Tradeshows aren’t cheap and neither are the most successful ways to get participants to pop into your booth. Uuughhhh… and who in the world wants to verbally lure people in? Not me. It’s so slimy.
So, I’d like to give you my somewhat educated opinion on what works and what doesn’t.
Let’s start with the little things. At last year’s I Heart Photography event in Glorious Grapevine: As a vendor, I specifically asked for no chairs at our table. Of course, they brought them anyway. However, before I even started moving in, I made them disappear. Why? People are lazy, they will sit, and who wants to approach a booth when most of what they see are the tops of heads? Not me. If the vendor doesn’t want to be at their own booth, why would I want to pay them a visit?
Secondly, I gave away PayDay candy bars. At Calculated Shot (which I was promoting), we teach photographers how to turn their passion into profit. These nutty little offerings are not one of my faves, however, I was surprised by the number of people who were elated to indulge. And after out shooting for the day, photographers were eager for a little protein. We also gave away $100 cash to one lucky winner. Our offerings were not only on-brand but also something people really wanted. Did I mention the bars were full-sized? No koozies here.
Oftentimes when I am stuck on what to give away, I call my friend Donna with the Donna Bender Company. First of all, she has never once tried to sell me a koozie. Better yet, she has very low minimums. And even more better yet (I know, my English teacher would NOT be proud), she is at the forefront of the tchotchkes world and has a background in marketing. With Donna on your side, your giveaways will be on-brand and something people will fight others to get.
Recently for a gay-pride event in Dallas, Match.com hired my friend Kendyl with Louder Experiences to create a fantastic booth. And, um, yes, of course, it got everyone’s attention. After all, who doesn’t want their picture in front of a gigantic neon heart? If you’ve ever perused Legacy West in Plano and seen the glorious installations, she is the woman behind the shopper-stopping creations. Influencers from Dallas to Frisco to even Ft Worth (and actually for Photography by Misty/Louder Experiences/Legacy West’s Black Santa offerings, a lady drove from Oklahoma) flock to Plano when the word (more importantly, the pictures) starts hitting Insta.
Speaking of pictures… offering a gift that keeps on giving is one surefire way to attract attention. Of course, it is important to know your audience. Whether kids are involved or it’s strictly an industry-specific trade show, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a tribe who doesn’t love a photo booth. And when you hire a company like Elevate Events Photobooth Services you don’t even necessarily need an over-the-top backdrop. Although, most photo booth companies offer them and EE will even have one custom-made.
EE isn’t your average PB experience: it’s interactive, demands attention, and lures people in (again and again). It’s also a fantastic way to keep in touch with those who stop by: there’s an option to capture emails and cell numbers. What good is a trade show and the $100s, if not $1000s, of dollars spent if you can’t contact attendees afterward?
If it’s a strictly professional tradeshow where you’ll be advertising your goods and/or services, professional headshots are a fairly inexpensive way to get people headed your way. Large corporations, workforce organizations, and career fair sponsors have hired Photography by Misty to create professional headshots. Everyone today needs an updated headshot. And with 19 years of experience, you can count on well-lit, well-posed portraits that people will be thrilled to use to market themselves and/or their company.
And, yes, tradeshows are still happening. However, as of September 14, 2021, attendance is not what it was in 2019, so it might not hurt to ask for a small discount. Those mid-2000 numbers won’t quite add up.
Hope you found this useful. Until next time…. Muah!!!!
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