Make Your HD EXPO Booth a Hit

Your participation at HD Expo is an investment of time and money.  But, there are simple ways to improve your team's performance and ROI at tradeshows. Check out these easy tips that we believe will help your HD Expo experience a success.

1. Involve top management:  You will get better results if your company’s leadership is included and aware of the planning process.  Team members feel the commitment and management is invested in the success of the event.
2. Market BEFORE the show. A few weeks before the show, remind customers and strong prospects to come by your booth.  Send e-mail reminders right before the show. Include the events and education at HD EXPO.
3. Set clear goals and objectives for your company’s show participation.
4. Make sure that booth staff understands the goals and objectives. They can't achieve them if they don't know what they are.
5. Staff your booth appropriately.  Send enough people to ensure adequate booth coverage throughout the show.
6. Make sure that each staff member in the booth knows what to do.  Define each staffer’s role and your expectations.
7. Good manners count!  The value of friendly greetings, good manners and appropriate behavior cannot be over emphasized.  It will be remembered.
8. Lead collection is important.  Make sure that your team members understand how the lead-collection technology you'll be using works.
9. Lead follow up is critical.  Before the show, establish a follow up protocol for hot leads, promising prospects and likely customers. Use this protocol to turn leads into sales.
10. Technical expertise is vital for HD Expo attendees.  Make sure that your booth includes a technically knowledgeable team member.
11. Booth staff should be friendly, personable people with genuine enthusiasm for your company and its products and services. Chose your booth team based on appropriate criteria including enthusiasm and personality, not just by seniority.
12. Stay in touch with your booth staff during the show. It will enable you to see what attendees are asking for and what interests them.
13. Information:  Prepare your promotional materials and giveaways in time to make sure you are happy with the results and that they will be  ready in time for the show.
14. Product demonstrations are a great way to draw a crowd:  Make sure your team knows how to give an effective, engaging presentation. List times and demos.  Rehearse! 
15. HD Expo has created a thorough exhibitor guide covering topics from load through load out.  Copy appropriate pages from the exhibitor service manual and give them to relevant staffers.  Supplying them with the information they need helps to ensure a trouble-free experience.
16. Say "thank you" to attendees for stopping by, to anyone who fills out survey information or participates in a demonstration, during your follow up calls.
17. Booth staff members need to drink plenty of water, eat breakfast, wear comfortable shoes, have breath mints on hand, and make sure to take a break.  A bit of care helps them perform at the top of the game.

These hints have been drawn from HD Expo’s 7 years of observing successful exhibitors.  A   number of trade show expert research in top publications such as USA TODAY, PRESENTATION and other publications were researched for these tips..  If you need any further information, or have a great idea,  please let us know!