When you are headed off to your next – or first – trade show one of the main things you want to do is STAND OUT. We have 12 great trade show display ideas that will help you achieve your marketing goals. Here are the best ways to turn your stall/area into one of the shows *must see* displays.

1. Give out useful items – there is nothing worse than being given something to take away that is pretty useless, instead opt for giving your potential customers a magnet they can stick on the fridge, or a pen, drinks coaster or notepad, all useful items they can actually USE that won’t be thrown in the bin at the end of the day. It is one of the best ways to be remembered, and stay remembered long after the show has packed up.
2. Tag those attending on your FaceBook page – you have your roll up banner, why not ask people for a quick snap in front of your banner, you can then tag them in the photos when you add them to your FaceBook or other social media pages. Once a person is tagged all THEIR friends can see where they have been, if you multiply this by a few hundred photos, you have the potential to reach tens of thousands of people who’ll see their friend standing in front of your roll up banner and logo.
3. Host a photo booth – people love to take photos and a photo booth is a fun way to break the ice and network with people in a fun and casual way.
4. Have an *interactive display* – if your business revolves around classes – dance, fitness, martial arts etc why not have a 2-5-minute display of your best students/teachers displaying what they have learnt, it brings your printed pamphlets or banners to life.
5. Advertise your upcoming booth at the trade show online – you can set up online ads that are targeted towards people who are looking up information on a specific trade show or conference. This is the audience you want – people who are actively looking up information, they want to come.
6. Hand out your brochures – have a well-designed brochure that lists who you are, what you do and your products and services. After all trade shows are hectic, and people are not going to remember every booth they visited, but if you hand out a well-designed brochure they have something they can look at, at the end of the day. Don’t forget to add a trade show only special offer or coupon.
7. Be strategic with your layout – it’s easy to become a bit complacent when it comes to trade shows, don’t put a table between you and your customers. A table encourages you to sit there on your phone or tablet when it’s quiet, which can put people off…. Set up your tables in a way that actually invites people into your booth.
8. Turn other exhibitors into new customers – before the show opens walk around the floor and pop your business card onto everyone’s table, you can even add a small note inviting other exhibitors to drop by at your booth if they have free time.
9. Stand out from the crowd – do something different, either related to your business or just something fun. Dress up, decorate your booth, or bring a mascot, anything fun that draws attention to your booth.
10. Take advantage of a small space by using branded table cloths and posters – if the event you are at only has room for a table, you can still use an impressive backdrop – 3 roll up banners, side by side make for a great back drop – they are lightweight, easy to carry and can be set up in less than 2 minutes. You can also throw a branded table cloth over your table to complete the look.
11. Use your business cards – have plenty of business cards on hand to give out. Business cards are still an essential item to bring along to trade shows; they are one of the best ways for people to get hold of you after the event. Business cards are a LOT more professional than writing your details on a post-it note. Make sure your business card has all your details, including e-mail address, phone number, website and physical address.
12. Hold a giveaway – a giveaway is a great way to encourage people to come back to your booth. When guests register to win your prize, give them something they must bring back with them to claim the prize. This not only helps them to keep your business at the front of their mind, it also brings them back for a second look at your booth later in the day.