple hours. And if they’re not sitting by an outlet, they’re looking for one!

Our portable battery charger is budget-friendly and the best way to ensure your attendee’s phones stay charged so they can tweet out praise about your booth or presentation. 

If you’re really looking to wow your conference or trade show attendees, we love the idea of bundling all these best-sellers together for the ultimate welcome and hospitality package. These items are guaranteed to get love from attendees at your booth.

If you would like more help in choosing the best branded promotional items and giveaways for your next trade show or event, give me a call at 847-398-5500 or shoot me an email at dona.blunt@newportpros.com. I’d be happy to guide you to the perfect items for your audience!  

For more trade show marketing ideas, you might like these other posts: 

Get in the Game to Get Sales From Your Next Trade Show Booth

How to Choose the Right Promotional Products to Drive Trade Show Booth Traffic 

Use Personalization to Create Unique and Memorable Promotional Materials 

Get in the Game to Get Sales from Your Next Trade Show Booth

In one of my previous blog posts I talked about using games as a unique, fun and effective way to drive traffic to your trade show booth and score big at your next conference or event. Between the interactivity and the chance to win a cool prize, setting up a game is a great way to stand out among the sea of other booths as well as encourage attendees to engage with your booth staff rather than do a quick look and pass.

Here are four ideas to up your game at your next trade show.

Pull Out a Classic with Cornhole

This Regulation Cornhole Game requires a bit of space, which makes it a great game to set up at an outdoor event where you have a booth set up. One way to set the stakes is if contestants make 3 of 5 throws they win a small prize, and if a player makes all 5 shots they win a grand prize, but of course, you can run the game in any number of ways.

Just make sure your cornhole boards are on brand with your logo and colors. Our cornhole boards feature two sets of four bean toss bags and a 4-color process vinyl logo on a two sturdy 2 ft. x 4 ft. frames, which also come in a variety of colors to fit your brand. You'll be taking this game to every trade show and corporate event for years to come.

Spin the Wheel - The Micro Prize Wheel

Easy and fun for everyone to try, ask trade show attendees to spin the wheel for a chance to win a number of prizes. For those who maybe aren’t as coordinated as a skilled cornhole player, spinning the prize wheel is a good way to keep the winning barrier low if you’ve got some crafty prize ideas that are great for generating leads.

Our Micro Prize Wheel is also ideal if you want a game, but don’t have a ton of real estate at your booth. Our wheel only takes up 14” of space on your table, but at 20” tall, it’s something you know attendees will see and want to spin!

Drop a Puck to Win a Prize

Similar to one of the most popular games on The Price is Right T.V. game show, the Puck Drop Game is sure to get people on board with participating and engaging with your team at your trade show booth.

Set the prize for one or more of the slots at the bottom of the game board and let luck and gravity do the rest. The Micro Prize Drop game includes 3 mini pucks as well as printable templates for adding your company logo to the title insert and your specific prizes to the inserts in the bottom of the board.

Everyone’s a Winner with Prize Toss

With eight customizable prize slots, think of Prize Toss as the game where everyone wins! Since some shots are more difficult to make, those slots should be your high-prized items with the easier shots being your more general giveaways. Our Prize Toss game features a large header area for you to promote your brand, logo, or special event messaging.


Have you ever used a game to draw people in to your trade show booth? What was the basis of the game and were you happy with the results?

If you are looking to drive traffic to your upcoming trade show booth, or see how promotional products can help you meet your marketing goals, give me a call at 847-398-5500 or shoot me an email at dona.blunt@newportpros.com. I'd be happy to consult on a unique promotion for your business.

For more trade show marketing ideas, you might like these other posts:

5 Unique Ideas to Drive More Traffic to Your Trade Show Booth

Here's What to Expect When You Work with Newport Promotions

10 Ideas Using Promotional Products That Will Drive Traffic to Your Trade Show Booth

How to Choose the Right Promotional Products to Drive Trade Show Booth Traffic – Free Ebook

You have a big trade show coming up. You've invested a lot of time and resources and you really want the investment to pay off big with new leads and new sales from existing clients. However, that can only happen if you drive traffic into your trade show booth. You need their attention so you can showcase your products and services, as well as get the opportunity to explain your unique value. So what can you do to make sure your key clients and prospects come see you at your next trade show or conference?

