Small companies find themselves being torn in a number of different directions but if you can approach them strategically you can gain a lot of valuable opportunities. Trade shows can be expensive for smaller companies but when you tackle a trade show you can stand to gain some of the following benefits:
What you can expect in this article:
Lead Generation
Trade shows can be invaluable for lead generation because you can collect contact information and generate leads to follow up after the event. The great thing about a trade show is that someone has already expressed their interest in what you offer.
In order to have a functional impact, you’ve got to align your aesthetics with the brand. This is where trade show booth builders can help to create a booth that doesn’t just look the part, but is functional for the sake of product demonstrations or to make a visual impact.
Lead generation is one of those things that we all go to a trade show for, as a business and as a smaller company, we can feel that our success hinges on how many leads we generate. If we cannot afford to go back to that trade show the next year it could very well be because we haven’t identified the right types of leads.
Targeting Audiences
Because leads are all about quality rather than quantity, we must understand the niche audience specific to our industry. This is where choosing the right trade show is invaluable because you need to be amongst similar companies, not just in terms of your customers or potential clients, but also your competitors.
While there is something to be said for standing out at a trade show, if you are selling fish and everybody else is selling microchips, you are going to stand out for the wrong reasons. Connecting with those potential investors, partners, and customers who are genuinely interested in what your company offers will be far more effective in the long run.
The Networking Opportunities
A business on a threadbare budget will have to think twice as to whether they should attempt to set up shop at a trade show, but trade shows are major hubs when it comes to networking.
Under one roof, you can meet industry professionals, professional clients, and future business partners. But we can’t use the trade show as a conduit to clients because we need to go and do the work. This is where the trade show booths, the branding, but also the attitudes we give out on the floor are all critical.
Showcasing Your Product in the Right Light
In trade shows, big companies rub shoulders with small ones, and this means that you can potentially get a bigger slice of the pie for a far smaller budget. Levelling this playing field can give you a competitive advantage by showcasing your product and how it is trumping those complacent larger businesses.
However, you’ve got to choose the right business event to ensure that you are not just giving a better service, but you also have the same momentum and ability to compete with the big guns.
Trade shows can be highly effective for small newer businesses for these reasons but you still need to approach these events with clear goals and a solid strategy.
