Trade Show Marketing: How to get on the "must see" list

You've decided to attend a trade show. So how do you get people excited about the event? How do you let people know you're attending? Better yet, how do you get attendees to circle your booth on the map as a "must see"? The answer: pre-show marketing. 

Pre-show marketing is targeted advertising directed at attendees prior to start of the trade show. An effective campaign integrates multiple media to touch prospective visitors at least 3 times before the show opens. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Mass Media- start with press releases, print advertising, and publicity in industry journals, also show specific publications like the official show directory

• One to One media- mail personal letters of invitation, postcards, or formal invitations, and include an exhibit pass when available

• Promote your presence at the trade show or event via your website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

• Round out your campaign with personal phone calls and emails

• Offer coupons for a free item; prospects redeem the coupon when they visit your booth at the show

The average exhibitor allocates only 6% of their show budget toward pre-show marketing. Speedpro Frisco recommends investing at least 15% because it can make the difference between a busy exhibit and standing around watching people pass you by.

Dynamic Displays: Hopup Tension Fabric

The Hopup is one of the most dynamic and popular large format graphic displays due to its maximum impact with minimal effort. Hopup Tension Fabric Displays come in a variety of sizes and are offered in straight and curved frames. Hopups are light weight and highly portable and they pack away as easy as they set up! Lighting kits make them glow and stand out even more.

All Hopup frames are eco-friendly, come with a rolling carry case, and have a lifetime warranty.

Request a quote or call us today at 972-403-9955.

Turning Trade Show Leads into Customers

It is commonly believed that 80% of trade show leads receive no follow-up (CEIR). The bottom line is that if you want more customers (which is why you are exhibiting), you need to connect with the attendees to your booth after the show.

Be Proactive- That is Stephen Covey's number 1 habit for highly effective people. Go after the business, and don't just sit back and wait for the business to come to you.

Here are four ideas for following up with leads after a trade show:

1. Phone Calls- Call to thank these attendees for taking the time to speak with you at the event. Ask if there are any further questions you could answer in regards to your products and services. Be prepared to provide them with answers.

2. Thank you cards- Handwritten thank-you cards are a nice gesture to show your appreciation. It also shows that you took time out of your busy schedule to recognize people that stopped by your trade show exhibit. Attach a business card in order for them to contact you.

3. Email- Use this method sparingly since any email they don't recognize could get deleted. Inform them at the event that you will be sending email so they know to expect it. Include your contact info in order to make it easy to contact you.

4. Memorable Gift- If you find your perfect, ideal client among your prospects, you may choose to send them a gift along with a note asking for a meeting. I recommend sending something more memorable than a coffee gift card. Speedpro Frisco likes to send handmade, gourmet cheesecakes from Dandelion Cheesecakes. That's a big impact for $9 each!

Even with an amazing trade show display, attendees won't necessarily remember talking to you. It's a good practice to refresh their memory and contact new potential customers no more than a week after the show with one of these four ideas. This increases the chance they'll do business with you. Good luck!

Top 4 banner Installation Methods

Vinyl Banners can be used for a variety of purposes, and can be installed or displayed in a variety of ways depending on it's use. Our banners come with grommets, so each one is ready to hang.

Grommets are metal rings placed into the hem of the banner and allows for a large variety of hanging options. They provide a convenient method for attaching the banner at fixed points. The placement of the grommets distributes the weight of the banner evenly and keeps the banner from sagging. Typically, grommets should be placed every 2-3 feet along the edges of the banner. You can use use the grommets to hang your banner with rope, bungee cords, nails, zip ties, or suction cups.

Speedpro Frisco recommends the following installation methods:

1. Hanging with rope- Thread a piece of rope through the top row of grommets, leaving equal amounts of rope hanging from each end. Thread another piece of rope through the bottom grommets and tie the ropes to support poles. This process creates an even balance of weight and reduces pressure on the banner.

