Trade shows are, without a doubt, the most effective marketing tool you that is available to you. These events serve as the ideal platform where you can raise your brand’s awareness in the market, generate sales, and capture new leads and potential clients. But, in order to achieve each of your trade show goals, you need to find the right kind of events where you can set up a booth and reach out to your target audience.

The great city of Orlando is one of the most popular trade show destinations in the country. The year-round pleasant weather and exquisite attractions, such as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, ensure that exhibitors and attendees alike have a great time while they’re in the city. Most importantly, the Orlando International Airport, which is well-connected to the rest of the world, also offers fabulous connectivity to some of the biggest and most popular trade show venues here.

This means that Orlando hosts a number of trade shows every year, so you’re sure to find one that meets your needs. When you’re headed to Orlando for an event, you definitely need to show up at the top of your game. If you’re wondering how to do that, here’s a look at some amazing trade show trends and the statistics that back them up.

Smaller Shows Work Better Than Big Ones

As an exhibitor, if you’re choosing which trade shows you need to attend in a year, chances are you will pick national events over regional ones. Logic dictates that since national shows will be held on a larger scale, you’re more likely to come in contact with more people at these events. But, the statistics don’t quite add up.

While 33% of exhibitors said they did enjoy success at national shows, 53% agreed that regional shows were definitely far more successful. So, if you’ve been marking your calendar with most of the big shows and have failed to enjoy the success you always hoped you’d achieve, now might be the right time to look at regional shows instead.

Trade Show Leads Are the Most Pocket-Friendly

Deciding to participate in a trade show is definitely a difficult decision. One important factor that every brand will think about is the cost. Trade shows are known for being notoriously expensive and some people feel that the returns aren’t worth the investment. But, before you decide that you don’t have the budget to put up a booth at an upcoming show, you need to consider this important fact: The average cost of meeting a lead at a trade show works out to just USD 142. While this number seems high, it’s nowhere near as costly as the USD 259 you may have to shell out to meet a potential client face-to-face in their office.

If you still think the cost of purchasing a trade show booth is out of your budget, you could consider renting one instead. There are a number of companies who will be able to help you design an trade show booth rental Orlando, complete with a private conference room so you can take as many meetings as possible at the event.

Your Display Matters the Most

There’s a reason why every trade show article you read talks about how to create a display that will instantly draw attention to your booth. According to 48% of respondents to an exhibitor’s survey, an eye-catching display is definitely the most effective way to attract attendees to your stand. In addition to this, one-third of exhibitors have noticed that using better graphics enables them to achieve better results. Remember, trade show attendees are not likely to visit every single booth on the show floor.

This means that you have to find a way to draw them in with the graphics and text that you display on your booth walls. You can also include fun props or interactive elements to your booth to drum up interest and pull in a huge crowd. Once you have the attendees there, you can let your sales team wow them. The best way to capitalize on graphics is by opting for an Orlando trade show booth rental over a purchased booth. Rentals come with the full support of trade show experts and also provide you with the flexibility you need to change your graphics or tweak your booth design at every subsequent event.

Salespeople Wow More Guests Than Senior Management

Deciding who should man your booth at an event can be a truly difficult decision. Do you send in sales personnel who are good at their job but may not come across as decision-makers to potential customers? Or do you send in your top brass who may be knowledgeable about the products but not very familiar with selling them? If you’re struggling with this as well, here’s a look at some interesting statistics.

Just 29% of trade show marketers said that senior management made good booth staff. Interestingly, 59% of marketers agreed that salespeople made more of a difference on the show floor. Ideally, if you’d like to have some of your c-suite executives at the trade show, make sure they’re being supported by the crème de la crème of your sales team.

Have Your Own Expert

There are two important ways in which you can promote your brand on the show floor. The first is by handing out the best giveaways at the event. Customized gifts, like 3D-printed action figures of the guest, or useful giveaways, like Bluetooth headphones or speakers, will definitely make you the most popular brand at the event. But, if your budget doesn’t quite stretch that far, you could still get people talking about your brand by having an expert at your booth.

92% of trade show attendees have admitted that they hope to learn something new at these events. If you have an expert who’s willing to engage with people and tell them more about your brand, its offerings, and the market in general, you’re definitely likely to drum up more interest than other Orlando exhibit rentals that are relying on contests, food and presentations to draw in large crowds.

You’re Almost Always Talking to Somebody with Purchasing Power

Far too often, brands assume that the people attending trade shows do not have any decision-making power. This means that more often than not, booth staff assume they’re talking to people who will do nothing more than take note of the brand and its offerings. Sadly, this misconception may have been costing your business for several years now. According to a recent study, roughly 80% of trade show attendees have the ability to make instant purchases. This means that you, as an exhibitor, definitely need to arm your booth with the best possible sales team and ensure that every attendee is treated as an influential and powerful customer.

You’ll Find New People at the Same Show Every Year

If you’ve ever attended the same show for two consecutive years, you may have noticed that the exhibitors are almost exactly the same. This may dissuade from heading back to the show for the third year. But, this could cause you to miss out on some amazing new prospects. While the exhibitors may be the same, the attendees tend to change.

Generally speaking, over 50% of the attendees at any given trade show are attending the event for the very first time. This means that you’re reaching out to a whole new group of individuals every single year. But, that isn’t all. A whopping 51% of attendees have also reported asking sales representatives to get in touch with them or visit their offices after the event. With odds like that, heading back to the same show year after year doesn’t seem like a bad idea – does it?

Getting ready to exhibit at an event like a trade show is far from easy. There’s stiff competition on the show floor and all the big names from your market are likely to be there. But, if you opt for an Orlando trade show displays and learn how to use these trends to your advantage, you could be well on your way to outdoing your competition and emerging as a market-leader.

Remember, when you opt for a rental, you aren’t just cutting down on costs, you’re also allowing yourself to learn from experts in the business who can guide you and enable you to achieve all your trade show goals. Good luck!

Read here – Trade show trends to follow in 2020.