Conventions are and always will be one of the best ways to grow your brand, build your reputation, and generate new leads and opportunities moving forward. Regardless of the type of industry you currently operate in, you won't have to look hard to find a convention that fits your needs. Conventions aren't only excellent networking opportunities -- they're also a great way to attract the attention of potential new customers on a massive scale as everyone in attendance is already interested in products or services like the ones you offer. It's always important to remember, however, that simply showing up to a convention won't be enough. If you want to generate the maximum amount of foot traffic to your booth, you'll need to keep a few key things in mind.
Make Sure People Can Find You
When you sign up for a booth at a convention, you'll likely be given a location by the people organizing the event. This will not only be your own little corner of the event to carve out and do with what you please, but will also be the main way people will find you during the show. The booth number you're given by the convention organizers will be printed in the program that's handed out when people file through the door.
One of the keys to generating foot traffic involves making sure people can find you in the first place. Remember that you'll likely be packed in a section with potentially dozens of other businesses, all fighting for the attention of the people walking by. Things can quickly feel overwhelming for convention attendees with so much going on, so sometimes finding a vendor based on booth number alone is a lot easier said than done. The layout of the convention itself may also make this difficult, especially if sections aren't numbered in any type of logical way.
As a result, you'll want to make sure you have at least one element (like an oversized banner or large poster) that clearly displays your company's name so people can find you, even if they've already gotten lost along the way. Make sure you place it as high above your booth as possible, so people can see it from several aisles away if necessary. Many times, you'll find that just making yourself visible makes a big difference in improving foot traffic to your booth.
Make Sure Your Staff Is Friendly and Approachable
Once people do find you, one of the easiest ways to scare them away is to have people behind your booth who seem like they don't actually want to be there. Conventions are tough on everybody, but can especially be tough on vendors. You're constantly under the gun to set up your booth, deal with your neighbors, make sure all your materials are in order and more. Your staff will definitely be stressed out, but the key is to make sure they never come off that way. Everyone who walks up to your booth should always be greeted with a friendly smile and a sunny disposition. If they're greeted with a negative attitude, rest assured your booth WILL develop a negative reputation that will spread around the convention center as the event goes on.
Conventions are excellent opportunities to grow your business -- provided you're approaching things from the right perspective. Remember, reputation alone will never guarantee convention success. Your reputation will only take you so far. You need to go out of your way to be as warm and inviting as possible to unlock the full business potential of these types of events.
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