Trade Show Planning Made a Little Easier!

Participating in trade shows in the U.S.A. and abroad should be part of your domestic and global marketing plan for 2017. To participate in trade shows as an exhibitor will require a lot of time, planning, and internal discussions. Here are some questions you need to focus on and discuss with management.

• What are the best trade shows and events for our company and products?
• How can we get exhibit space in some of the leading trade shows?
• Do we want to participate in domestic or international trade shows?
• What are the markets we want to focus on?
• What are the demographics of the event?
• Will we meet the right buyers and industry leaders at the event?
• What is our financial commitment for the event?
• What is the timeline we need to work with?
• What is the best marketing plan for our company?
• Who will be on the trade show booth team?
• Who will plan, design, and build our trade show booth?
• How can we promote our participation through social media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)?
• Is there an exhibitor checklist we can work with?
• What are the rules and regulations at the trade show facility?
• What are the rules and regulations of the event?

These are just some of the many questions you need to look at. I hope that this information will help you to be better prepared for your next business steps.

 About Global CIF

Global CIF is an Atlanta, GA, U.S.A., based international trade show management and consulting firm. We have over 20 years of global trade show and consulting experience, reaching an extensive network in over 25 countries and 65 industries. Global CIF provides hands-on business solutions that enable companies to expand their reach. For additional information on Global CIF visit http://www.globalcif.com.

Contact:             

Dirk Ebener, 5077 Dallas Highway, Suite 201, Powder Springs, GA 30127,
Phone +1 (404) 424-9598 ext. 2; info@globalcif.com 

Connect with us on Social Media:

Twitter – @globalcif

Hashtags – #globalcif #tradeshowtalk  #tradeshowtips

 

Business Cards are your Business Ally

Today, the corporate world is moving towards all things digital. Our focus is all about sending emails, having virtual meetings, planning business travel on the iPad, scanning devices on our phones, and networking. We use our devices to immediately connect. One business tool that will not go away in the foreseeable future is the business card.

I want to share with you why I firmly believe in business cards. Business owners, startups, entrepreneurs, and people who are looking for new opportunities, should have plenty of business cards with them at all times. Most likely, you will not leave your office or home without your cell phone or credit/debit cards. Right? Consider your business card an equal ally of every business step you take. Don’t leave without it.

1. Networking is all about personal interaction. Shaking hands, talking about each other’s business, and exchanging business cards in person, are critical interpersonal skills. Exchanging contact information via email or text right then and there is counterproductive when it gets to building relationships. You are losing eye contact and will rush through the interaction. If you need to connect with someone after a meeting, then do that in the evening.
2. Business cards are your direct marketing tool and ice breaker. Your focus has to be on creating relationships. It is not about email marketing and texting. I have been in some very interesting places around the world, and had about 30-60 seconds to connect. The business card was my immediate best friend. Keep them around at all times.
3. Business cards represent your company and brand. Therefore, spend some “behind closed doors” time to create a strong and personal business card. Avoid the cheap “do it yourself” business cards. You do not want your company and brand associated with a bad first impression. You are handing someone a business card to stay connected. They will often judge your business based on that very first impression. Make it count!
4. Business cards represent your level of preparedness. It is very unprofessional to write your business information on a paper or cocktail napkin at a business reception. Do you really think the napkin will survive the night? Think again. Pulling out a business card shows that you are prepared. Make sure you have plenty of extras, and be generous with handing them out.
5. Business cards have two sides. Your new business contacts will hopefully ask you plenty of questions about your business. They are ready to learn about your company, the industry you are in, as well as what services or products your business offers. At one point, they are ready to write information about your company on your business card. This is the moment when your business card is ready to shine. Simply comment “You don’t have to write it all down. It is all on the back of my card.” Winner!!! Go ahead and use the back of your business card and list five or six key words or comments about your business. It works really, really well.

I hope that this information will help you to be better prepared for your next business steps.

About Global CIF

Global CIF is an Atlanta, GA, U.S.A. based trade show management and consulting firm. We have over 20 years of global trade show and consulting experience, reaching an extensive network in over 25 countries and 65 industries. Global CIF provides hands-on business solutions that enable companies to expand their reach. For additional information on Global CIF visit http://www.globalcif.com.

Contact:

Dirk Ebener, 5077 Dallas Highway, Suite 201, Powder Springs, GA 30127, U.S.A., Phone +1 (404) 424-9598 ext. 2; info@globalcif.com.

Connect with us on Social Media:

Twitter – @globalcif

Hashtags – #Global CIF,

Tags – #networking, #startups, #entrepreneurs, #international business

Trade Shows are your Domestic & Global Opportunity – Meet with the right decision makers.

I recently read some very interesting industry statistics about a leading industry event in Las Vegas. I believe that you will agree with me that these numbers are very impressive. The information also showed me that companies are still very interested and focused on participating in a trade show, seminars, and workshops.

I highly recommend that you read on and discuss some of these essential questions within your company. When your team is looking at trade shows as a platform to expand your business reach, you need to be able to answer some of the following questions

– Is our company actually prepared and ready to go to one of the many trade shows and face the eager and hungry
buyers

– Is your team and management prepared to select the right trade show for your company

– Can our team plan all of the 100+ details without forgetting the business cards or reserving the wrong hotel?

There is an art to the planning, marketing, organizing, shipping, onsite setup and tear down, a trade show. You also have to focus on pre-show marketing, social media activities and announcement, as well as buyer communication. Additional attention should be paid to trade show lead management and booth management. The list goes on and on.

Here are some very interesting and impressive industry statistics

– There are approx. 13,000 events annually in the US + Canada (10,000 B2B + 3,000 B2C). Some of the events have a
minimum number of exhibitors around 10 and 40.

– Looking at the overall numbers we see that the US + Canada trade show industry represents 30-40% of the world market.

I also looked at some additional information of some of the trade shows and events that take place in Las Vegas. I believe that these numbers speak for themselves:

Management participation:

• 40% Executive Management
• 29% General Management
• 20% General Staff
• 11% Skilled Trade

Buyer interest and decision marking authority:

• 87% see new products
• 78% get ideas
• 72% keep up with new trends
• 60% see existing vendors
• 65% see new vendors
• 87% net buying influence
• 57% make buying decisions

These numbers should be a very clear indicator of the importance of trade shows as a global sales and marketing tool.

Trade show consultants and coordinators can help you with all of the steps mentioned above and details. These experts are ready to step in and plan every step of your trade show experience.

Good luck with all of your trade show activities!

We can be reached at info@globalcif.com or call us at +1 (404) 735-5646. Our website is www.globalcif.com.