The planning you do before a the event will make trade show business development after the show that much easier. Your schedule may be booked solid with covering your booth, scheduled meetings and impromptu ones, but you still need to find time to engage with show presenters and speakers. Through their contacts, these people can grow your business network or provide you with direction when you need it. This is a major step in trade show business development that is often forgotten because of the hustle and bustle of the show itself.
While your team is reaching out to all of the leads made during the show, here are three things you can do to further develop new business and grow your network:
- Press Releases
You’ve sent the pre-show release to let everyone know where you’ll be, now it’s time to send out a release that speaks to the success of the show. This should share something fun and innovative that was learned from the trade show. You could even go a step further and briefly interview one of the speakers, using a quote or two from them.
- Reach out to the Speakers
You’ve listened to the speakers at the trade show and possibly found a couple that can really help your business. Presenters need you to spread the word about them as much as you may need their insight or network. Reach out to them, either by sending a quick email or a phone call to say hello. Try to remind them of who you are, then ask a question or ask for insight into a problem.
- Host meetings
The show is over, but you have gathered a lot of leads and new contacts. Drill down into their info and see if these people are concentrated in certain areas. If you met 30 people from New Orleans, then it’s a good bet holding a gathering in New Orleans may develop new business. Or, host a mini-conference at your corporate office, where local leads can gather and discuss business. This feels like a continuation of the show and you’ll have more to talk about when next year’s show comes around.
The benefits of a trade event can go beyond generating sales leads. Growing your knowledge base and network is very important for trade show business development. And, some of the best public relations or benefits to your current clients is sharing what you learned at the show. When you create benefits that go beyond your product offerings, word will quickly spread about your business as being a reliable and credible source for products, services, and support.
ADM Two staff are experts on display design and fabrication, so give us a call at (813) 887-1960 and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with your display, no matter where your event takes place. Also, check out some of our other articles to get more information on trade show booth layout, trade show graphics, and etiquette.