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Tradeshow Tips
October 27, 2005 | Permalink
There's a lot of advice out there for how to get your company noticed at a tradeshow and employing effective marketing techniques from the booth. What about the tradeshow attendees? How can you be as efficient as possible and make the most of your tradeshow visit? Here are some tips and resources for the tradeshow and conference attendee:
- Set Goals - Figure out what you want to accomplish by the end of the show. Why are you going? Who will be there that you need to talk to? Figure out a game plan and get as much information as possible prior to attending. Do you want to broaden your knowledge or hone a specific skill? Have you been to similar talks or visited a particular exhibitor before? Can you split up your work with co-workers also attending the event?
- Network - Be sure to bring lots of business cards, to pass out to people you meet and also to clip to lengthy forms in order to save some paperwork. Also, keep in mind events that may be going on during the evenings, giving you a more casual environment to meet future contacts. One of the most important thing you can out of a conference is the list of new contacts you obtain.
- Dress Appropriately - Of course you want to look professional. But keep in mind that you’re going to be out on the conference floor all day. So be sure that your clothes and footwear are comfortable enough to last you all day. Consider dressing in a couple layers since the temperature on the floor can vary. Be sure to bring a place to store extra stuff like a sweater, water bottle, or pamphlets since you won’t want to juggle them all day.
- Follow-Up - After a conference, it's easy to fall back into work as usual, catching up on what you’ve missed while away. However, take some time to organize, process, and act on the information you’ve acquired. Share important info with coworkers and be sure to put your gathered contact info into a more accessible form than your pile of conference handouts.
Large conferences and tradeshows can take more time than you have to completely see, so a little preparation can go a long way. For more information, here are some additional resources:
Comments
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Posted by: TradeShowGuy | Dec 16, 2005 8:10:36 PM
