Displayit.com's Blog - Trade Show Displays, Booths, & Exhibits

What's the EDPA, and Why is Displayit a Member?

In keeping with our mission statement, we seek to provide outstanding customer service by ensuring our team members are up-to-date on product knowledge, current industry trends, and best practices. You may have seen the "EDPA member" logo on our homepage and wondered what it stands for. EDPA is short for Exhibit Designers and Producers Association. The EDPA currently has over 400 corporate members, representing 18 countries worldwide. The EDPA's corporate members are involved in various segments of the exhibiting industry, including trade show display designers and manufacturers, systems marketers, and show contractors.

Since its founding in 1954, the EDPA has provided its members (as well as the exhibiting and event industries) with educational programs and networking opportunities. Having access to our industry's top leaders gives us the tools we need to provide you with the service you deserve. Displayit is a member of the EDPA's Southeast Chapter.

To learn more about the EDPA, visit their website at www.edpa.com. 

Using the Right Words to Achieve Trade Show Success

"Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace."  ~ Buddha

Never is that quote more true than when you're a customer who's looking for a solution to your problem. Think about the last time you had an urgent problem. When you found yourself desperately sifting through a bunch of hollow messages to find the one that struck a chord with you, the one with the words that let you know that you'd found your solution.

At a trade show, an exhibitor has a very small amount of time to communicate with prospective customers. It's important that the exhibitor chooses the words on her trade show exhibit carefully - to tell buyers that her product or service will bring the buyers the peace they're seeking. And that's why I think this quote illustrates why using the right words is critical in trade show marketing.

 

The Key to Success

Exhibitors who experience repeated trade show success know how to appeal to prospects' emotions, which is a key element of "customer-centric" copy. Choosing the right words for that copy - words that elicit emotional responses from prospective buyers - can have a huge impact on the outcome of an event.

You want to let your prospects know that you understand their frustrations and fears, and you want to let them know that your company is capable of addressing those frustrations and fears head on. When you can create the perception that you're the problem solver, you'll beat the competition every time.

 

Pulling the Trigger

Using "trigger words," (words that compel your prospects to take action) in your message will not only appeal to your customers' emotional needs, the trigger words will also help your message stand out in a sea of hollow words.  

Here are some examples of great trigger words:

• Discover
• Exclusive
• Valuable
• Proven
• Easy
• Thrive
• Brilliant
• Secret
• Hurry
• Painless

 

Use the Right Words for Trade Show Success 

The right trigger words will evoke an emotional response from your target prospects, and that's a great thing! When you're able to connect with your target audience on an emotional level, you'll get great results each and every time. Choose the right words for your trade show message. Use the word(s) that will bring peace to your prospects.  

Do you have a great trigger word? Add on to the list in the comments below. 

Banner Stand Displays Reorganized

We've changed the layout on our site to make it easier to find and compare banner stand displays. Previously, the products were organized strictly by style (like single-sided, double-sided, outdoor, etc.). Now, they're categorized primarily by price range.

The main product category pages have a new look as well.  It's easier to compare each of the products on the budget banner stand, premium banner stand, and multi-banner stand display pages based on their features and prices.

Take a look; we'd love to hear what you think!     

 

Trade Show Phrase of the Day: Build and Burn

 

A build and burn trade show exhibit is an exhibit that's built specifically for one-time use at a show, then destroyed afterwards (usually by burning it; hence the term "build and burn").

When exhibiting abroad, many companies opt for a build and burn booth due to the limited storage options available to them.

Although a build and burn booth is usually a more convenient choice for exhibitors, the practice of burning these exhibits can also be incredibly destructive to the environment. 

So exhibitors are faced with a choice: go for the more environmentally responsible option and purchase their display outright (and deal with the complexities of storage and maintenance), or opt for the ease of choosing a one-time use display (and possible fall-out of choosing the "non-green" option).  

There's another choice: a rental display . Rentals offer exhibitors the best of both worlds, and they're an eco-friendly alternative to a build and burn booth. There are many high-quality designs available. Exhibitors also don't have to deal with the potential pitfalls that come with owning an exhibit, and rentals are customizable and convenient. Another benefit? If you're able to find a local rental company, you'll eliminate shipping costs altogether (and shrink your carbon footprint, too)!   

If you'll be exhibiting abroad at any time in the near future, know that "build and burn" will be one of the options presented to you. Make sure you consider all of your options and make an informed choice!

4 Huge Errors Exhibitors Make

You've decided to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that trade shows provide. Then the negative feedback starts rolling in: "Trade shows are a waste of time." "We lost thousands of dollars on that show." You start second-guessing whether exhibiting is a good idea after all.

Trade shows are an incredible marketing tool. The keys to success are advanced planning and having the right strategy in place. If you avoid the mistakes that your peers are making on the show floor, you'll prove all the naysayers wrong, and you'll see just how beneficial trade shows can be for your bottom line. 

That said, here are four key mistakes many exhibitors make:

1) Waiting until the last minute to plan. There's an old proverb that says, "He who fails to plan, plans to fail." Never is that adage more true than in the exhibiting world. Ideally, you should begin planning for your event at least a year in advance; four months at the VERY MINIMUM. Boost your trade show ROI by taking advantage of "early bird" discounts and avoiding rush charges.

2) Targeting everyone who attends the event. Believe it or not, not every attendee at an event is a potential customer. Far too many exhibitors waste time talking to people who couldn't care less about what the exhibitor has to offer. Avoid this by identifying your company's ideal prospect, training your booth staff on how to properly qualify those prospects, and honing your marketing strategy to attract those prospects.

