With the economy continuing to struggle, it’s more important than ever to employ creative trade show ideas that can help transform your trade show spend into a positive ROI.
One of the key ingredients is booth traffic. In order to make your trade show efforts successful, you must be able to attract people to your exhibit.
While other exhibitors strive to draw in the few passersby who express even the mildest of interest in their products, you can turn your trade show exhibits into traffic-magnets. Below, I’ll reveal 4 exciting trade show ideas that you can use to increase your booth traffic.
#1 – Promotional Prize Wheels
Prize wheels are a proven strategy for attracting people to trade show exhibits. Convention halls are often dreary and colorless; the dull thrum of conversation can further desensitize attendees. Promotional prize wheels can inject a splash of color and excitement into your exhibit, drawing people in. And they can be customized to support your trade show marketing effort.
For example, allow anyone who will provide their contact information a spin on the wheel. Every spin wins a prize. Each prize carries a promotional message that spreads your company’s name throughout the convention floor. Plus, watching someone spin the wheel is almost irresistible to other attendees.
#2 – Money Machines
Money machines are one of the most effective trade show ideas for capturing attention and attracting crowds to your exhibit. An attendee steps into a transparent booth and waits expectantly while an attendant counts down in a microphone. Then, a whirlwind of dollar bills, vouchers, or coupons blows around the attendee as he struggles to grab as many of them as possible.
With a little creativity, you can integrate money machines to support your marketing strategy. For example, let attendees collect as many vouchers as possible within 30 seconds. Then, let them trade a certain number of vouchers in for a spin at your prize wheel.
#3 – Popcorn Machines
Imagine yourself as an attendee. You’ve been on your feet for the entire day. Plus, you’re mildly bored and more than a little hungry. Suddenly, the seductive aroma of freshly-popped, buttered popcorn wafts by you. Popcorn machines are one of the few trade show ideas that attracts booth traffic by teasing attendees’ taste buds. Not only does the scent of fresh popcorn draw people in, but the bags can be customized with your company name, logo, and marketing message.
Before long, you’ll have dozens of informal ambassadors giving your company and exhibit more exposure throughout the convention floor. Once other attendees observe people enjoying your popcorn, they’ll search frantically for your booth.
#4 – Video Game Contests
Most people are familiar with classic video games like Pac-man. They’re instantly recognizable. Plus, they can provide event attendees with needed entertainment after they’ve spent hours visiting trade show exhibits. By organizing video game contests, you can increase your booth traffic, provide entertainment, engage in conversation with attendees, and collect their contact information. It’s one of the most popular trade show ideas because it entertains visitors, encourages conversation, and sets the stage for following up after the event.
Because only one person can play the video game at a time, you and your employees can create a comfortable dialogue with those who are waiting their turn. Plus, by offering promotional items as prizes for the top five scores of the day, you’ll encourage people to provide their contact information.
Putting These Trade Show Ideas To Use
Most exhibitors struggle to attract visitors to their trade show exhibits because they fail to think like an attendee. The key to drawing crowds to your booth is to understand what motivates them. The 4 trade show ideas I’ve described above focus on people’s instinctive curiosity, hunger, competitive spirit, and attraction toward games of chance. Each of these trade show ideas is easy to implement and cost-effective. Most importantly, they can help ensure that your marketing efforts deliver a positive ROI.
