6 tips to shine at expos and fairs

It's fair and expo season!  I love going to fairs and expos.  They are not just informative and fun, but I get to evaluate the businesses on their expo and fair acumen.  It never fails.  I can find at least ten businesses that just don't know how to really promote themselves at these events.  And it has nothing to do with size of the company. 

Every company -- big or small -- should still put its best face forward. So, taking the positive approach, I have developed a six point list I call, "Six Ways to Shine at Expos and Fairs": 

• Be personable. You would be surprised how many people at booths just sit there. The don't smile. Step from behind the table and engage people that walk by. Make eye contact, smile,and speak. Offer literature, samples or demonstrate your product or service.  

• Be informed. If you can't discuss the benefits and merits of your product or service, you should not be at the booth or table. Don't send Martha in accounting just because she volunteered, leave her at the office if she doesn't have the answers.

• Be well-fed. Don’t eat at your booth. It’s not very enticing to go to a booth where people have greasy fingers, a paper plate of half-eaten food and crumbs on the table. Eat your meal in the designated eating area.  Hopefully this is far away from your booth.

• Be on time. Make sure you set-up during the appropriate time so that you can be fresh and ready to engage the attendees when the fair or expo begins. If you aren’t there at the beginning, you are losing money. You will get the most for your booth fee if you are there on time and stay until it is over.

• Be identified. Your marketing materials should be well-produced, have no misspellings, and include your contact information. Have a table cloth, sign and/or stand up banner with your company or organization name that can be seen from several feet away. If you wear a uniform, be clean and pressed — even if it is a tee-shirt.

• Be organized. Have your materials, samples, exhibit ready for people to pick-up, taste, or view.

I'll be seeing you!