What to hand out at trade shows

GeXus · Share | #1 (**permalink**) 04-04-2005, 02:37 PM

Hey folks!

If your going to attend a trade show and you want to hand out something as you walk around the expo floors, what would you recommend? Something that is attention getting and worthy of being directly handed out.. any ideas? Whatever it will be.. will be for a industry related web site, not for profit..

gorillaboy · #2 (**permalink**) 04-04-2005, 05:24 PM

Water bottles (sealed, full of water) w/ your company logo, site, number, etc. on it. People get thirsty walking around those trade events.

Buskerdoo · #3 (**permalink**) 04-05-2005, 07:47 PM

I've worked at and marketed to a lot of trade shows. I can't tell you how much junk I've thrown away or given to my kids over the years. Here's some ideas:

-Your business card
-A ball with your name and logo, etc (one that an be used for grip stengthing)
-The best I've given out (most memorable) was a highlighter shaped like a triangle with three colors. I think a lot of those went to kids though. People used to call up asking for more...for their kids.
-Give something that will stay on their desk! I don't like mouse pads because I'm picky about what I use.
-A chance to win something where they have to go to a web site to register and then return to check on the status. Get multiple exposure.

Good luck.

noob_0001 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-05-2005, 09:02 PM

How about an unusually shaped letter opener, a calenday, a magnet with your addy on top of a scenic picture.

greg · #5 (**permalink**) 04-06-2005, 10:58 AM

one of the best set ups, if you can afford it, is to get one of those chocolate fountains(http://www.chocolatefountainsales.com/) You can usually find them for rent, although they are sort of high. Use that in conjuction with some well laid out brochures, and some continously running ad. It will easily be the most popular stall at the show, and bringing in people and people will remember you and are likely to pick up what you are handing out.

painperdu · #6 (**permalink**) 04-06-2005, 01:00 PM

Walk around with a local or national celebrity, or even a character actor, and take digital photos of the guests with the celebrity.

Give out business cards with your website address that invites people to see their pictures at your site.

Whamo!

imaginemn · #7 (**permalink**) 04-06-2005, 01:30 PM

While most people focus on what to give to try to out do each other. We typically use Plastic and paper tradeshow bags. As people are giving things away people will need to carry all the junk home or throw it away. Bags are pretty inexpensive, add your logo and contact info and you have a hit.

So when you come up with your clever marketing idea (ball, pen, notepads, etc.) it will lay hidden inside our bags that are being paraded throughout the convention.

Even if they don't need your service or want it, they will want the bag. Don't miss the golden adverstising opportunity here by going with a cheap bag that is not durable or does not clearly display your contact info. Imagine 100+ bags all around the convention with your logo on it.

I've used these in trade shows, conventions and state fairs. They are ALWAYS a hit. Throw some tootsie rolls or something fun in the bag to make it fun and exciting and not just a boring old business card or flyer like a personalized candy bar or something like that.

imaginemn

Buskerdoo · #8 (**permalink**) 04-06-2005, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painperdu

Walk around with a local or national celebrity, or even a character actor, and take digital photos of the guests with the celebrity.

Give out business cards with your website address that invites people to see their pictures at your site.

Whamo!

I'd forgotten about this one and Imaginemn's bags. Both solid ideas. The bags get you floor exposure and the pictures get you long lasting exposure.

gorillaboy · #9 (**permalink**) 04-06-2005, 07:43 PM

A nylon bag is even better. They can reuse them too.

emg35 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-11-2005, 09:22 PM

I can't remember the name of this item but there is a little toy with a quarter in the middle and you have to figure out how to get it out. sounds supid but on that long flight home or what ever they get to sit and look at your logo while they try to get the quarter out. I still have some from a trade show 4 yrs ago, and people always pick up off my desk to try to get the quarter out.

emg35

Ferre · #11 (**permalink**) 05-12-2005, 04:44 AM

I do a few fairs/year and we always hand out free weed. People LOVE THAT!

sweatnspice · #12 (**permalink**) 05-12-2005, 06:13 AM

At SES here in NYC Acoona gave away mini hot sauce bottles. They had them made with their business name and url. Granted the sauce was just a generic red pepper sauce, but it stands out more then a pen.

tmoon · #13 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 07:42 AM

Done trade shows for many years and one of the most effective things we ever did was a rectangular, compact tape measure that you could slide your business card into a plastic window. Logo and url printed on the plastic itself b/c they could remove the card and insert their own. Fit easily into a shirt or pants pocket. We had customers keep those things for years, and I still have a number of them at home and in the car b/c they're just plain handy.

Not the cheapest thing of course, but you want something people will keep and use a little. Mini calculators aren't bad either, and plain old quality pens are always an option, really just depends on your target market. For fun factor something like a squishy ball is great, it's just that most people won't bother to keep those in their desk or work area (give to the kids, dog, whatever). Food and candy will always get more traffic, but it's just like online marketing, unless you have a mass market appeal to every person at the show, you want the most qualified traffic at your booth you can get, not just everyone that wants your giveaways. Anyway, best of luck...

1234pens · #14 (**permalink**) 06-07-2005, 09:27 AM

If your looking for trade show give aways check out both my sites:

for promotional products : www.masalpromo.com

& for promotional pens: www.1234pens.com

Let me know what item you guys like & I will work out a special deal for you.

SFC · #15 (**permalink**) 06-15-2005, 06:28 AM

Imaginemn - are you at trade shows advertising your web services?

I need to get out to some groups, primarily small business, to offer you my services.

Word of mouth has slowed down the past few weeks...

Anybody have luck with magnet ads on your cars to target local business?

imaginemn · #16 (**permalink**) 06-16-2005, 07:06 AM

I used to. Now I just go to them to network and talk to people and make new contacts. It's much more effective because I am not stuck in a booth hoping someone will come visit. Web design is only a small part of my company. If I only did that I would not be where I am at in my business because there are many times that web design is slow and because there are TOO MANY people offering websites for peanuts, let's just say it won't generate the type of income I am accustomed to.

Because my company is called "Imagine Creative Services", I tend to focus on offering much more than Web design. My advice would be to offer as many related services you can so you have the "added value" edge above and beyond your competition in your area. Many of my clients may come to me for a web update and then they realize that I can be a Full Service provider because of all the different services I offer. I have also partnered with many ad agencies that get preferred pricing and they are happy to send clients to me.

Trade shows can be successful and so can word of mouth but your marketing strategies have to be more diverse. Join the chamber of commerce or volunteer some of your services. I recently designed and developed a web site for a small non-profit group that had a pretty decent client base. I offered all my services for FREE and all I asked for was to add my logo and URL on their site and now I can't barely keep up with the work due to the many requests.

I guess what I am trying to say is to be persistant and keep networking. Word of mouth alone will not automatically give you business unless you offer some type of referral fee or basically give them an incentive to send you clients. I offer my clients $100.00 off their next project for every referral. If you do this make sure you have an expiration date. Maybe 30 - 60 days. It doesn't cost me anything and it gives a call to action for my clients. $100.00 off is a lot of money to not take advantage of.

One final story that I feel applies. A week ago I went to a local embroidery store to get pricing so I can get some caps and shirts done. While I was talking to the store owner about my project she asked me about my logo. I pointed her to my website and she loved my logo and just happened to be looking for someone to design their website but had been too busy to call people. We ended up working an arrangement where I do her site and she does my caps and shirts and we are both happy.

I hope some of this information is helpful and sorry for the long post. Talk to people ask them what they do and when they ask you then you have the perfect opportunity to try to talk about your services and hopefully they need your services.

imaginemn