Believe it or not, promotional products can play a huge role in driving traffic to your booth. But I’m not talking about having the latest and greatest freebies or giveaways, although that is proven to get people to stop by your booth. I’m talking about thinking creatively and using promotional products to support a trade show marketing campaign that puts your booth on the “Must See” list for attendees.

To help you maximize the Return on Investment from your next trade show, feel free to download my ebook on “How to Choose the Right Promotional Products to Drive Trade Show Booth Traffic.” It’s designed to walk you through some essential questions to help you think creatively and be strategic about building your brand and business at your next trade show, conference, or event.

If you like this free resource, feel free to share it with your colleagues. 

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10 Ideas Using Promotional Products That Will Drive Traffic to Your Trade Show Booth

5 Unique Ideas to Drive More Traffic to Your Trade Show Booth

Use Personalization to Create Unique and Memorable Promotional Materials

10 Ideas Using Promotional Products That Will Drive Traffic to Your Trade Show Booth

You have a big trade show coming up. You've invested a lot of time and resources and you really want the investment to pay off big with new leads and new sales from existing clients. However, that can only happen if you drive traffic into your trade show booth. You need their attention so you can showcase your products and services, as well as get the opportunity to explain your unique value. So what can you do to make sure your key clients and prospects come see you at your next trade show or conference?

Believe it or not, promotional products can play a huge role in driving traffic to your booth. But I’m not talking about having the latest and greatest freebies or giveaways, although that is proven to get people to stop by your booth. I’m talking about thinking creatively and using promotional products to support a trade show marketing campaign that puts your booth on the “Must See” list for attendees.

Over the past two years I have shared several ideas on how to use promotional products to create buzz and drive traffic to your trade show booth. Here are 10 of my favorites that will hopefully inspire you to think creatively in how you market your company to drive traffic to your trade show booth.

PRE-SHOW PROMOTIONAL IDEAS

1. See how a simple dot provides enough incentive to drive people to a trade show booth.

2. Mail your customers and prospects countdown timers before the show. Have them bring their timer to the trade show booth to win a prize.

3. Leave your customers and prospects wanting more by mailing them half of a promotional item. They’ll need to visit you at the show to get the other half.

GENERATING TRADE SHOW BOOTH BUZZ 

1. Offer this service and you will have a line of people waiting to get into your booth.

2. Read how one company charged up their trade show booth traffic and saw a huge ROI for their efforts.

3. While this is a not a new idea, this tried and true promotional offering is highly valued by show attendees.

4. Hosting a hospitality event at a trade show or conference? This is a fun way to boost your brand and get people networking.

5. Here’s a game that will get attendees going to find their friends and co-workers to bring them back to your trade show booth.

6. Challenge your visitors with a scavenger hunt that will have them visiting your booth multiple times.

7. Finally, score some big traffic by playing a golf-themed game in your trade show booth.

You can find a lot more of our ideas on our Trade Show Marketing board on Pinterest or give me a call at 847-398-5500 to brainstorm the perfect promotion to drive traffic and generate leads. Rather email? Shoot me a message at dona.blunt@newportpros.com.

Make 2015 the year that your trade shows really pay off.

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Photo Credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/profile_tixti'> / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Custom Promotional Items Help Differentiate Your Brand

You need a promotional item to hand out at your next trade show or event. You want an item that advertises your company name, product or service but that people will remember and keep. You are flipping through catalogs or looking at promotional products on Pinterest and aren't inspired. Nothing you look at really helps to tell your brand story or showcase your product or service. Sound familiar?

Try looking at it a different way. Instead of looking at what is available and trying to make it fit, why not design EXACTLY what you need instead?

