As a business owner, it’s important to realize that your employees may not have the same level of excitement or passion about trade shows as you do.
They don’t have the same vested interest. And more often than not, they’re less than thrilled than you are about having to attend the event.
Unique trade show attractions, trade show games, and trade show contests can go a long way in drawing crowds to your trade show booth, but a smiling face and inspired booth attendee is what will ultimately make the sale!
Trade shows can take an enormous toll on anyone’s enthusiasm. 14-hour days spent on your feet, smiling and greeting attendees who have limited interest in what you’re selling can affect anybody’s motivation.
However, it’s critical that your trade show booth staff have a positive attitude and are enthusiastic about being there! Today, I’m going to give you 3 ideas that will help keep your trade show booth staff motivated.
#1 – Establish Goals Before The Show
Without having goals, your employees are going to perceive the event as a chore. They’ll be paid for being there, but they won’t feel any level of personal accountability. Before the show, take the time to speak with them individually in order to establish their goals. Depending upon your overall objectives, those goals might include collecting a certain number of leads or meeting a given sales target.
Once your trade show booth staff have established their goals for the show, gather them together so they can share them with each other. Not only will this foster a sense of team spirit, but the accountability will keep them excited.
#2 – Recognize Your Employees
Studies have repeatedly shown that employees are more motivated by individual recognition than they are by monetary rewards. During the event, take your employees aside to recognize their efforts. Let them know that you appreciate their participation. Remember, each day at the show can be extremely long and draining. After 12 or 14 hours, even the most enthusiastic member of your team can lose their motivation. Pull them aside and recognize them for making a sale, attracting a key lead, or remaining professional and engaging throughout the day.
#3 – Hold A Contest
A fun, simple contest can inspire your trade show booth staff to remain energetic throughout the event. Use their personal goals as the benchmark for their performance. You can offer them small prizes, such as a free day off, lunch at the restaurant of their choice, or movie tickets. You can even make the contest a team effort. That is, if your trade show booth staff meet a team goal, they share a group prize. This type of contest can keep them excited and motivated during the long days.
The Face Of Your Business
Your booth staff plays a key role in projecting a professional image for your business. In many ways, they represent the only face that attendees will ever see. It’s critical that you keep them motivated. Invest the time to help your staff plan their goals for the event, organize a fun contest to get them excited, and recognize their efforts throughout the show. Using promotional giveaways and trade show attractions in order to draw the right type of crowds will always be important. But, your trade show booth staff must remain motivated and inspired during the event.
About the author:
Jonathan Edelman provides helpful advice about trade show strategies. With years of experience in the trenches, he is an expert on booth displays, follow up techniques, and using trade show marketing strategies to boost revenue.
