A trade show booth is a chance for your company to bring your brand to life, connect with your audience and spend time with like-minded people. With the right equipment, goals, merch and strategies, your booth will draw in attendees, boost your brand and strengthen networking possibilities.
Read on for the top tips for creating a trade show booth that exudes professionalism and feels magnetic.
Benefits of a Branded Trade Show Booth
Building a trade show booth is a great opportunity for you to engage with potential clients, create a strong brand presence, and showcase your products or brand messages. Here are the top benefits of a branded trade show booth:
- Communicate directly with your target market: Trade show booths provide a unique opportunity to speak directly to people who are interested or involved in your industry. Thousands of people attend trade shows, and booths provide the perfect chance to interact with ideal customers and generate high-value leads.
- Experience face-to-face marketing: With the popularity of digital marketing, it’s rare for companies to have the chance to meet and pitch to potential customers in person. Through direct communication at the booth, you can build real-life connections with potential leads.
- Expand business network: Branded trade show booths allow you to form connections with other businesses and network with individuals in similar fields. Forming these relationships can open up growth opportunities.
- Stand out from competitors: A custom trade show booth helps businesses stand out. Vibrant graphics, bright colors and exciting messaging can highlight what your company has to offer.
Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Buzzing Trade Show Booth
Trade show booths need to be attractive, exciting and functional. Creating a booth that gets everyone talking takes a few crucial steps.
1. Nail Down Your Budget
First things first — let’s talk money. Preparing for a trade show involves deciding how much to spend on the exhibit. It typically costs around $100-$150 per square foot of floor space. A 10×10 space could cost around $14,000, while a bigger booth space can cost around $20,000. Your overall budget should be roughly three times the amount you spend on space. Here are some other cost factors to consider:
- Giveaways: You’ll need freebies to hand out to visitors and make conversation more natural. Branded swag options, from pens to tech gear, can fit all budgets.
- Amenities: Calculate an estimate for things like technology elements that would help your booth function smoothly.
- Personnel: It also costs to send staff on the trip and pay for hotels, meals and airfare. You’ll also need to add in uniforms and wages.
2. Find the Perfect Spot
If you want to generate leads, build new customer relationships or enter a brand-new market, choose the area with the most traffic. The best location for this is near the entrance so that attendees see your booth before any of the others. It’ll leave a lasting impression, and you’ll attract more visitors since they’ll need to pass your booth on the way in. These high-value areas may be more expensive, but if your budget has room, then a booth in this area would be an excellent pick.
However, if you’re selling products, it’s important to note that while the booth at the entrance may seem more exciting to attendees, they may not be ready to commit to a purchase as soon as they enter the event. Secondary locations like those toward the middle or exit of the venue tend to be more affordable and can help you seal the deal. With a vibrant trade show kit, you can stand out and enjoy plenty of foot traffic regardless of location.
3. Choose Merch People Actually Want
Great swag helps attendees have an awesome experience. Merch is like a souvenir that will help visitors remember your brand. Trade show swag can help you stand out and act as a magnet that brings more people to your booth. It also serves as a way to break the ice when attendees approach the booth.
The best promotional products for trade shows are lightweight and portable. It’s also wise to select items with high visibility and functionality, such as tote bags. Other options include pens, baseball caps, notebooks and keychains. These items are always a hit because people can use them in daily life. Tech items like chargers are also in high demand, so including some tech swag is also an excellent option.
4. Get the Right Equipment
To create a professional-looking setup that draws attention and makes attendees want to stick around, here are some of the top equipment pieces you need when building a trade show booth:
- Tables and chairs: You can’t have a booth without tables and chairs that allow you to display your merch and speak with attendees. If you’re at the entrance, ensure your table doesn’t obstruct movement. Choose a bar-height round table or another option that’s better for the space.
- Graphics and signage: Bright table throws for trade shows with your company branding can help draw people in and stir interest. A retractor kit is also crucial for maximizing visibility and creating branding opportunities.
- Lighting: Spotlights or LED lighting can help draw attention to your booth and showcase products. Lighting can help your booth stand out and increase visibility, which is especially necessary when your booth is toward the middle or end of the building.
- Display wall or shelf: If you’re selling products or giving away freebies, a display shelf helps showcase the items so that attendees can see them easily.
The most important part of selecting equipment is customizing it according to your company branding, colors and messaging. Custom equipment and merch make your company booth look more professional and established. Attendees are likely to stop at your booth if you have exciting things to see!
Build an Attention-Grabbing Trade Show Booth With Inkwell, a BRANDITO Company
Do you want to create a trade show booth that will have all the attendees waiting to get time and merch at your booth? With Inkwell, you can create a trade show booth with company swag that will boost your impact, visibility and return on investment.
We’ve been a leader in top-quality swag and branded merchandise since 1983, and our top-quality products can help your company gain new opportunities, boost sales and create a stronger network.
All our merch is made in-house and made to order, and our creative team can help you create custom items that leave a positive and memorable mark on your target audience. We prioritize transparent communication, keeping you informed through every step.
Contact us to schedule a demo or learn more about how we can help you steal the spotlight at your next trade show.