If you are tired of the "same old" items or don't want to use promotional items that really don't relate to your products or services, then you may want to consider creating a custom promotional item. With all of the new production techniques available, there are more options for customization than ever.

Now, custom designed items don't work for everyone as they often require new tooling and extended lead times to get them created, produced and delivered. However, they are worth investigating to see if they will support your marketing objectives. For the biggest conference of the year or to support your most important new product launch, a custom designed promotional item might be just want your company needs to stand out and get noticed. It's worth the investment.

Here are some examples of companies that created custom promotional items to help them build their brand.

Mini Manufacturing Robots

FANUC USA builds manufacturing robots. As you can imagine, it is not easy bringing a full size robot to a trade show for demonstrations nor is it always practical to bring a customer to one of its facilities to see one close up.  But what about a miniature version that moves and pivots the way the full version does?

That is exactly what was created from FANUC's original CAD drawings. This 6" miniature version of their manufacturing robot can serve as either a demonstration piece or as a fun commemorative item to gift to a customer to remind them of their visit to the facility or after a sales demonstration. (Plus, customers' kids love them, so they get saved.)

This was a very complex custom item.The lead time and molding charges will not work for everyone's budget, but perhaps this may be good way to show your equipment in action.


Historical Homes

If you think manufacturing robots are too large to carry around, what about a whole house?  The Rolling Meadows Historical Society in Illinois wanted something different to help visitors remember their tour and the town's important contribution to local architecture. The Society decided to  recreate their 1950's house museum in miniature to sell in their museum shop. Created from photos of several different existing houses that retained the original 1950's design, this miniature is a 3-D replica of the style of houses built in their city, including the landscaping!

Is your company located in a historic building or do you want to promote the unique style of buildings in your community? Then creating  miniature promotional models could be a great way to show them off and even earn a little money if you decide to sell them.

Unique Product Design

Do you produce a very uniquely designed product that you want to replicate in a giveaway? Create a mini version then. Or, do you just want to create a unique promotional product that your customers and prospects will love and actually use for maximum brand exposure? Go custom!

Another example of a custom promotional item is this miniature 3-D tow truck sculpture from D & R Towing.  Given to key clients and referral sources, this makes for an unusual desk or credenza display item that will be kept for years, reminding the recipient of the advertiser. 

So, to recap, if you have a product that is large, uniquely designed, or you really want a marketing item that stands out and gets remembered, a custom promotional product could be exactly what your business needs.

To learn more about custom promotional products or start brainstroming ideas, give me a call at 847-398-5500 or shoot me an email at dona.blunt@newportpros.com.

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Looking for an inexpensive trade show booth giveaway that attendees will love and use daily? How about making their smartphones or tablets easier to use?

One of the phone accessories that people enjoy using is a raised "dot" that sticks to the home button on smartphones.  It's useful for phone users in that it gives them a more tactile way to find their essential Home button. It's also an opportunity to personalize a phone or tablet so you don't mistakenly pick up someone else's device.  Part of the Dot's popularity is that it attaches with a special 3M Brand adhesive so it it is easily removable and doesn't leave a sticky residue.

For marketers, it's a chance to offer value and get your brand in the hands of your customers and prospects. Although the Dot is small, you can pack a lot of brand message into the giveaway. Here's how: The Dot can be distributed on a custom-printed card, with provides plenty of room for your marketing message. There are custom card options to accommodate one dot or a larger card with two dots.

Not only are these great trade booth handouts, but the item can be used in advance of the show to drive traffic to your booth. For example, a Dot on a custom-printed card was sent out as a pre-show mailing to customers and prospects with the message "Spot the Dot."  The mailing told show attendees if they brought their phone to the booth during the trade show hours with the Dot attached, they would receive a special promotional offer on a future order. Make the incentive attractive and you could have a traffic jam in your trade show booth.

The product's raised surface works with either the round "home" button on iPhones or with the rectangle home button on Android models.  Both the Dot itself and the custom card can be printed in 4CP to showcase your logo and brand information in full color.

