Trade Show Marketing Techniques to Boost Your Booth’s Buzz | Flashbay
Autor: Sarah Roberts
So, you've signed up for a trade show to boost your lead gen, sales, or brand awareness. But how do you make the most of this event to get the best ROI? Trade show marketing plays a huge role in making these events worthwhile, so you need to get it right — and with our top tips, it couldn't be easier!
Creating and scheduling one LinkedIn post about your attendance to said trade show isn’t going to spread the word that your brilliant brand and team will be present. You need to generate actual interest and make people want to come and check out your booth.
Social media is definitely important, and it’s the easiest (and fastest) way to let your prospects or customers know you'll be there.
But you should also consider things like holding competitions, doing giveaways, or doing collabs to maximise your reach and engagement.
Whether this is your business's first trade show attendance with a booth, or you want to improve on the numbers you got from your last trade show, our trade show tips will help you generate enough buzz and engagement to justify the cost of the booth rental, and then some.
Pre-Trade Show Event Marketing Tips
While having beautiful trade show marketing materials with banners, freebies, and even interactive screens is a great way to catch people's eye on the day, it isn't enough to get a useful amount of footfall to your booth. And, depending on your budget and competitors, it might not end up being eye-catching at all.
That's why it's important to start generating a buzz about your attendance way before the event rolls around.
Here are our top tips for getting customers and potential leads excited about your trade show presence.
1) Let Your Social Media Followers Know About It
Social media is a great way to let people know you’ll be at a trade show — but the key is to be clever about how you shout.
Posting about your attendance ahead of time gives people a reason to stop by — whether it’s to check out your latest products, ask questions, or just put a face to the name. It’s all about being approachable and ready to connect!
Don’t leave this until the very last minute, as people will need to buy tickets and factor in time to attend. Think about how long you would need to prep for an event and give your followers at least that amount of time to get excited.
Ideas for Social Media Posts
When posting about trade shows on social media, simply resharing the visuals created by the event isn't enough. You need to get people excited to see you there, not just the event in general.
Some ideas for engaging social media posts include:
Showing your booth hosts in their matching branded T-shirts
Asking customers what freebies they'd like
2) Hold Competitions to Generate Leads Before the Event
Running a social media competition is a great way to get people excited and capture leads before your event even starts. Ask your followers to tag your page, share your post, or use a specific hashtag to join in.
Make it fun by offering a prize, like event tickets, exclusive booth access, or a fun t-shirt with your logo or a picture connected to your brand — something that’ll get people talking. Every entry helps boost your reach and gives you chance to collect useful info, like email addresses, through sign-ups or forms.
Then, you can start connecting with these leads before the event and build up some excitement before meeting them in person with their interest already secured!
3) Grow Your Booth Audience With Branded Giveaways
Similarly to holding competitions prior to the big day, offering a branded giveaway that starts online but is drawn on the day in person is a great way to try and guarantee attendance from your audience.
This could be something as simple as entering everyone who shares the news of your attendance at the event on social media into a raffle for an exclusive product. The prize can then be given away from your booth on the day.
Items such as hoodies, T-shirts, and hats consistently rank as some of the most popular branded giveaways. Our Relax Hoodie is particularly popular, especially when paired with our Shade Hat! Use our Photo Printing customisation to make your logo, slogan, or branding really stand out!
Branded drinkware, including eco-friendly reusable water bottles, mugs, and tumblers, is another guaranteed hit. These items are not only functional but also align with eco-conscious trends, ensuring they resonate with attendees.
Our Crew Travel Mug is ideal for busy professionals commuting to and from the office. Or promote an active lifestyle with our Fuel Shaker, all while keeping your brand imagery front and centre.
Of course, tech gadgets like portable chargers, USB drives, or earbuds are incredibly appealing due to their utility and modern appeal. These items often leave a lasting impression thanks to their everyday usefulness, ideal for giveaways with bigger budgets.
Our Mambo headphones or Mini Bee Drone make great, high-value giveaway items that are sure to get people talking about and engaging with your social media and trade show booth.
4) Give Existing Customers Access to Special Freebies
Using your mailing list is a great way to build excitement around your booth. Reach out to past leads and current customers to create a sense of anticipation and exclusivity.
Why not send out a unique code or password they can use at your booth to snag special deals or upgraded custom merchandise? It’s a simple way to reward your loyal audience while boosting booth traffic and engagement.
