Use your web site to promote your show

Your web site is a great marketing tool for your show.

In no particular order:-

1. Tell people all about the show and why they should visit
2. Get them to register for a FREE ticket and capture their data for future use
3. Make a special show offer.
4. They have to register and get a voucher number to use on the stand to get a FREE.......
5. Post show, get them to order goods form a dedicated web page so you can look at the data to see if the exhibition was a success.

The page can be simple and quick to make. Use information and images from the show organizers web site. Make sure you take digital photos at the show to upload after the show.

If you go to several exhibitions each year list them with details to encourage visitors to bookmark and return.

Which Trade shows are on?

Which shows are on? If your trying to decide on which show to attend you might find these sites usefull.

http://www.exhibitions.co.uk
Offers the comprehensive listing on all consumer & trade exhibitions held in major UK venues.

http://www.exporama.com/
Multi lingual site (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Turkish, Greek). Contains data on exhibitions worldwide..

http://www.exhibitions.com
Equips the user with detailed information about exhibitions, venues, organisers, exhibitors and suppliers throughout the world and in every industry sector.

www.eventseye.com
Free web source dedicated to key exhibitions and trade shows worldwide.

http://www.tsnn.co.uk
Contains data on more than 15,000 exhibitions and conferences and more than 30,000 seminars.

Questioning Tips

Getting people on your stand is just the first step. Now you need to win them over.
Here are some tips to improve your questioning and listening skills.

1. Spend 70% of the time listening and 30% of the time asking questions.

2. Ask ‘open questions’ – questions that cannot be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

3. Use questions that will uncover areas where your company can add value.

4. Use the ‘let’s pretend’ technique to get the prospect talk about their requirement.

5. Constantly evaluate and adjust your line of questioning during the show.

6. Respond with a compliment when the prospect asks a question

7. Don’t grill the prospect.

Contibuted by online exhibition stands

Cost Of Exhibiting

Costs of Exhibiting

Space. usually charged by the square meter. Most exhibition venues offer space only, which is exactly that, or shell scheme. A shell scheme usually consists of a panel system on the stand perimeters, with a named headboard above the entrance. In theory, a shell scheme should enable you to turn up, hang a few graphics and get on with the show.

Stand Design. Can be very simple to extremely complex. Some exhibitors find it cheapest to do their own stand whilst many companies will employ a stand designer to gain maximum impact.

Stand Build. Again, whilst it is possible to create your own stand, many companies will employ a stand builder to build and breakdown the stand. Many companies offer a combined design and build service. Portable exhibition stands are very popular and a much cheaper alternative to custom built trade show stands.

Lighting and Electrics. Don’t forget, once the stand is built, you will need to provide power and light. These facilities are often controlled by the event organisers and can be costly.

Literature. Its all very well having a lovely brochure and literature, but be aware of the cost of handing them out at a show. You can get through huge numbers, and if they are given to the wrong people, that could prove very costly.

Transport. The whole stand, together with any literature, furniture and flooring as well as your products will need to be transported to and from the show.

Entrance tickets. Most exhibitions will allow a fixed number of tickets for the size of the stand, and if you need more for staff or invited guests, you may be asked to pay.

Staff. In addition to having to pay staff for longer hours, there are usually associated costs involved such as accommodation, food, travel and parking.

Catering. Whilst some exhibitors request their staff to feed themselves at the venues facilities, others may order in catering from the event organisers.

Insurance. Make sure you have adequate insurance, not only for your goods on display, but also liability insurance should anyone hurt themselves whilst on your stand.

Clear up costs. Make sure you take your rubbish and leftovers with you or you may well get charged.

Damage Cover. If your designated site is damaged in any way, such as marking the flooring or damaging the shell scheme panels, you are likely to receive an invoice for the repair.

About Exhibition Graphics

Exhibition Graphics advice

You only have seconds to attract passers by at you trade show or exhibition. Exhibition graphics are the icing on the cake that can entice trade show visitors onto your stand rather than competitors.

Exhibition graphics have changed radically over the last few years with the advent of large format digital printing. With minimal set up costs large format digital printing means affordable one off full colour images.

Portable stand graphics
The type of exhibition graphics you choose depend on the type of stand you choose. If you book space only a good solution is to use banner stand or pop up stands that come complete with graphics. No need to take time fixing graphics to your stand the graphics roll up so the are easy to transport and protect.

Shell scheme / custom build graphics
For custom built stands or shell scheme walls the most popular graphics solution is to use full colour ink jet printes mounted onto a lightweight rigid board and overlaminted for protection. Often these graphics panels will be simply fitted to your stand using Velcro.

Headline graphic panels
You can now stand out from the crowd with big, bold visuals and a compelling message.

Think of you stand a bit like an advert. First off you need a headline. Since you only have a few seconds to get noticed and get your message across your headline exhibition graphics need to be compelling, concise (no more than 5 words as a rule of thumb). Combine this with a stunning image and you maximize the impact.

There is no point having a compelling exhibition graphic with impact if it canÂ’t be seen. Think carefully about where the headline graphics willappearr on you site. Make sure they are not going to be obscured by passing traffic or visitors to your stand. So high up and towards the front help. Banner stands are ideal for this since they are easily portable and take up little space so can be strategically place on your stand

Information graphics
Once you have enticed your potential customer onto your stand you need graphics that can keep them there with more information about your products and services. Depending on the size of your exhibition stand this can be in the form of exhibition graphics panels or roll up exhibition graphics that you attach to a shell scheme wall or a pop up exhibition stand. ideal for cxreating a stand backdrop

Most exhibition graphics are printed onto paper on large format digital printers then mounted onto rigid or flexible material then finished with a scratch and glare resistant laminated for added protection. Graphic panels would usually be attached to walls simply using Velcro and graphics for exhibition pop up stands use special hangers and magnets to fix to the frame.