Give me a call today at 847-398-5500 or shoot me an email at dona.blunt@newportpros.com to talk about pricing for the Dot or brainstorm other ideas to drive traffic to your next trade show booth.

For more ideas on how to create buzz or drive traffic to your trade show booth, check out my Trade Show Marketing Ideas board on Pinterest.


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Polish Your Way to Trade Show Booth Success

There are several companies who can set-up a shoe shine stand in your booth, but is it a good idea?

You bet! PPB magazine, a magazine for the promotional products industry, published a case study that illustrated a successful use of this unique promotional idea. A medical imaging company, whose customers are primarily male, set up two shoeshine stands in their trade show booth. Their booth staff wore aprons to highlight the theme and they invited customers to climb up for a complimentary shoeshine. Don't worry, the shoe shine was done by a professional shiner.  You don't need to have expert shoe shiners on staff to make this work for you.

While this is a unique, traffic-building idea, you may be thinking, how does this help my brand? It does! The great twist to this promotion was that the prospects were given a custom-printed newspaper to read while their shoes were being shined. Of course the newspaper content contained the exhibitor's marketing and product messages. Then, upon completion of the shoe shine, the prospects were also given a tote bag with the company's logo to store their newspaper plus a company-branded tin of shoe polish.

This promotion was beneficial for all parties--the weary trade show attendees had a chance to slow down and rest while their shoes were being shined and the exhibitor had a captive audience with an opportunity to tell its story. In this example, the company was able to generate 69 leads, which resulted in $100,000 in new sales the following year.

Could your prospects use a little pampering? If so, this could be a good way to attract people to your trade show booth. For additional promotional products to use to promote your brand, try shoe shine cloths, shoe polish, shoe horns, travel shoe bags, or full Dopp Kits. All of these items can be printed or embroidered with your logo.

Interested in implementing this idea or want to brainstorm some other unique traffic building trade show promotions? Give me a call at 847-398-5500 or email me at dona.blunt@newportpros.com to get started.

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A Tried and True Idea to Drive Traffic to Your Trade Show Booth

Ever hear of the expression "what is old is new?" Sometimes new isn't always better when it comes to marketing ideas. In fact, we've seen that this expression applies to improving response at your trade show booth. Instead of always looking for something new and unique to draw people to your trade show booth, sometimes sticking with a classic idea that works is your best strategy.

Although not a new idea, the tried and true laminating machine could be a great addition to your trade show booth to get traffic. It's so simple yet it provides tremendous value to both you as a lead generation tool and to the attendee.

The way it works is that when a prospect comes to your booth you ask them for you two of their business cards. You insert one of their business cards into a clear plastic pouch which already includes a card created by you with your brand and business information. You then run the plastic pouch with both their card and your card through the laminating machine to turn it into a luggage tag. Their business card is shown on one side of the tag and your business information card is on the reverse side. But business travelers love it because it provides them with an easy to read luggage tag. 

What do you do with their second business card? The second card is retained by you, giving you their contact information to upload into your lead generation and sales management software. 

Although the lamination process only takes a minute or so, that time will give you a moment to talk to the prospect, allowing you to qualify them and to give your booth marketing speech. Both of you are receiving something of value; thus creating a win-win situation.

The laminating machine is affordable and it can be either purchased, if you attend a lot of trade shows it would be worth the investment or many conference management companies rent them for the duration of trade show.

The pouches for the luggage tags are inexpensive. You can make a luggage tag for a visitor for $0.50 each, which is a lot of value compared to the cost. After the show, the machine can create luggage tags for visitors to your facility or bring it to other networking or charity events. These tags are great for identifying luggage, briefcases, tote bags and back packs.

Trade Show Tip: If you are attending a large trade show where there will be a lot of traffic, you should consider designating a specific person to operate the machine in order to keep the lines moving and to encourage booth visitors.

I can help you purchase the laminating machine and customize your card to show on the back of the luggage tag so give me a call at 847-398-5500 or email me at dona.blunt@newportpros.com. I'm ready to help you generate more leads for your trade show investment.