3) Too much clutter. On your trade show display, in your booth, everywhere. The most successful exhibitors abide by the "keep it simple" principle. Unclutter your graphics by limiting text. Unclutter your booth space by reducing the amount of sales literature (brochures, fliers, etc.) you bring with you, and by limiting the amount of staffers in your booth.  You want to entice attendees to visit your booth space, not scare them away.       

4) Choosing the wrong exhibiting staff. Make sure that the people who are representing your company are comfortable talking to strangers, and ensure your staffers are well-versed in the product or service that you're showcasing at the event. Nothing turns attendees off like people who appear unfriendly and/or inept.

When you avoid these costly (and oh-so-common) mistakes, you'll be able to tap into the immense marketing power that trade shows have to offer.

New Product! Pronto Retractable Banner Stand with Eco-Paradise Graphic

We've just added a brand-new item to our line of banner stand displays. The Pronto Eco banner stand features graphics that are printed (using water-based inks) on fabric that's manufactured from 100% post-consumer recycled soda bottles.  

Standing more than 7' high, the Pronto Eco is available in four widths (ranging from 23.5" to 47.25") and two base colors (silver or black). With a lead time of only 5 business days, this banner stand is also perfect for exhibitors on tight timelines.

Prices start at $399.

For an even greater selection of banner stands, visit displayit.com.

Is Your Trade Show Message Too Long-Winded?

What kind of advertising captures your attention these days?

a) Something that's short and concise

b) Long, drawn-out lists, filled with a product's numerous features and benefits

Chances are, you picked choice "a." And if you do any kind of trade show or event marketing, then your sales pitches should resemble choice "a," too. 

Could you describe what your company does in 10 words or less? If you can't, then Susan Friedmann, also known as "The Tradeshow Coach," has a message for you: your sales pitch is too long.     

In her article "Get Your Tradeshow Message Across in 10 Words or Less," Friedmann shares valuable trade show marketing insights, emphasizing the importance of simplicity. She writes, "From my experience...I very, very, very rarely hear a message that I truly understand first time around. Most often I’m bombarded with a string of meaningless industry or product jargon..."

If the above comments are an industry expert's observations, then it's got to be what your target audience is experiencing as well. And she's right: too many companies focus on describing every minute detail of their products or services - at the expense of driving away the very people who could benefit from those products or services!

The core of Friedmann's article focuses on perfecting your company's "elevator speech" - so named because your sales pitch really shouldn't last longer than the length of an elevator ride. The whole point of this kind of sales pitch is to be able to capture the attention of your target audience quickly and effectively. A well-crafted elevator speech should be part every trade show marketer's tool kit; a succinct, targeted message will stand out in a sea of aimless, long-winded sales pitches.      

So, I'll ask you again: would you be able to describe what your company does in 10 words or less? If not, then I encourage you to take a look at Friedmann's article and work through the exercises she provides. It's a very valuable lesson in trade show marketing and an investment that's well worth your time. 

Advanced Trade Show Marketing Tactics

You've got the basics down pat, from identifying your target sales prospect to the design of your trade show exhibit. Now that you're a little more sure of yourself in the trade show world, how can you increase your ROI even more? Where should you be focusing your time and resources?

The Trade Show News Network recently featured an article that's loaded with some good trade show marketing tips. Author Mike Thimmesch outlines 6 ways you can improve your trade show marketing program - from exhibiting in vertical shows to incorporating items like iPad displays into your booth.

Click on the link to learn "Six Advanced Trade Show Strategies and Tactics."      

Preview: New 10' x 20' XVline Exhibits

In a few weeks, we'll be adding new sizes and styles to our existing collection of XVline displays. The 10' x 10' displays are selling well, and we're excited to begin offering the 10' x 20' exhibits too. 

XVline, which debuted at Displayit this past May, features modern-looking, durable hardware; crisp, dye-sublimated graphics; and easy setup. You can customize the XVline displays further with optional hardware such as stand-offs, headers, slatwalls (great for product samples and giveaways), and counters.

Visit displayit.com to see more great trade show displays, and look for the new XVline displays on our website soon.

     

Goodbye, 2011; Hello, 2012!

Wow...I can't believe that this Sunday marks the start of 2012. The end of 2011 and the promise and potential of the year to come. I don't know about you, but 2011 saw a lot of changes for Displayit.

So, what were Displayit's top three highlights in 2011?

1)  Relaunch of displayit.com - cleaner navigation and more organized content

2)  Debut of our brand-new logo - 

     From this:           To this:   

 

3)  New faces - we've added three new staff members to our team, in order to provide you with the service you've come to expect from Displayit. 

We've set some pretty ambitious goals for ourselves in 2012, and we have plenty of exciting things in store for our clients. Here are a couple of our New Year's resolutions:

1)  More trade show marketing support. It's not enough to have a great exhibit. In order to maximize your chances of success (and crush your competition), you must have a comprehensive, well-targeted marketing strategy in place. We want to provide you with support in both areas.  

2)  A more intuitive website. We want to make shopping for a trade show display as stress-free as possible, and we want to help you find the products you need at prices that fit your budget.

How can we help your event marketing program reach its peak next year? I'd love to hear your feedback, so please leave a comment below.

From all of us on the Displayit team, Happy New Year, and best wishes for success and prosperity throughout 2012!