Trade shows are the perfect time to exhibit your company and your products and services to your prospective customers, right in front of your competitors. Your stand is likely to be surrounded by your direct competitors, so you have to stand out. So how do you do this without breaking the bank? And have you considered every little aspect?

It’s a few weeks leading up to your trade show. You’ve got your stand organised, your wall graphics are almost ready, and you have application forms and suggestions forms ready to go. Is there anything else you haven’t considered? Of course there is – you need something for your visitors to take away. While you may have the most fantastic looking stand in the show, your visitors are likely to forget about your brand after they have left the show if you don’t give them something to remember you by. So you need them to walk away holding something imprinted with your brand, your contact details and what you do. Here’s how:

Brochures and Flyers

Company brochures are a great way to give prospective customers information about your company, it’s history and the products and services you supply. There are many companies available to print brochures, and these can be done relatively cheaply depending on the number you get printed. Don’t forget to include your contact details in the brochure – this can be done as easily as including your business cards. Can’t afford brochure printing? Why not consider flyer printing? Flyers are a much cheaper option and although not as effective as brochures, they are a good way to market your brand.

Promotional Products

There are hundreds of different promotional products available, from promotional stress balls to promotional pens. Office products are usually the best type of marketing merchandise as these are likely to be used by your target market day in, day out (see my post on promotional pens). Don’t giveaway something which is going to be discarded straight away! What else is there to consider when looking for promotional products. Well, never overlook size. Certain promotional products can be big – how much space have you got on your trade show stand to store all of your promotional giveaways? You should consider giving away promotional items which are either small (i.e. promotional flashdrives / promotional USB) or can be folded or stacked effectively to make the most of the limited space on your stand (think promotional t shirts).

Promotional Bags

If you are giving away brochures or promotional items, your customers will need something to carry them in! Promotional tote bags are the perfect way to give your brand that extra bit of exposure. Put all of your promotional giveaways in a branded promotional bag and everyone at the trade show will see people carrying your bags branded with your company logo. They may be interested to know where the bags have come from and will hopefully be intrigued to know what is inside them – a great way of drawing people to your stand without any extra effort.

Last but not least, make sure you wear something which is going to make you stand out as a staff member on your stand. Try wearing something like branded polo shirts or other types of promotional clothing.