Nine Good Reasons to Participate in Expos
I'll bet you hadn't even considered #9
I'll bet you hadn't even considered #9
1. Shorten the sales cycle for new customers
An expo environment that includes camping provides an environment to connect with potential new customers in a relaxed and personal atmosphere. Qualified new prospects attend educational and expo events to find products like yours. You meet them in real-time and aren’t waiting for them to click on a banner, open an email or get to your physical location.
2. Strengthen relationships with existing customers
An expo is an opportunity to invite your clients to come and meet with you personally. (Need passes, just ask.) As an exhibitor, you can interact with your customers to strengthen your relationship and encourage future purchases. If your business is primarily online or over the phone, this face-to-face time is even more valuable.
3. Nothing beats being there
One of the most valuable experiences an expo offers is face-to-face communication with prospects, existing customers, and other professionals. An expo environment affords you the opportunity to engage instantly with people, build trust, and network. Being present at the event you will see new products and have the advantage over others in your same space. Attendees of the expo will likely do future business with brands where they feel they have a relationship.
4. Build brand awareness
Showing your product is one of the most effective ways to build your brand image. Having a clean, easy-to-understand and relevant display will help your brand stand out at an expo. Use branded signage, Field Training Events, and giveaways so attendees can interact with you and your brand. Attracting visitors to your site will help you to create positive relationships with them, and ultimately a positive brand image. How to Stand Out From the Pack at an Expo.
5. Generate sales/leads and build a database
Attendees come to the expo seeking new information and a willingness to invest in products or services. Whether you are exhibiting your products or are a vendor selling your products and services, the relationships you make with qualified prospects will shorten your sales cycle. Have a plan to collect contact information for follow-ups. Being successful in this one area can make the event worthwhile for your business.
6. Speak directly to people interested in what you have
Exhibiting or being a sponsor at an expo saves you time and energy searching for prospects by sending the right people straight to your campsite. An expo is a great opportunity to conduct market research into current trends, new products, and customer preferences. You may also see what some of your competitors are offering and how you can compete.
7. Introduce new products/services
If you have a new product or service, an expo is a way to introduce them to the public. A scheduled Field Training Event attracts attendees to your exhibition stand to interact with the product and learn about your company. Product demonstrations are also a great way to ensure your product or service is reaching the correct audience. Utilize the feedback you receive for future marketing efforts.
8. Network and learn
CampNation Expo will offer Boot Camp Workshops, Field Training Events, and guest speakers. An expo is a great opportunity to network with other professionals in your field, get new ideas, learn something, and be inspired. Not every other exhibitor is a competitor – some may be useful to your business if you choose to partner with them. Expos can be fun and insightful experiences with a variety of positive aspects for your business.
9. Social media content creation
Keeping your followers engaged with fresh relative content can present a challenge. An expo has endless opportunities to capture images and video of your products and people. Take advantage of the atmosphere created by an expo to create reels and posts featuring how-tos, demos, and tours of your products. Partner with other exhibitors to cross-post products. (You may even take photos with customers and tag their pages.) Position your brand with your followers as a company that is out supporting and involved in the camping hobby.
An expo environment that includes camping provides an environment to connect with potential new customers in a relaxed and personal atmosphere. Qualified new prospects attend educational and expo events to find products like yours. You meet them in real-time and aren’t waiting for them to click on a banner, open an email or get to your physical location.
2. Strengthen relationships with existing customers
An expo is an opportunity to invite your clients to come and meet with you personally. (Need passes, just ask.) As an exhibitor, you can interact with your customers to strengthen your relationship and encourage future purchases. If your business is primarily online or over the phone, this face-to-face time is even more valuable.
3. Nothing beats being there
One of the most valuable experiences an expo offers is face-to-face communication with prospects, existing customers, and other professionals. An expo environment affords you the opportunity to engage instantly with people, build trust, and network. Being present at the event you will see new products and have the advantage over others in your same space. Attendees of the expo will likely do future business with brands where they feel they have a relationship.
4. Build brand awareness
Showing your product is one of the most effective ways to build your brand image. Having a clean, easy-to-understand and relevant display will help your brand stand out at an expo. Use branded signage, Field Training Events, and giveaways so attendees can interact with you and your brand. Attracting visitors to your site will help you to create positive relationships with them, and ultimately a positive brand image. How to Stand Out From the Pack at an Expo.
5. Generate sales/leads and build a database
Attendees come to the expo seeking new information and a willingness to invest in products or services. Whether you are exhibiting your products or are a vendor selling your products and services, the relationships you make with qualified prospects will shorten your sales cycle. Have a plan to collect contact information for follow-ups. Being successful in this one area can make the event worthwhile for your business.
6. Speak directly to people interested in what you have
Exhibiting or being a sponsor at an expo saves you time and energy searching for prospects by sending the right people straight to your campsite. An expo is a great opportunity to conduct market research into current trends, new products, and customer preferences. You may also see what some of your competitors are offering and how you can compete.
7. Introduce new products/services
If you have a new product or service, an expo is a way to introduce them to the public. A scheduled Field Training Event attracts attendees to your exhibition stand to interact with the product and learn about your company. Product demonstrations are also a great way to ensure your product or service is reaching the correct audience. Utilize the feedback you receive for future marketing efforts.
