Exhibitions offer amazing opportunities no matter what size or type of business you run. If you want to meet potential or current clients and get your product out in front of your target audience then you need to be exhibiting.

If you want to get it right, before you exhibit, then here are some important questions to ask yourself.

1. Why am I participating in this show?

Businesses sign up to do Exhibitions for a variety of reasons, such as:

• Exhibitions are a great platform to launch new products or concepts.
• Exhibitions nurture new and existing relationships.
• Exhibitions are a great marketing tool to build brand awareness.

To be a business who succeeds at an Exhibition or even an event, you need to be clear on why you are doing it and how it aligns with your business strategy. Understanding why you are participating will help you to provide a clear design brief to the supplier you decide to use for your Exhibition Stand and/or graphics. Here at Exhibit Group, we’re able to offer the complete package from off-the-shelf Exhibition stands to bespoke, graphics and furniture hire. What’s more, we’ll be with you every step of the way from design to delivery, build and breakdown.

2. Am I prepared for the show?

Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” When it comes to exhibitions, amongst other things, he might just have a point!

In the Event and Exhibition Industry, being prepared will save you both time and money. For example, signing up early can give you access to discounted rates especially as many companies will charge a premium if it’s a tight deadline. Plus being disorganised could lead to additional costs which could push you over the budget.

Remember: Designing and building your stand is a key component of exhibiting. Therefore, it must be included in your budget and be a priority in your planning.

3. Who am I targeting at the show?

For most exhibitions, the attendees reach thousands but not all of them will be your target audience. Who are you targeting and how do you plan to real them in? By knowing who it is you want to reach, you can plan your presence and exhibition stand more effectively. Ultimately, the reason you are at the show is to get new leads who will make your investment worthwhile and perhaps even make you a profit.

Exhibit Group can’t help you with the why or who but we can help you with the how. We have over 11 years’ experience working in the Events and Exhibition industry so you can rest assured you’re in safe hands. We’re here to help you with the preparation and making sure you have the best Exhibition stand to show off your business, brand and products. Contact us today on 020 3384 0369 or email info@exhibitgroup.net.

4. What marketing am I going to do to make my attendance worth it?

Although you will know whether the Exhibition was worth doing from the fantastic range of leads you are going to get. It’s important to know what the statistics and general marketing activity around the event is.

• How many people are going to view your stand at the show?

Speak to the show organisers who will be able to provide this information about how many attended and the flow of people throughout the show. This will help you decide whether it’s worth attending.

• Is my presence backed up on social media?

Keeping new or existing customers updated on your company activities before, during and after an Event or Exhibition is crucial. Consider posting about why people should come and see you, what you have to offer and regular updates about what’s happening such as videos of people visiting your stand. Include the show’s hashtag, if they have one, so that people who search for the event will see your posts.

5. What can I offer to potential customers?

People like to get involved and interact with something, therefore the more engaging your stand is the more people are likely to remember you.  Consider incentives for your visitors such as promotional items, free trials, a prize draw or a gift for stopping by your stand and/or leaving their details. An exciting stand will draw the potential leads to engage with you and ultimately is the way to capture data to engage with potential customers in the future.

6. Do I have a post-show plan?

So, you’ve attended the show, you’ve got loads of great new contacts who are all potential new customers what are you going to do with them?

Don’t let the money you spend on your bespoke Exhibition stand, travel, staff cover etc go to waste! After the event is over, you need to be active. In any competitive industry, if you don’t follow-up leads within 2 or 3 days then your competitors certainly will have. Have a plan for following up with people immediately after the show, even if it’s an email.

If you need more reasons to exhibit, check out our blog.

Choose Exhibit Group

Sought after suppliers and leading experts in bespoke Exhibition design and Builds, Exhibit Group have a first-class service to offer you. We offer all our services in-house ensuring we can offer competitive prices to suit your budget without sacrificing quality or on-time delivery. From graphics to furniture hire, carpentry to metalwork and delivery, install and breakdown, we’ve got your requirements covered.

We deliver to Exhibitions anywhere in the UK and Europe 24/7 so can have your Exhibition stand wherever you want it, whenever you want it.

If you would like to discuss your requirements further, please do not hesitate to get in contact on 020 3384 0369 or email info@exhibitgroup.net.