Today is Tuesday January 17, 2012

Thought For The Day

“Most persons would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions.”
–Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

I Have Been Thinking

A few years ago, at least when the Internet started to gain in popularity, there was talk that trade shows had outlived their usefulness. Nothing could have been more wrong. Trade shows are going to be around for as long as there is trade and commerce occurring on this planet. Fact is trade shows are as popular and as wide spread as they have ever been. I believe most people long for personal contact more than ever. In this age of Webinars, video calling, and instant messages we still very much want person to person contact.

What Is A Trade Show

A “trade show” or “trade fair” or “trade exhibition” is an event, where exhibitors offer their products to visitors under the regime of an organizer. The event has (1) a defined time frame, and is (2) produced periodically. Actors are accordingly (a) the organizer, (b) exhibitors, (c) visitors, all pursuing their own interests. A trade show aims at matching these interests (Ref: http://www.expo-port.com/Articles/view/9 )

Even your local high schools have a trade show almost every year only it is called a “Job Fair” The local Flea Market can even be used as one would work a trade fair as an exhibitor.

My Five Top Tips For Working A Trade Show

1. Review the Speaker list. If there is an opportunity to interview those you respect, you may make some very important contact.
2. Get into conversations with people while waiting in line – even the line to the bathroom.
3. Collect business cards from the exhibitors and or guests of the trade shows. Make a note on the back of the card what you saw or heard the person say or do that would make you want to contact them after the show. Don’t trust your memory. It is far more important to collect the cards and notes than it is to hand out your business card although you want to do that too.
4. See people in the booths. Ask questions. Get into a brief but useful conversation.
5. Find creative ways to follow up — connect on LinkedIn or Twitter, send prospects an interesting article. Develop ways to stay in touch that go beyond saying, “Why don’t you buy something from me?”

Why Demonstrate At A Trade Show

Taking the time to rent a booth and set up at a trade show may sound like a very big investment, however you can accomplish in just a few hours what it might take months making appointments, sending out ads or delivering Webinars to accomplish. Have sample products to both give away and to sell at the trade show. Manning a booth will give me an opportunity to talk to people coming to you. Your booth must be set up in such a way that it will stand out from the crowd. Presentation is everything. Be proactive, friendly and interested in others especially those that are in your immediate surroundings.

Keep in mind the purpose of your booth is to Attract, Interest, Develop relationships and Act with good follow up. After the trade show, your work has just begun. The follow up done as quickly after the trade show as possible means calling those that made the biggest impression on you first. Call them, tell them why you want to connect with them. Develop the relationship first. Sales and sales proposals come later.

 

Opportunity is never lost
It goes To Those Ready to Accept It!
Your Success is my Greatest Interest
CWinslow

Ice Breakers

Dad’s pager went off, summoning him to the
hospital, where he is an anesthetist.

As he raced toward the hospital, a patrol car sped up
behind him–lights flashing. Dad hung his stethoscope
out the window to signal that he was on an emergency call.

Within seconds, came the police officer’s hand in response, dangling a
pair of handcuffs out the window.

 

Grandma Wisdom

Using every opportunity to meet and network with others will help you to grow and build your business. Trade shows attract people interested in the particular industry and products demonstrated at the show. Working a trade show allows you to talk to people involved in the industry on a large scale and in a very short period of time.