When you exhibit at a business Expo you commit your company to a defined time and place where you will meet current customers, prospective customers, members of the business community at-large, and fellow exhibitors.
Once you’ve committed to the booth and the time investment, remember to prepare in advance what your goals are for the day. It will make the day more enjoyable, and you’ll find that you will leave with what you came for: new connections.
Before the big day let business colleagues know you’ll be exhibiting. Share your booth number on social media and encourage every business person you know to stop in on May 12th. Tell them they must bring a business card for admission to the event.
Create a system to collect business cards at the event – offer a prize enticing visitors to your booth so they can drop their business card for chance to win or assertively trade business cards with all who stroll past your booth
Have plenty of your business cards on hand, so that you are in a position to hand one out to each person who comes within arm’s length of your booth. Perhaps have a special card created just for the Expo to emphasize how and where they met you.
Refine your elevator pitch. Keep it conversational, and allow time to learn about the visitors to your booth. You’ll want to make sure you can share what you can do for them in two sentences or less. Don’t push for a sale. Be friendly and make a good impression for your brand.
At the end of each conversation, offer a take away brochure, promo item or coupon for future use.
Wear a professional name tag, on your left, to reinforce both your brand and your personal touch.
Remember to engage current customers too. Thank them for their loyalty and ask for feedback.