It’s also a great way to reconnect with previously generated leads and gently nudge them toward signing up as a client.
This strategy not only makes attendees feel appreciated but also helps them connect more with your brand.
Our Merch Packs make great "executive" freebies for leads that sign up on the day or within a certain time frame after the event to help your business reach growth targets for the quarter.
Choose from our Expo Packs or even the Wonderland Pack for a fun and engaging gift that's exclusive for new clients.
We also offer compact merch packs, like the Zone Pack, that conveniently fit into a small tube and are ideal for handing out at trade shows without being cumbersome for clients.
5) Collaborate With Other Trade Show Exhibitors on Giveaways
Teaming up with other trade show exhibitors, especially big-name brands, is a great way to boost your brand’s buzz.
Collaborating on giveaways lets you tap into their established audience while combining resources to offer better, more exciting prizes. It’s a win-win — you’ll draw more traffic to your booth and gain extra credibility by being associated with well-known brands.
Plus, cross-promoting on social media and through email before the event helps you reach even more people.
During the show, the shared visibility makes your presence even stronger. It’s all about working together for mutual success!
Why Do You Need to Market Your Trade Show Attendance?
Promoting your trade show attendance is a must if you want to generate leads and grow your business.
Trade shows are a great way to meet potential customers face-to-face, show off your products or services, and build real connections. By spreading the word beforehand, you can draw in key decision-makers who are genuinely interested in what you offer.
This gives you the chance to talk to the right audience, collect their contact info, and turn those connections into long-term customers.
Being active and visible at the event also shows your business means business, building trust and credibility with potential clients.
With the right marketing, you can make the most of your trade show investment and turn it into real opportunities for business growth.
How Does Trade Show Marketing Strategy Affect Business?
A solid trade show marketing strategy can make a big difference for your business. It’s a great way to boost brand awareness by showing off your products or services to the right audience, and keeping your company top-of-mind in your industry.
Also, trade shows are perfect for connecting with potential clients and generating high-quality leads who are genuinely interested in what you offer.
They also give you the chance to strengthen relationships with current customers and build trust with potential clients or partners.
By tracking your results — like the number of leads you gather or partnerships you create — you can see how a well-thought-out strategy directly helps grow your revenue and sets your business up for long-term success.
Our Individual Naming service can give each unit of your promotional items a unique reference number which can help you track how leads were generated long after the event has ended.
When Should You Start Planning Trade Show Marketing?
If you’re heading to a trade show, it’s a good idea to start planning your marketing for exhibitions about 6 to 12 months in advance.
This gives you plenty of time to figure out which trade shows are the best fit for your business, lock in your booth space, and get your marketing materials ready.
Starting early also means you’ll have time to promote your attendance on social media, through emails, or other platforms, making your marketing at trade shows far more effective.
This also gives you time to prep your team, line up meetings with potential clients or partners, and put together a solid plan to track your results. The earlier you start, the smoother and more successful your trade show experience will be!
Our products aren’t just high-quality — they’re practical too, so your brand stays top of mind with clients and prospects. Adding custom merch to your trade show toolkit is a great way to boost brand recognition and create memorable moments with your audience.
Ready to stand out? Get a FREE quote and check out our catalogue today!
FAQs
How Do You Advertise at a Trade Show?
Start with an eye-catching booth design, some fun branded swag, and engaging displays that grab attention. Keep your messaging clear and to the point. Don’t forget to hype up your attendance on social media and through email before the event, and make the most of the day by actively networking to draw people in!
How Do You Attract Customers to a Trade Show?
Plan some fun activities, hand out useful freebies, and keep your booth welcoming with a friendly team. Promote your attendance on social media and through email before the big day, and make sure your messaging is recognisable as your branding.
Are Trade Shows Beneficial for Every Industry?
Sure, trade shows can be great for most industries! They’re a chance to show off your products, connect with potential clients, and learn more about what’s happening in your field. That said, how effective they are really depends on who’s attending and whether the event is a good fit for your business.
Do Live Events Boost Brand Awareness?
Absolutely! Live events are a great way to boost brand awareness. They let you connect directly with potential customers, show off your products or services, and create experiences people won’t forget. Plus, they build personal connections that add credibility and leave a lasting impression.
Autor: Sarah Roberts
