Yours truly once attended an art supplies trade show in the wonderful state of Ohio. As I walked onto the show floor, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of trade show displays that were set up. Where to start… Where to start…
To the left, there was a booth displaying drawing pads and similar items—though I had to stare for a bit to determine even that. The person running the booth was staring off into space. To my right, I spotted a booth showing off their watercolor paints. Their backdrop was colorful but not overwhelming, and the person manning the booth was attentive and cheerful. They even had a watercooler for visitors to stay hydrated with. It was a nice touch that kept with their theme. I knew where to start.
The point is, if you’re spending the time (and money) to set up a trade show booth, it needs to let guests know that your booth is worth visiting. It might even be one of the best trade show displays at the event—they’ll just have to stop by to find out.
Today, we’re going to discuss some strategies to make that happen, from great trade show booth designs to giveaways and interactivity.
Prioritize Good Trade Show Booth Designs
As evidenced by my visit to the watercolor booth, one of the first things your customers notice is your booth’s visual design; a first impression to a first impression, if you will. That’s why it’s so important to make it count!
While adhering to your brand—which is equally important—use bold colors and text that’s large enough to read from a distance. High-resolution images are paramount here, as pixelated visuals stand out like a sore thumb in trade show displays.
In addition to quality imagery and other eye-drawing visuals, unique shapes can really make trade show booth designs stand out. Maybe include an overhead sign, tall structures, or even a unique entryway.
Incorporate Interactive Elements
So you’ve drawn a visitor in. Now to make it worth their time. Keep them engaged with interactive features!
- Offer product demos, presentations, or kiosks that let them browse at their own pace.
- Include QR codes in your printed materials. Link them to landing pages or giveaways (more on that shortly).
- Give your visitors chances to participate rather than just browse with their eyeballs. Let them try out a product or ask them to answer a brief poll.
These kinds of interactive elements will keep visitors engaged and interested. They might even tell other people to visit you if you make the experience memorable enough.
Offer Branded Trade Show Giveaways
Everyone loves a giveaway. It’s like a raffle without a monetary buy-in, so what’s not to love? At the very least, offering trade show giveaways generates a bit of buzz. But if you plan them well, they can do so much more; they can reinforce your brand presence and make you a standout vendor!
Make sure the rewards are something people will want. Plenty of companies give away tote bags, water bottles, and portable phone chargers, but those things often end up in the trash shortly after the show ends. We would even go so far as to say offering the “standard fare” could make your business look lazy. Put some effort into offering things that really make sense with your brand while remaining useful to your recipients.
Say you own a marketing company. Consider giving away branded ring lights or phone-adapted mini microphones. If you’re a therapist, consider offering branded pocket tissue boxes.
You could also use your giveaway to generate leads. A common but effective method is requiring people to submit their email address in order to enter their name in your product giveaway. This will help you build an email list of people you know are interested in what you’re selling.
Use Lighting Wisely
Good lighting can of course brighten your booth, but it can also effectively highlight all the important bits and featured products.
- Utilize backlit displays, accent lights, or even spotlights to draw attention where you want it to go.
- Ensure your lighting is balanced. Otherwise, the featured products might draw too much attention and everything else in your booth could get ignored.
- People love to take photos, so be mindful of how your lighting will appear in any photos taken at your booth. If someone with a lot of followers snaps a photo in your well-lit booth, it can attract social media attention and buzz!
Keep Your Messaging Clear and Simple
Just like this section, it’s important to keep your messaging concise:
- Focus on your core mission. What products do you offer? What problems do they solve? Are they quality products?
- Short, impactful headlines are key here, as you want to get your message across within a matter of seconds.
- Less is more, so avoid clutter. Utilize white space in your booth design to guide the customer’s eye to the places you want it to go.
In short, you want to ensure even a brief glance at your display makes an impact.
Make a Statement at Your Next Trade Show
Trade show displays can be so much more than just a backdrop and product shelves. They should offer potential customers an experience. A reason to visit, browse, and spread the word. When you prioritize interactivity, message delivery, lighting, and visuals, your booth can be a standout in a sea of vendors vying for customer attention.
At ArachnidWorks, we know a thing or ten about designing great trade show displays. So what do you say? Want to collaborate to create a booth that will really leave an impression? Get in touch and we’ll get the ball rolling!