Why Your Trade Show Booth is Failing (and How to Fix It)

Why Your Trade Show Booth is Failing (And How to Fix It)

Do you feel like every trade show booth gets hardly any traffic? Read on to learn why your trade show booth is failing and wha to do about it.

Did you know that 82 percent of trade show visitors are directly involved in making purchase decisions for their companies? So for you as a B2B business owner or marketer, trade shows are a great sales opportunity.

The problem, however, is that many companies make fatal mistakes when it comes to their trade show booth marketing.

That's why we've put together this guide outlining some of the main reasons trade show booths fail and how to fix these issues.

Check out our suggestions below.

Your Trade Booth Staff is Poorly Trained

If your trade show booth staff doesn't know what they're talking about, you're in trouble. No matter how nice your display is, if people come to your booth and have a bad experience with your staff, they're not going to want to work with you.

Think about yourself as a customer. When you go into a clothing or electronic store, how would you feel if the staff couldn't answer any of your questions and was unknowledgeable about their products?

This is what you want to avoid with your trade show booth staff. Instead, spend time training them on your company's products, policies, and offers. That way, they'll be able to make sales and grow relationships in a great way.

Eye-Catching Graphics

At a trade show, you're competing with lots of other vendors for people's attention. And one of the best ways to stand out is through catchy but professional graphics.

You only have a few seconds to catch people's attention as they're walking past your booth. Include elements that stand out from the crowd! But also make sure it still looks put together and professional.

For example, don't use tons of neon colors and ten different fonts just to make an impression. That will leave a negative one.

Instead, feature eye-catching images or slogans that are still on brand. This will lead to the best results.

Check out our wide selection of professional trade show booth materials.

Your Location is Bad

The most successful trade show booths are often the ones that are closest to the entrances and main event rooms. And these are often the most expensive spaces.

But at the end of the day, it's often worth the extra cost!

Think of it this way. If your booth is super far away from the main event rooms, you're going to save money on booth cost. But you're also going to get a fraction of the event traffic.

And less traffic equals fewer sales.

On the flip side, if you invest a little more and get closer to the main event areas, you'll get much more traffic, which will result in higher sales.

So all in all, it's often worth it to pay a little more for a better location.

You're Not Utilizing Giveaways

Like we talked about earlier, your goal is to get people to stop at your booth. That way, you can start conversing with them and open a dialogue about your products and services.

If they never stop at your booth, you won't have a chance to get things going.

Well, one of the best ways to engage with trade show attendees is through giveaways. People love winning free stuff!

There are two main ways to do this. First, you can give away free drinks, candy, or t-shirts to people who come and stop by your booth.

Another effective way is to do a drawing for a bigger prize like a TV or a vacation. This can also catch people's attention.

Your Booth Has Barriers

Often, trade show booths have physical barriers that are blocking people from further engaging with your staff.

For example, many companies will place tables at the front of their booths. They use them to keep free snacks and drinks and place brochures and pamphlets on them.

But what people don't think about is that this creates a literal barrier between your staff and attendees.

Instead, keep things open! Of course you need a place to keep your things, but place tables on the sides or back of your booth instead of the front.

Don't disrupt the flow of traffic and make your booth inviting. This will lead to much greater success.

Not sure your next steps? We can help you design an effective trade show booth!

You're Being Reactive Instead of Proactive

In life in general, it's much easier to be reactive than it is to be proactive. But often, the greatest success comes when you make a plan and make things happen instead of waiting for things to happen to you.

The same is true of trade show booths! So in everything you do when it comes to your booth design, think of this principle: be reactive instead of proactive.

Make your booth stand out from the crowd by including interesting entertainment or sound effects. Enable your staff with engaging ways to interact with the crowd.

No matter what, keep this mindset and you'll be successful.

Closing Thoughts

There you have it: why your trade show booth is failing and how you can fix it! Now that you've gone through these tips, it's time to incorporate them into your business.

Are any of these true in your case? If so, how can you improve your booth?

If you have any questions or want to learn more, our team of experts is ready to help you out. Simply get in contact with us today.