8. Network and learn
CampNation Expo will offer Boot Camp Workshops, Field Training Events, and guest speakers. An expo is a great opportunity to network with other professionals in your field, get new ideas, learn something, and be inspired. Not every other exhibitor is a competitor – some may be useful to your business if you choose to partner with them. Expos can be fun and insightful experiences with a variety of positive aspects for your business.
9. Social media content creation
Keeping your followers engaged with fresh relative content can present a challenge. An expo has endless opportunities to capture images and video of your products and people. Take advantage of the atmosphere created by an expo to create reels and posts featuring how-tos, demos, and tours of your products. Partner with other exhibitors to cross-post products. (You may even take photos with customers and tag their pages.) Position your brand with your followers as a company that is out supporting and involved in the camping hobby.
10 Tips to Stand Out From the Pack at an Expo
Ask us about #6 and #7.
Ask us about #6 and #7.
1. Clear signage
2. Take away materials with your contact info
3. Freebies like stickers for attendees
4. Engage attendees at your booth in conversation
5. Hold a raffle-collect contact customer contact info
6. Be a guest speaker to establish yourself as an expert
7. Schedule a Field Training demo at your site to draw attendees to you
8. Host a happy hour, BBQ or donuts and coffee at your site
9. Add a freebie item to the event swag bag
2. Take away materials with your contact info
3. Freebies like stickers for attendees
4. Engage attendees at your booth in conversation
5. Hold a raffle-collect contact customer contact info
6. Be a guest speaker to establish yourself as an expert
7. Schedule a Field Training demo at your site to draw attendees to you
8. Host a happy hour, BBQ or donuts and coffee at your site
9. Add a freebie item to the event swag bag
Maximize Your Profits at an Expo
Minmize your risk
Minmize your risk
Committing to participate in an expo can require a substantial investment. Plans must be made months in advance for the best chance at a successful event. Here are some ideas for making the most of every expo.
1. Control your expenses
Expo fees, travel, and workforce are the three main expenses of participating in an expo. Controlling these expenses will leave more profits for the bottom line. Larger events are going to demand hefty fees. While they may boast many attendees, those prospects will dilute with many more exhibitors. A smaller regional show may make you a big fish in a little pond. Doing events closer to home will significantly reduce travel expenses, and an event you can camp at saves money on lodging. The laid-back format of an expo allows you to staff the booth with personal part-time employees (possibly friends and family) who can engage clients.
2. Take advantage of all the marketing opportunities at the expo
Draw attention to your booth by being a guest speaker or hosting a Field Training Event at your site. Use these opportunities to position yourself as an expert in your category and draw people directly to you to see your products. If you are ambitious, you may schedule a BBQ, Happy Hour, or Donuts and Coffee gathering at your site. Pre-planning special events gives you talking points to invite your current contacts. It also gets your company more mentions in the program distributed at the event.
3. Have a plan
Layout your booth in advance. Make sure you have tables, chairs, tablecloths, and anything else to equip and decorate your area. Have clear signage that makes your message clear. Utilize hand-outs, stickers, or inexpensive promotional items to keep your brand in front of attendees. Collect contact information through a raffle, QR codes, or even a simple form that you use to collect follow-up information.
4. Meet your customer where they are
Invite your customers to meet you at the expo. Especially if you do not have a retail storefront, an expo is a comfortable place for clients to connect with your businesses. Traveling to an expo, even a few hours away from your company's location, may introduce your business to a new group of customers. Being where there are "new to you" interested buyers allows you to create a "front of mind" presence over your competition.
1. Control your expenses
Expo fees, travel, and workforce are the three main expenses of participating in an expo. Controlling these expenses will leave more profits for the bottom line. Larger events are going to demand hefty fees. While they may boast many attendees, those prospects will dilute with many more exhibitors. A smaller regional show may make you a big fish in a little pond. Doing events closer to home will significantly reduce travel expenses, and an event you can camp at saves money on lodging. The laid-back format of an expo allows you to staff the booth with personal part-time employees (possibly friends and family) who can engage clients.
2. Take advantage of all the marketing opportunities at the expo
Draw attention to your booth by being a guest speaker or hosting a Field Training Event at your site. Use these opportunities to position yourself as an expert in your category and draw people directly to you to see your products. If you are ambitious, you may schedule a BBQ, Happy Hour, or Donuts and Coffee gathering at your site. Pre-planning special events gives you talking points to invite your current contacts. It also gets your company more mentions in the program distributed at the event.
3. Have a plan
Layout your booth in advance. Make sure you have tables, chairs, tablecloths, and anything else to equip and decorate your area. Have clear signage that makes your message clear. Utilize hand-outs, stickers, or inexpensive promotional items to keep your brand in front of attendees. Collect contact information through a raffle, QR codes, or even a simple form that you use to collect follow-up information.
4. Meet your customer where they are
Invite your customers to meet you at the expo. Especially if you do not have a retail storefront, an expo is a comfortable place for clients to connect with your businesses. Traveling to an expo, even a few hours away from your company's location, may introduce your business to a new group of customers. Being where there are "new to you" interested buyers allows you to create a "front of mind" presence over your competition.
