To some people, trade shows may seem outdated and a thing of the past. However, with attendance growing and booth sales on the rise, trade shows are definitely making a comeback!

One issue that plagues many businesses that participate in tradeshows is preparation. If you are leaving your tradeshow prep till the day before, you are missing out on a lot of opportunity to get the most for your buck! The best way to hit your target contacts is to develop show mailers that differ from your normal marketing materials, which showcase a teaser or offer to entice people to visit your booth. Pairing these materials with targeted email campaigns to your audience will get people involved and aware of the shows you will be showcasing at.

Another key aspect of preparing for a tradeshow is to map your “plan of attack”. Designate people to be in charge of each aspect of the booth, as well as people to go out there and spread the word about your booth to attract more prospects. Don’t leave anything to chance! Make sure to have a lot of extra marketing material and business cards on hand as well as asking for cards from people who visit your booth. Many companies miss the opportunity to follow up with these people after the show ends, which is a missed opportunity to generate sales leads!