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5 Questions To Ask Before Designing Your Trade Show Booth
6 min read
If you’re planning for your company’s first trade show booth, you might have many more than five questions. In fact, you might feel so overwhelmed you don’t even know who to direct your questions to! It’s important to do your research ahead of time, and get all the answers you need before investing in your trade show display. Once you have decided on a show that your company would benefit from participating in, be sure to plan out a budget that will cover everything from marketing, to design, to set up and transportation. After your budget is developed, make sure you can answer the following questions before investing in a trade show display.
- How big is the booth space?
This may seem like a given. One of the first decisions you will make when reserving a booth space at a trade show is the square footage. If you're on a tight budget or have a large number of shows you want to exhibit at you may want to go with a smaller booth like a 10x10 trade show display. The next step up which is a 10x20 trade show booth provides twice the square footage for demo areas, product displays, and video monitors, as well as projecting your company as a larger player in the industry.
However, this will affect more than just how many booth accessories you can fit into the space. In fact, many times less can be more in a confined space. Get creative on ways to utilize a small both space. Thinking vertically and considering ceiling space for a hanging display can be a good way for smaller booth rentals to stand out against competitors. Incorporating freestanding workstations or touch screen technology can also be a good way to increase the amount of information available to visitors without taking up too much space. Trade show booths of different dimensions are very dependent on the type of company and marketing campaign you are presenting, so chose wisely and be realistic with your budget when deciding. - How accessible is my booth?
Many times, new exhibitors don’t get the first pick when it comes to the location of their booth. Companies who have participated year after year get the first selection and the opportunity to upgrade their position. When designing your booth, you’ll need to take into account your position on the trade show floor. If your booth will be accessible from only the front, you should be safe with a traditional set up, but if you are on a corner position or your booth is viewable from the back, you’ll need to take this into account. You should be sure that the entry points of your booth are clear and accessible in order to attract as many visitors as possible. In addition to this, you’ll want to create a focal point to your trade show display so that people will be drawn into your booth to interact with your staff. Trade show attendees want their experience to have a purpose, so it is important that your company create a sense of purpose and focus in your design. The more engaging and accessible your booth is, the more leads and sales you are likely to generate. - Who are my neighboring exhibitors?
Do yourself a favor and don’t position your booth right next to your competitors. Research the show ahead of time and get a good idea of who else in your industry will also be exhibiting. A little brand competition is healthy, but it is far easier to compete for attention with your neighbors who aren’t selling the exact same service or product. If you design your trade show booth effectively, you’ll stand out against your competitors from across the trade show floor. When deciding on a booth position, look into exhibitor positions from the years before and select a space that will help you stand out from the booths next door. - What are my resources for set up?
Once you solidify your booth position, you’ll want to start asking the technical questions concerning your space. Figure out what resources will be available to you during the show as well as during set up and tear down. Access to power, equipment, lighting, and flooring are all hugely important features that are sometimes overlooked in the planning process. If you are renting a display such as a turnkey truss booth, be clear on what is included and what may not be included in your kit. The booth design and rental experts at Iconic Displays can help you navigate your way through the often confusing exhibitor’s handbook to help you determine exactly what basic and additional accessories you might need for your trade show booth. - What is the projected lifespan of my display?
Once you find a trade show that is successful and beneficial to your business, ideally you’d return to the event the next year to reconnect with people in the industry and build relationships over time. If you’re planning on investing in a trade show for the long haul, your best option would be to eventually buy your own display and make updates to it as your company expands. Depending on your number of shows per year and the size of your budget, you may choose to focus on durability and ease of setup. If you are looking to buy a trade show display for multiple-use, be sure you have a location to store it in where it won’t be damaged between shows. If you are looking for something that is simple to set up, a pop up display might be the best option for you. Consider renting your trade show display as part of a kit if this is a new trade show or your do not plan on exhibiting very much in the future.
The more information you gather ahead of time about the trade show, your placement, and you rental options, the more prepared you will be. Design and develop a display that will help you gather more leads and increase your brand awareness. Iconic Displays trade show booth experts can help every step of the way in answering any questions you may have.