Whether it’s Grand Designs, Homebuilding & Renovating, Decorex, HIX, The Flooring Show, PHEX or KBB, if you are booked in to showcase your products at an exhibition, then this is the blog for you.
Signing the contract is the easy part; it’s what you do after that to promote your presence that matters. There’s much to be done before, during and after the exhibition.
We’ve put together an easy guide to help you.
Pre-exhibition
- Plan plan plan – stand design, product selection, PR and social strategy – it’s vital to get organised and plan well ahead. An exhibition is a busy time and there will be a lot of last minute dashes so make sure you have the basics covered well in advance.
- Upload your event logo everywhere that’s customer-facing – email sign-offs, website homepage and social media.
- Communicate – make sure tell your customers and industry friends where you will be and what they can expect.
- Your chosen PR company (we know a good one!) should also notify the relevant media.
- Create content for your website and blogs (again, we know a good company who can create excellent content!) – what can visitors expect, any sneak peeks, industry views, topical conversations leading up to the show.
- Speak to the organisers to utilise their services and ask how they are promoting the show. How can you be involved?
- Research different opportunities for your company – speaking slots, seminars or sponsorship (awards, lanyards, exhibition guides etc.)
- Create a social media strategy and assign someone to be charge of capturing and posting content throughout the exhibition.
- Prepare digital media packs.
During exhibition
- Capture as much content as you can (videos and photos) and share that across your social media channels as and when it’s happening.
- Make sure you tag the exhibition in every post and use the relevant, official hashtags.
- Engage with the exhibition’s social media channels throughout the show.
- Arrange for a competition or some type of interactive “game” to take place on your stand.
- Conduct media interviews on your stand – these can be arranged in advance.
- Keep an eye out on the media’s channels – they will post about your stand if you ask.
Post-exhibition
- Create a review blog for your website detailing the successes and highlights – include photographs. This should be then shared across your social media channels.
- Follow up with any media you met throughout the show – send them content on anything they were interested in.
- Identify any popular products at the exhibition and highlight those.
If you are interested in promoting your company through an exhibition promotional programme, please email lauren@tayloralden.co.uk