The Biggest Mistakes Exhibitors Should Avoid at Trade Shows
Planning for your next trade show can be hectic. And sometimes, mistakes can be made when you are trying to juggle several tasks all at once. With that in mind, check out our list of the top mistakes exhibitors make and do you best to avoid them.
Avoid clutter.
This is huge when it comes to making an impact at trade shows. Avoiding visual clutter in your exhibit will eliminate hard to read, confusing messaging. It will make it much easier for prospects to navigate your booth. Therefore, eliminating clutter from your exhibit will make the entire experience for your booth guests that much more enjoyable. Here are a couple of solutions to staying clutter-free:
Avoid graphic clutter.
The first type of clutter you can be sure to avoid is graphic clutter. If your exhibit has graphics that seem to mimic a brochure, with lots of small details, many words, and a load of images, you may steer your prospects away before they can even enter your booth.
Too many words mean there are too many places to look, meaning people won’t know where to look. To point your prospects to the messaging that you absolutely want them to see, keep your exhibit graphics similar to a billboard. One or two big and clear main messages are all you need to help attendees see and understand your message. Make sure whatever you chose for your largest font is powerful and meaningful to your brand. It should align with whatever goals you are targeting at your trade show.
Also, keep in mind not to overload on the number of photos you are including on your graphic if you do decide to include photos. A collage of many photos is just another aspect that could overwhelm a viewer and cause confusion.
Avoiding clutter on your graphics will entice your audience to step inside and learn more about your business, rather than feeling like they could read all about it on the side of your booth and keep on walking.
Use your space wisely and implement storage.
You probably have lots of great products and services to share at your trade shows. Even if you don’t have a ton of space to show it off, we have a couple of solutions for you!
Plenty of great products can take up plenty of space, so instead of putting all of your products out at once, try using a table system to keep things out of sight when you don’t need them. Seamless storage that still acts as an element of your display is a great way to save floor space for attendees and your trade show staff.
Skyline’s Tablox® Table System is a great option that can act as a receptionist desk, a basic counter, a work station, or product display, all while keeping items that you don’t want to sit out in the open stored out of sight.
Make your booth easy to get around in.
With less clutter, it will be much easier for attendees to navigate your exhibit. Creating visual pathways with lights, special flooring, and highlighted entryways and exits points will ensure that your booth guests are able to pass the products you want them to see or any other specifics to your exhibit that you think will make an impact on them.
If you have an inline booth, make sure that you don’t enclose the entire forefront of your exhibit with tables. If you close off the edges of your booth, leaving only one small opening that acts as an entry and an exit, this may irritate your booth guests who have to wait for others to move just so they can get in or out.
Plan for a booth space that’s big enough.
Make sure your booth floor space is big enough so that your attendees don’t feel like they’re the clutter in your booth. A small space packed with people will be a turn off for those walking by.
If your business is growing out of its current booth space, a bigger booth can offer more of an open floor plan. An island exhibit is a great option to ensure space for everything and everyone in your exhibit.
Be sure that your next trade show dismisses any clutter so that your booth guests can have the best possible experience, all while getting to learn more about your business.