2. Hanging with bungee cords- Wrap a bungee cord around each support pole or tree and hook each cord into one of the banner’s corner grommets. This will require at least 4 bungee cords (one for each corner).

3. Hanging with zip ties- Zip ties are best for displaying your banner on a fence. They can be wrapped around the fencing and zip-tied through the grommets.

4. Hanging against a building- Lay the banner against the side of the building with the grommets flush against it. Place a washer over the grommet and follow it with a screw to secure the banner to the wall of the building. This is best for long-term outdoor banners because it will reduce the amount of force on banner when exposed to outdoor elements.

We can also create a pole pocket, so you can hang it from a pole and use it as a back drop. Request a quote for your custom banner, and give us a call if you have any questions!

Storage and Care for Vinyl Banners

With visual marketing, your banner is often your first impression. Keeping them clean, vibrant, and wrinkle free is a priority, and it only takes a few minutes. Here are some tips on cleaning and care for your custom vinyl banner so it lasts as long as possible.

Cleaning

Speedpro Frisco recommends wiping it down with a soft, damp cloth. Lint-free cloths used to clean electronics work very well. Avoid using abrasive cloths or cleaning pads, and never use a solvent cleaner as it will damage your banner and/or the color print. If a damp cloth doesn't quite do the job, you may use a mild soap and water solution. Thoroughly rinse away the soap, and be sure that it is completely dry before storing.

Storage

Banners should be stored in a dry location, loosely rolled with the print side facing in. Speedpro Frisco recommends rolling it around a rigid core or inside a tube so it does not get kinked or creased while in storage or transit. Don’t store the banner in very hot or very cold places, like your car trunk or a storage unit, for longer than you have to. Room temperature is best for prolonging the life of the ink and the banner itself. Never fold your banner, even to get it out of the way for a bit because creases will form if its hot.

Grand Opening!

We had our Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting with the Frisco Chamber of Commerce earlier this week on Tuesday. Thank you to all our clients and networking friends that came out to support us and help us celebrate.

Here is the photo album of the event in case you missed it: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.365717366891165.1073741829.317508308378738&type=1&l=fdf883f3a6

I also want to give a special thanks to Gloria Fox from On The Border catering. She is a fellow chamber member, and did a fabulous job setting up and serving the delicious breakfast tacos! You can contact her for your event at Gloria.otbcatering@gmail.com.

Now that our show room is filled with samples, we are ready to serve the Frisco and Plano communities with banners, banner stands, posters, static cling, window perf, and more. We are excited to help with your next visual marketing project, and we're happy to provide you with proofs and samples to get the color and materials dialed in. Give us a call to schedule an appointment (972-403-9955) or just drop by!

How to Qualify Leads at your Trade Show or Vendor Fair

Now that you have a display complete with graphics that attract customers, it is time to generate and qualify leads from the visitors to your booth.

It's important to stay approachable and friendly, and acknowledge a visitor to your booth within the first minute of their approach.

Watch their body language, and if they make eye contact and seem interested, engage them in conversation. You won't have time to have go in depth with everyone, but be sure to spend time with the most interested people.

Create lead forms to collect names, addresses, phone numbers and/or email addresses of interested prospects. You can collect business cards as well.

Rate or code each prospect with a letter in the upper corner of each form as you collect them: A-hot lead, B-warm lead, or C-cold lead

An "A" or a "hot lead" is someone who is ready to buy what you are offering, and has the money to do so. A "B" or a "warm lead" is interested, but may not be ready to buy right away. A "C" or "cold lead" is someone on the list who you may not have talked to, or is only slightly interested.

Don't wait too long before contacting your prospects, or they may forget about you, or even go with another company. Follow up with the A's first. Send a hand-written thank you note for taking time to chat with you and maybe enclose an offer. Or, just call them and see how you can help and ask for a meeting. Do the same for the B's and C's. When you make the effort to show a prospect you appreciate them, it will set you apart for the competition, and they will think of you when they are ready to buy.