As the recession doesn’t seem to be passing any time soon, now is the time more than ever too, focus on marketing, communicating with customers, generating leads and more than anything else – selling! Exhibitions and trade shows are a fantastic way to achieve all of these aims.

So what do you need to think about when exhibiting? How can you make your exhibition successful? How can you make sure your business will survive?

Establish a clear brand identity.
If your identity as a company has a confused message or identity, there is a good chance your customers will be confused too. Exhibiting is a great branding exercise that will get your name seen and get people talking. Your logos, strap line, sales message and company name, can be promoted at exhibitions with the use of literature, banners, graphics and multimedia presentations, so that your brand is clearly fixed in peoples minds.

Stand out from your competitors.
In a crowded market, it is essential that your business stand out from the crowd. Everything can begin to look all the same at exhibitions, so make your business stand out from the crowd. This doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune on your exhibition equipment. However quality graphics and quality exhibition stands can really make the difference. It’s critical that you know what your competitors are doing, and also what they aren’t so that you can make your time at the exhibition successful.

Highlight your USP’s.
Every successful product or service has unique selling points (USPs). It is important that you highlight the things that make them special. The biggest brands always emphasise their unique features, and this is the thing that will entice customers to buy your product over another companies. Is it the design that makes your product unique, is the ease of use, the appeal to the family market? If you don’t look like anything special, customers will naturally gravitate towards another company that does. In a difficult economic climate, your business needs every edge it’s got, so it’s a good idea to really play up all the positive and unique elements of your service or product.

Think like your customers.
It is important to put yourself in the place of your customer. As the market changes and the downturn really takes hold, so do the needs of customers and the issues that they care about. And so must your messaging. Whether your customers are companies or consumers, everyone will be feeling the pinch. What does your product offer them during this touch economic climate? Will it save them money during a time when there’s not much around to save? Will it provide them with a little luxury, when it seems everything else is being taken away? If you really try and think like your customers and understand how to position your company to customers in relation to market conditions, it will definitely help you stay in line with what’s on customers’ minds.

Keep in touch with your core customers.
And there is no better way to do this than at industry events and exhibitions. Competitors will be working harder than ever to poach your business, and your customers will be more aware than ever before of their buying power. Although expanding the business through marketing activities is essential, don’t lose sight of the need to retain your core customer base and establish and maintain good relations with them. Repeat business is vital for every business too, so talk to your customers at the show and tell them that you value their business. Finding out what they hope to get out of the event will tell you what you need to change for next time.

Create a good impression.
People make descisions based on early impressions. You might have a great product, but customers will see the effort you have put into your presence at the exhibition. Although it might seem basic, poor spelling, punctuation and grammar gives the indication of a lack of quality control, and a lack of effort on your part, so get it right. Check and double your literature and graphics, use quality exhibition equipment. Rather than cutting corners, make your exhibition budget work harder for you. Consider Modular Display Stands over expensive custom built displays. Modular Portable Systems represent a far higher return on investment. These stands are better value, easier to transport, easier to erect and they can be reconfigured for larger or smaller events in the future.

In short, exhibiting can work out well for your company if you get it right. Don’t be tempted to cancel your plans to exhibit at your normal trade show or industry event. Business-to-Business trade shows are still recognised as the best place to find out what is happening in your market sector and to express your confidence in what your company has to offer. Why not let POD Exhibition Systems help you out with your portable display stands?

Web Hosting Reviews