Have you ever received a laminated luggage tag at a trade show? Do you still use it?

Boost Your Brand with this Trade Show Hospitality Event Networking Idea

Walking into a networking event at a trade show or conference is hard for a lot of people. A large room full of clusters of new people can be intimidating. So, here's a fun and inexpensive idea to make networking easier and more fun for conference or trade show attendees while creating tremendous goodwill for your brand.

Everyone has seen these name badge stickers "Hello, my name is ...", right? The intention is to break the intimidation factor and get conversations started on a first name basis with people you have yet to meet. Or, perhaps to refresh your memory of someone whose name you have forgotten.

But what about putting a twist on this old standby to help people break the ice even further by doing something like this?

Customize the name badge with an ice-breaking and attention-grabbing question! Which of the two will create a bigger interaction? Talking about movies would be a non-threatening, lively conversation starter. Or play a game at the event by asking people to circulate looking for someone else who chose the same movie. If you find a match, you can come up and win a prize. The attendees can then spend time discussing why they like the movie, which then leads to an opportunity to talk about their business and network.

You don't need to go with movies, though. Some other discussion topics might be "My First Job Was"; "My Favorite Ice Cream flavor Is"; "My Favorite Thing About This Company Is", "My Hobby Is," etc. The list is endless and is only limited by your imagination. Ask a question that relates to your industry even, like "Hello, I think the biggest trend for our industry in 2014 will be ..."

These name badges are a perfect low-cost vehicle for putting your company name and logo front and center as part of sponsoring a networking event. Imagine how many times your logo will be viewed! More importantly, by adding a fun twist to the event, you'll create some goodwill for your company brand.

Next time you are asked to sponsor an event, see if you can add in these name badge labels to the mix to build a favorable buzz about your company while livening up the event.

Want to get some started today? Give me a call at 847-398-5500 or email me at dona.blunt@newportpros.com.


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7 Steps to Prepare for a Successful Trade Show Season

With the start of the new year begins the start of the new trade show season. You are poised for your business to grow in 2014 and investing in exhibiting at trade shows or attending key industry events will be key to helping you secure new business. Knowing that, whether you are a rookie or a pro, it pays to be prepared; here are seven plan-ahead items for your Trade Show To-Do list.

1.) Create an "Emergency" kit.  Whether you or your salespeople are manning the trade show booth, you need to put your best face forward when meeting new prospects or existing customers. Handy items such as an eyeglass repair kit, a stain remover pen, mini first aid kit, lint brush, and sewing kit are all helpful for those unexpected situations that may crop up that distract your from you goal of marketing your business.


2.) Prepare a Business Necessities kit.  First thing in the kit - DON'T FORGET YOUR BUSINESS CARDS! On top of that, make sure that you bring a sufficient quantity. Whether you are using business cards for obtaining show information, entering a booth drawing or at other networking events, you'll want to have business cards with you at all times. Other important components to this kit are a pen for taking notes, a back-up battery for your phone, hand sanitizer, lip balm and even basic supplies such as paper clips and a small stapler.

3.) Pack a written schedule, flight and hotel confirmations, and any maps. In case the unthinkable happens, like your phone becomes lost, stolen or inoperable, it is good to have a written back-up data to keep you on track.

4.) Enjoy the flight.  Make it easier to cope with delays or long flights by bringing along your own entertainment either work-related or for personal enjoyment.  This is a great time to catch up on reading, playing games or watching a film on your own device.  If the flight will be long, consider packing a neck pillow, eye shades or headsets. 

5.) Prepare for long days on the trade show floor.  Pack comfortable shoes--whether you are walking or standing in a booth, shoes that seem comfortable at home may not be so after 6-8 hours at a show.  Also remember to bring hand sanitizer, mints, a phone/tablet charger and some cash for cash-only purchases, coat checks or tips.   Definitely bring a bag or briefcase to carry any samples or paperwork that you need in the booth or for transporting literature home.

