Attending business events is a great way to get yourself noticed and network with potential business partners or new clients, so it’s definitely something that all businesses should be doing. There is a lot of competition at these events and if you are going to get anything out of it, it’s important that you set yourself apart from the rest of the businesses that are there. Be memorable. Make sure the attendees remember you. Above all, when choosing which business events to go to make sure you choose ones where you will get a good return on investment.
If you haven’t been to a business event before, here are a few tips to help it go smoothly.
Pick A Good Location
The location of your stand makes a big difference and most events are first-come, first-served, so get in early and book your spot. Most people think that the best place to go is right next to the entrance, but that isn’t true. Guests won’t stop at the first stand they come to, they’ll want to do a circuit and get a feel for who is there before they start exploring the stands in more detail. If you are right at the entrance, everybody will pass you by and most people won’t bother to stop on their way out either. The best spot is usually halfway around, at the end of an aisle, so you are visible. Make sure your banner or stand clearly shows who you are and what you offer at a glance.
Give Out Good Gifts or Don’t
Everybody is going to be giving away free stuff, but if you give away the best free gifts, word will spread and you’ll get more people coming to you. The best way to get people interested is to give out useful things like branded writing pads, USB sticks, or bags. Bags are a good one because people need somewhere to put all of the other free stuff that they get, so they’ll come to your stand for sure.
If you decide not to give away merch, run a competition (ask participants to jot down their details and ask permission to add them to a mailing list) or at least have a wealth of business cards or leaflets to give out.
Dress The Part For Business Events
The way that you dress has a big impact on the kind of first impression that you give off, so it’s important that you think about it. You’ll be meeting a lot of potential customers and if you make a good impression, you could come away with a lot of leads. You want to appear professional, but also approachable, so it’s best to go with a smart casual look for a trade event. Don’t be afraid to wear something a bit more colourful either because it will make you easier to spot.
Promote Yourself Before Business Events
It’s important that you let people know that you are going to be at the event and give them a teaser of what you have going on at your stand. If you can promote yourself well and build some hype, people will head straight for your stand as soon as they arrive. If you don’t advertise yourself well before the event, you might struggle to get any interest. In the lead up to the event, you need to post regularly on social media and try to connect with people that will be at the event so you can build some hype.
As long as you follow these tips, your first business event should be a big success and you will make lots of useful contacts.
