Are Trade Shows Worth It?
The short answer is yes, trade shows are worth it! Trade shows continue to be a valuable marketing tool for businesses – worth the time, effort, and expenses involved. That said, businesses need to be strategic about what trade shows they attend and their strategy during each show to get the full benefit of these events.
When selecting a trade show, keep these rules in mind:
- Go where your clients go.
- Only attend shows that are focused on your industry niche and expertise. Be picky when choosing the events you’ll attend!
Once you have a trade show in mind, set specific goals for the event and plan out the steps you’ll take to work toward those goals. For example, if you’re interested in raising brand awareness at an event, consider handing out branded promotional products to attendees who visit your booth. It’s also important to do plenty of research, get creative with your booth, advertise ahead of time that your company will be there, schedule meetings with anyone in attendance who you think could be an important business contact in the future, ensure you have the right team members attending the show, and sign up for any relevant speaking engagements.
Trade shows can be a great marketing tool, but to get the most out of them, it’s essential to do plenty of work preparing for each show.