There’s no denying that trade shows are all about providing value to both the people who attend and the companies that are exhibiting. They are an incredibly useful tool for exhibitors to connect with potential clients, promote their products and services, and generate leads. But what can be a very exciting experience can often turn out quite differently than expected. It’s important for exhibitors to go into any trade show aware of what may come – from the planning stages all the way through to wrap-up day.

Exhibitors often have grand visions of their trade show booth rental being the center of attention and attracting large crowds. In reality, there can be a lot more competition than expected and you may find yourself competing with other vendors for visitors’ attention. So, while you may go in with a lot of hope, it is necessary to get some reality checks and be prepared for what is there to come.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how expectations of trade shows often contrast with actual reality so that you know exactly what to anticipate when exhibiting at your next big event!

1. Generating relevant leads to increase sales

Expectation
You have high hopes of attracting new leads and engaging in meaningful conversations with your ideal customers at your custom exhibit rental in Orlando trade show.

Reality
The leads you get may be a bit less optimistic. Particularly when there are lots of giveaway items in play, as people tend to mill about trying to collect free goods. They can usually become easily identifiable, furnished with oversized carrier bags that are stuffed with handouts from every expo table. These “trick or treat” attendees often come just for the bounty, not necessarily your offered products or services.

How to meet your expectation
By gaining a deeper understanding of your competitors, you can differentiate yourself and set yourself apart in the market. It will help you get relevant audiences who come with an intent to buy or at least learn more about the products or services you are offering. This includes analyzing your marketing tactics, understanding your customers and observing their responses to your offerings.

You can use marketing channels to connect with your target audience. Using your blog as a platform to inform your target audience about an upcoming trade show is a great idea. To maximize the impact, you can also create a specific landing page that focuses solely on the event and use email campaigns as an additional way to promote it. Personalized emails can be more effective, but generic emails can also be sent. In either case, be sure to include a link to your dedicated landing page for the trade show on your website. And give clear information about your trade show display in Orlando.

2. Audience engagement at trade show

Expectation
Engaging passers-by with info on your amazing products and reeling them in for interesting conversations.

Reality
All you do is hand out all your giveaways to anyone walking by your Orlando exhibit booth without speaking to them.

How to meet your expectations
Finding the perfect balance between having informative conversations and giving enough of your giveaways at an event can be tricky. If you rely solely on conversing with potential customers, you may prevent patrons from experiencing something tangible about your brand. On the other hand, if all you do is give away freebies after they walk past your trade show booth, vital engagement opportunities are missed.

To achieve a truly successful outcome, aim to have conversations with your visitors and make them aware of precisely why they should select your offerings. After doing so, putting memory triggers in their hands such as swag items, coupons or promotional materials will be helpful. Doing both will help ensure that every visitor ends up getting something unique and beneficial from your booth, thus leaving them with a positive vibe!

Furthermore, you can create a comfortable seating area with refreshments and mobile charging stations to encourage people to stay and interact with your brand.

3. Increased brand awareness through merchandise

Expectation
Giving some cool merchandise that reminds people about your brand every time they use or see it. For instance, you get some cool branded portable chargers to hand out at your turnkey trade show booth rental in Orlando. People are going to love them because they can keep their phones charged up while they’re at the event.

Reality
You did not think about how your logo and company info will look on a printed item until you actually see it. At the trade show you will see that the logo on the charger is so small that people would need a magnifying glass to see it. Or at times, certain products you give might end up in trash.

How to meet the expectation
Many exhibitors opt to give away standard items such as pens and keychains, which are often discarded or left behind. Instead, consider providing useful and practical giveaways that won’t end up in the trash. Examples include mobile device chargers, reusable water bottles, and leather notebooks. Creative T-shirts and exclusive offers, such as free eBooks and digital coupons, can also be effective in attracting visitors and promoting your brand.

Also, before the show, always double-check the details and by asking yourself questions such as: Will this font size be readable? Is my logo visibly displayed on this item? Are all of the materials I need, including promotional items, ready to go?

4. Networking

Expectation
Have effortless conversations with industry folks at your trade show display and networking events.

Reality
Finding it difficult to break the ice and start conversations with potential customers and build meaningful relationships.

How to meet the expectation
Networking at trade shows involves more than just promoting your company or product. It is also important to present yourself as a person. Prepare a brief and captivating narrative about your professional journey, highlighting key information such as your current company and what motivated you to join the industry. If you find it challenging to talk about yourself, practice delivering a concise “elevator pitch” about yourself during networking events prior to the trade show.

So no matter how daunting networking might seem at a trade show, don’t get discouraged! With the right strategy in place you can meet your goals of making valuable connections with relevant prospects.

Ready to get started? Get in touch with us!

5. Learning more about competition

Expectation
Investigate  competitors’ marketing tactics and gain insight into their activities at the show.

Reality
You are getting lost in the sea of exhibitors, and are so occupied at your booth that you hardly have any time to see what others are doing.

How to meet the expectation
Trade shows are crowded environments and it can be difficult to capture all the data needed in order to monitor your competitors’ activities. So, you can gain insight into your competitors’ goals by doing research before and after the event. This can include researching the exhibitor’s website or social media presence, looking for press releases that might have been issued, and checking out any videos or podcasts they may have put out related to the event. When you are at the show, it’s important to take notes and pay attention to what competitors are doing, such as booth set-up, signage, advertising material and promotions. Additionally, you can gain valuable information by speaking with attendees who may have interacted with competitors.

At a trade show, there can be a lot of exhibitors competing for visitors’ attention and it can be hard to gain insight into what your competitors are doing. That is why it is sometimes beneficial to team up with another exhibitor who may have different information than you do. By working together and comparing data, both parties can gain valuable insights.

Other things to get expected results from your Orlando trade show booth rental

Trade shows can be an effective way for you to gain visibility and increase sales when done right—but there are also some pitfalls along the way! Before exhibiting at one, make sure you know what kind of leads and sales numbers are realistic expectations versus what might not happen due to other factors like marketing efforts or lack thereof.

Also make sure whoever represents your company understands their role in representing your brand well by doing background research beforehand or else you’ll risk losing potential customers due to lack of knowledge or bad representation skills! Lastly, don’t forget about post-event follow-ups; these emails help solidify relationships between potential customers and representatives while increasing visibility for future events too! With these tips in mind, you can now rest assured knowing you’re prepared for the next big trade show adventure!

Conclusion:

Trust us, trade shows are totally worth it for any business, big or small, startup, organization or nonprofit. Even though it can be pricey to exhibit, the whole experience is worth it. You get to hang out with people who are in the same boat as you and it’s just a really cool vibe. If you haven’t been to one yet, you have to check it out for yourself. Gear up to see what it’s all about!

If you’re exhibiting your products or services at a trade show, you’re going to need an exhibit rental to do it in. And if you’re in Orlando, you’re in luck because we’ve got you covered. Exponents, one of the best trade show rental companies in Orlando, has been making awesome trade show booths designs for over 40 years, and our team is ready to help you make your next trade show the best one yet. Just contact us and we’ll work with you to make sure you’ve got the perfect trade show booth in Orlando.

We know how to design, build, and deliver a booth that’ll make all the other exhibitors jealous. So why settle for a mediocre booth when you can have a 10/10? Give us a call, and let’s make magic happen.