I’m thrilled to have been with IBEX since it’s inception. It gives me a perspective on this event that only a few of us have. One thing that has always remained constant is that people come to IBEX to connect. If you’re here to exhibit then you are interested in one of two things: selling your product, or connecting with people who would be interested in purchasing from you.
Today I thought it would be helpful to go over a few of the biggest – and most common flubs – exhibitors tend to make. Have a read through and make sure you aren’t making these mistakes yourself.
1. Standing behind a table
You don’t know how many times I have passed a booth with staff standing behind a table. If you plan on connecting with prospective buyers step out from behind that table and welcome them into your booth. That table is a barrier between you, the attendee and future business.
2. Exhibiting without a plan
It’s hard to gauge the success of an event if you don’t have a plan for what you’d like to accomplish prior to setting foot on the floor. Without a plan you are going to be disorganized, unfocused and lose potential leads.
3. Failing to make a good impression
I’ve seen a variety of booth staff over the years. Those that come to work, those that come to socialize, and even those that are too shy (or brash) with customers. Choose confident, friendly, knowledgeable, and – most importantly – professional staff to run your booth.
4. Not taking advantage of pre-show promotion
I hear this time and time again. Why should I market the event for you? That’s your job. Yes, we market the event to get attendees in the door but getting them to visit your booth is up to you. Over the years I have heard many success stories from exhibitors about prospects they’ve been unable to connect with prior to sending them a personal invitation to visit them at IBEX. Some even thank them for sending them the invite. Trust me this one works.
5. Ignoring the exhibitor manual
Every event is different – for that matter, every facility is different. It’s vital that you familiarize yourself with the specifics of each event you exhibit in. You don’t want to assume something will be provided to you only to discover at the last minute that you were expected to take
care of things yourself. Read through the materials you’re given, and ensure that you understand how everything works.
Exhibiting doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s simply a matter of making the most of every opportunity available to you before, during or after the event. It’s also an important partnership between exhibitors and show management. We are here to help you have a successful event. And look forward to welcoming you to IBEX 2015 our 25th Anniversary event.