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. 

Small Promotion Yields Big Results at Trade Show

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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Recharge Your Trade Show Booth Traffic

Having trouble getting people to stop by your trade show booth?  Have you given people a reason to stop and step into the booth? Are you frustrated that attendees are too busy checking their messages on their phones to really pay attention to exhibitors at the show?

Don't get frustrated, work with it. Why not provide them with something of value to get them to stop by. What would happen if you provided a stopping point for people to hang out at your booth WHILE they checked their messages?

The recent 2014 Chicago Auto Show had such an area for attendees; providing re-charging for both body and electronic device.

Genius! Not only do you get people to come into your booth to recharge their phone but you'll get them to stop and linger to recharge their bodies. That's an opportunity for you since they will linger long enough to hear about your business value. Could you put something like this in your next trade show booth?

Don't think that this type of stop is for major shows only. You don't need to have a major structure built that takes up a lot of space in your booth like the station above. You can provide a similar Charging Stop with just a table, a power source, plus a chair or two.  The person stopping will not only be grateful to be able to continue to use their phone, but they will also be a captive audience for your booth presentation.

Another twist to build on this theme of recharging is to give your key clients or trade show visitors a branded portable power source that they can take with them. Once they have recharged their phones and heard your business pitch, hand them a power source to go. These Emergency Chargers store power after plugging them into a computer or other power source. Then use your phone charging cable to recharge your phone battery so you can keep using your phone when the phone's battery has lost power. Your clients will not only be grateful when they receive this useful item, but this is a promotional product they will hang on to. They will continue to be reminded of your company each time that they recharge their phone. Once you have used this type of item, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!

For some pre-trade show marketing, send an email or direct mail blast to your VIP customers inviting them to come to your booth to recharge. By letting them know that they could get one of these valuable devices by visiting your booth, they will make stopping by your booth a priority.

If you are interested in a quote on these promotional Emergency Phone Power Chargers or want some additional ideas on how to draw more traffic to your trade show booth, give me a call at 847-398-5500. Or, shoot me an email at dona.blunt@newportpros.com.

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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?

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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Have you got an important trade show coming up? Did you invest a huge amount of your marketing budget in this one show and you really need to make an impact? Well, one of the most important lessons I have learned in exhibiting myself and helping my clients promote their business at trade shows is: Just because you put up the booth, it doesn't mean they will come. 

Time and again I've seen so many small companies spend so much of their effort and investment on the booth itself but they forget the most important part of trade show marketing which is drawing people to the booth so you have an opportunity to grab a lead and make a sale. You need to start marketing and driving traffic to your booth well before the trade show starts.

To help you make your next trade show a HUGE SUCCESS, here's a round-up of 5 unique ideas to drive more traffic to your trade show booth.

1. A Buzzworthy Campaign - Turn your next trade show into a Scavenger Hunt. You'll get everyone talking.

2. Countdown Timer - Mail your customers and prospects countdown timers before the show. Have them bring their timer to the booth to win a prize. This post has a lot of great ideas for drawing traffic to your booth.

3. Leave Them Wanting More - Mail your audience half of a promotional item before the show starts. Make them come to your trade show booth to get the other half.

4. Score Big with Games - See how Herr Foods used a golf promotion to get tons of trade show traffic and increased sales.

5. It's All In the Swag Bag - Swag bags are hugely popular with trade show attendees and an easy way to draw traffic to your booth and create buzz. There are ways to do it that won't cost a fortune. We'd be happy to share ideas.

To get started on a promotion to drive traffic to your trade show booth, give me a call at 847-398-5500 or email me at dona.blunt@newportpros.com. We've got a lot of Memorable Trade Show Promo Ideas on Pinterest. Feel free to follow me and share!

What trade show traffic driving promotions have you seen that were incredibly effective?