Sending an employee to a trade show is an investment – travel costs, entertainment expenses, registration, the list could go on. However, if you spend time in advance of a trade show to plan your course or hunting for a trade show booth design ideas , you’ll see a much better return on your investment. Planning will help you use your time and resources more effectively, for better business connections, and, ultimately, to justify expenditures.
Here’s what you can do before you go to a show.
Plan to justify your spend.
Identify the business challenge are you looking to solve. Clearly define your goals and objectives for attending the trade show.
Determine the number of employees who will attend the trade show. To create a buying team and minimize the buying cycle, it may be more cost-effective to send more than one employee.
Establish a process for comparing and evaluating vendor products and services based on your business needs. Knowing this in advance will help you accurately evaluate vendors after the show.
Research the trade show’s web site to learn about exhibiting companies, educa-tional program tracks and schedule, networking opportunities, as well as data from previous years.
Book your travel and lodging accommodations as far in advance as you can to take advantage of discounts.
Pre-register for the show, which will not only save your company money, but will also save time onsite. Pre-registered attendees also receive emails from the show management about events, new products and other informative news happening at the show. This will help you better plan your time at the show.
Plan your schedule and set appointments in advance to make sure you get quality time with the people you want to see. Divide your list into must see and want to see booths to help prioritize your time. Map out your route to avoid crisscrossing the exhibit floor.
Register to attend seminars and conferences that address topics and issues that affect your business. It’s a cost-effective way to benchmark what your company is doing, gain third-party insight and discover ways to overcome specific challenges.