6.) Dress for Success:  Inquire if there are events that require specific styles of dress, such as a formal dinner or a casual themed party. Check the upcoming weather forecast; it's not unusual to have wide fluctuations in temperature during the winter months, so be ready for the weather conditions with your clothing choices. Even if your destination is hot, consider that it might be cold inside the convention hall so bringing a light sweater might be a good idea.

7.) Plan to network.  Most trade shows offer a variety of networking events, both within the context of the show and as events away from the trade show floor. Check out any fun runs, golf events, after-show parties or breakfast events and be sure to register in advance if required. These are great opportunities to meet prospects or potential partners since the setting is smaller and more intimate. Leave time open in your schedule for impromptu get-togethers with old friends and new people. 

Are there marketing opportunities for your company in trade show preparations?  You bet! If you want to win points with potential clients, send out an emergency kit with your logo in advance of the show--it's easy to brand first aid kits, sewing kits, lint brushes and eyeglass repair kits.  Or create a case and place your literature and booth number within the kit. Let them know that if they come to your booth, they will receive a free giveaway or the rest of the valuable contents of the kit.

Travel items, such as luggage tags, back-up phone batteries, lip balm, hand sanitizers, neck pillows, ear phones and eye shades can all be branded.  Mail these out in advance of the show to build awareness and pre-market your company. It's easier to get your message heard before the crowded show even starts.

Networking items such as business card cases and business card files are great ways for people to transport cards back home until the data is entered into their electronic devices.

Find out if you can distribute branded items at a the fun run or golf events or if your company can be the bag sponsor. The advertising manager for the trade show will be happy to discuss any marketing opportunities with you.

What about a mini "desk in a box" for handy office supplies as a pre-show or show promotional item? The items in the box are all universal and are sure to please your customers and prospects.

I'd be happy to share ideas on how to make your trade show marketing more effective in 2014. Give me a call at 847-398-5500 or email me at dona.blunt@newportpros.com. Here's to your success in 2014!

A Powerful Promotion to Create Trade Show Buzz

Want to create buzz at your next trade show that will not only get your more booth traffic but will have attendees bringing their friends back to your booth?  Here's a proven promotional idea that can work for you to get you that trade show booth traffic you want. It all starts with a wristband.

The Tabbed Wristband Promotional Trade Show Game

Here's how it works:

When a prospect comes into your booth, you scan their name badge and then give them a promotional wristband, like the one above. Then, rip off one of the numbered removable tabs to put into a drawing. Simple enough, right? But here's where the viral marketing or the buzz comes in - the attendee is told that if they would like to increase their chances of winning they should bring two additional people back to the booth. When they bring back another person, an additional tab (one for each new person that they bring) will be removed and entered into the drawing. Their friend will also receive a wristband and the whole process begins anew.

Here are some tips to make this promotion most successful for you.

Have a great prize.
This traffic building promotion is most effectively used with a desirable door prize, like an e-tablet, e-reader, noise cancelling headphones, or other coveted electronic device. We have plenty of ideas for you on what items people want to win most.

Must be present to win.
Tell people that they must be present at the time of drawing to win. That way people will be returning to your booth and you'll be able to briefly reintroduce your company before the winning number is pulled. Also, more people will wander over to see why there is a crowd in your booth.

Ron Williams, a trade show exhibitor from Minnesota, shared that this promotion worked incredibly well for his company.

"We told them our 30-45 second spiel and within seconds, they are gone looking for people. It allows visitors to do their own networking. Our booth traffic increased over 250%; our quotes increased 275%."

This is great way to leverage the power of the people by providing a strong incentive for your prospects to talk about your company and refer their friends back to your booth. A true example of customer engagement! So if you are looking for a viral marketing idea with a strong ROI, consider this tabbed wristband trade show promotion. It looks likes an innocuous vinyl wrist band but it has hidden powers. It has the power to attract prospects to your trade show booth, giving you an opportunity to share your story.

For more information about this buzz-worthty promotion or other trade show traffic builders, contact me at 847-398-5500 or at dona.blunt@newportpros.com.


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