Good Stuff

Trade show Marketing Trends to Get More Leads
Wednesday, August 31, 2011

For many companies, the jury is out on whether attending a trade show will have a positive return on a usually substantial investment. It’s because companies struggle with how to maximize the investment. Here are a few ways to ensure your next trade show is a success.

The show starts now.
You’ve decided to go to the show, so get started now by letting people know you’re going to be there. You have three seconds to get people’s attention at a trade show, so you’ll need to give them a reason to stop. Oftentimes shows will give you a list of planned attendees. Use this list to send a direct mail piece that entices prospects to stop by. There’s also a trend to utilize social media to create buzz around your booth.

While you’re making connections, don’t forget to let current customers know you’ll be there. It’s great customer service to have them see you in person if they normally work with you over the phone.

People see with their hands.
You can stand there and talk about how great your product is, or you can let prospects see for themselves why your product is awesome. That’s the biggest advantage of attending a trade show. Remember that nearly everyone is caring an iPad or smartphone, so you may want to incorporate that technology into your trades how plan. QR codes are a great way for your prospects to interact with you after they’ve left the booth.

Send your best to the bigs.
Baseball players have spring training to prepare for their season and you should do the same for your trade show. People don’t do business with companies they do business with people. Your personnel at the show are the face of your company. Those that you send better know your company, products and the goals you have for the tradeshow.

Give it away.
At trade shows, it’s still all about the giveaway. Recent trends recommend that you consider a promotional item indicative of the region where the show is held for greater impact. Regardless of what you decide, make sure that your giveaway is something people will want to use so your brand stays with them for as long as possible. Also, consider an item that reflects the personality of your company.

The show’s over. Go home—and follow up.
Most companies exhale a sigh of relief after the show and go home to business as usual. That’s the biggest mistake you can make. Before you go to the show, make a follow up plan to contact all of the hot leads you will meet. This will give you the greatest advantage over 80% of the other exhibitors. 

Wow Your Audience With Your Next Presentation!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011

We’ve all had to endure sitting through a presentation at some point in our lives. Some of us have even had the privilege to deliver them. Since public speaking is a fate worse than death for most people, chances are you’ve seen your share of ho-hum presentations. The next time you step up to the mic, try these presentation tips to wow your audience.

The Rule of 10/20/30
Guy Kawasaki, former chief evangelist of Apple and co-founder of Alltop.com, follows a 10/20/30 rule. He uses a maximum of 10 slides for 20 minutes of content and a minimum 30 point font. PowerPoint is about making a point, not giving the audience your presentation notes. Keep your slides clean, and then if you miss a point, your audience will be none the wiser.

Become a Story Teller
Instead of just spewing out the facts about your subject, why not tell a story? Inspire your audience by making your presentation about people. It will help them to relate to your topic. Make it personal by giving them insights into what makes you tick.

Practice Makes Perfect
Few people can just get up to give their presentation cold and nail it. If you don’t practice your presentation, you’re certain to fumble. This is the easiest way to lose the interest of your audience. But watch that you don’t turn into a robot, regurgitating your presentation from memory.