If you are new to the trade show scene, you may still be finding your footing for those first few shows – especially when it comes to figuring out the best way to get attendees to stop at your booth. With that in mind, one thing we like to remind all Houston trade show clients is this: Barking out greetings to attendees is not the way to draw them in. If your staff members stand outside the booth shouting at every passerby, your company could easily end up on the show’s B-list before the weekend is over. You don’t want that, of course – so tell your staff to steer clear of shouting things like:
- “Hi, Ladies!” (Or “gentlemen,” or “guys”)
- “What brings you to the show today?”
- “Interested in a free product demo?”
These may sound like innocent enough greetings, but when they are shouted loudly in a way that resembles a carnival barker, many trade show attendees will chalk it up to pestering – or at the very least, bad people skills. Try to remember a time when you were barked at by an exhibitor at a trade show; do you want your prospects to feel the way you felt when that happened? Probably not.
So, what is the right way to draw people in to your booth? Focus on these three basic goals:
- Achieving flawless exhibition design, including the booth and all displays in your space
- Conveying your brand image clearly – who you are and what you do
- Communicating the reason attendees should want to talk to you – your solution to their problem
We tell all our Houston trade show clients: If you can master these three goals, you can get people into your booth. Then, just keep a smile on your face, make eye contact and speak clearly once they get in. It’s simple, but all the best things in life (and business) are!
