There is also no growth, no excitement, and no spontaniety. Routines can easily become ruts, especially at a trade show. It’s very easy to do, especially if you always go to the same shows, display in the same location, use the same graphics and literature, and go through the same sales spiel. It might seem effective. It’ll definitely be comfortable.
It’s also one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Exhibiting is, by its very nature, is a constantly evolving art. To be successful, you need to embrace what is new and exciting. It requires pushing boundaries.
If you’re comfortable, you’re not trying hard enough. Worse, you’re running a very real risk: The risk of boring trade show attendees with your booth.
People have a split second attention span. If you’re not presenting something new, exciting, and engaging, to draw them in, most attendees are going to assume they already know what you have to offer and pass you by. When attendees walk right by your booth without giving it a second look, that’s the same as having sales dollars flying right out the window.
There are five easy steps to break out of a rut.
- Realize the difference between branding and routine.
Doing the same exact thing the same exact way time after time after time is NOT branding. Careful and intelligent placement of logos, consistent use of color, and overall design are all elements of branding. Look at McDonalds – they have one of the strongest brands on the planet, yet have changed looks, catch phrases, uniforms and menus over the years.
Take a close look at your branding efforts. Are they serving your marketing message, or are you simply repeating yourself?
- Step outside your industry
Great ideas come from unexpected sources. I’ve gotten some of my best exhibit ideas from the retail world, where they carefully study the impact of color, music, and even temperature upon shoppers. Examine what motivates people to buy products that are very different from your own. What makes someone buy a motorcycle? Yogurt? Sleeping bags? Each of these items requires a different strategy, with many complex elements. Perhaps some of these elements would work well in your exhibit.
Remember, it’s never a good idea to simply ‘cut and paste’ elements from one advertising campaign onto your own. Catchphrases, graphics, and imagery may be copyrighted or proprietary. You want to expand your business, not enter litigation! Instead, analyze what makes a particular element work for you, and see how you can adapt it to meet your own business needs.
