The success of trade shows has meant an ever increasing number of them are available to attend each year. While it’s good to know that exhibiting at a trade show will enhance your company profile and increase sales, the vast number of trade shows that are around means it can be a little difficult choosing one that is the most appropriate for your needs.

Exhibiting at a trade show can be fairly expensive, but that’s not an issue if new business targets are met and you get a good supply of new leads and referrals. However, choose the wrong trade show and it can be a very expensive failure.

You need to set aside plenty of time to research all the various trade shows that will be setting up in your location during the year. However, before you start researching trade shows, work out with your colleagues exactly what you expect to achieve from exhibiting at a trade show. For example, maybe you want to concentrate on selling products, or perhaps you want to get new prospective customers which you can sell your products and services to later? A lot depends on the type of products or services you provide, but the trade show must attract a target audience that fits your company’s business model.

When you have got a clear outline of what you want to achieve it time to commence the research to find the most appropriate trade show event. Visit the websites of trade shows that you feel fit into your company’s profile. Read any independent reports and reviews. See which companies exhibited the previous trade shows and then contact them; you can learn a lot from getting in contact with previous exhibitors. If they were disappointed they will tell you why and if they felt it was a success then they will let you know.

Next, ascertain how many competitors will be attending. You can get this list from the trade show organizers, if it isn’t on their website. Check whether the expected number of people attended; there’s nothing worse than a half empty trade show floor. Check out whether there are going to be exhibitors at the trade show that complement your own company’s business; complementary businesses at the same show will enable you to get referrals.

Once you are satisfied that the trade show covers your area of business and that previous events were successful you need to get yourself booked in and to sort out your booth space. Try to get booth space that is not in a line that is full of competitors. The ideal place is amongst booths whose businesses complement yours. They will be pleased you are next door and you can set up a referral system in advance to maximise visitors to your booth.

Advance planning is one of the key factors to making a trade show event successful, but researching trade shows also ensures that you make the correct decisions, maximize the chances of success and minimize the chances of failure.

Written by Lawrence Reaves for Exhibit Deal – http://www.exhibitdeal.com/ – who specialize in the manufacture and production of trade show displays, digital signage, large format graphics, and an unending collection of accessories that are superior in today’s market.

Written by Lawrence Reaves for Exhibit Deal – http://www.exhibitdeal.com/ – who specialize in the manufacture and production of trade show displays, digital signage, large format graphics, and an unending collection of accessories that are superior in today’s market.

Author Bio: Written by Lawrence Reaves for Exhibit Deal – http://www.exhibitdeal.com/ – who specialize in the manufacture and production of trade show displays, digital signage, large format graphics, and an unending collection of accessories that are superior in today’s market.

Category: Marketing
Keywords: trade, show, booth, exhibit, sales, marketing, exhibits, business