Recently updated on April 16th, 2025
The main goal of marketers during trade shows and exhibitions is to increase engagement with people attending and to start conversations with them. This leads to an increase in sales. To achieve this goal, one must be able to drive positive engagements in a competitive environment. Here are 13 tips to increase engagement for exhibition services, ideas, and features that will help you to attract visitors and maximize sales at your next trade show.
1. Attractive Exhibition Stands
The first thing that visitors will likely see is your stand. So it needs to impress them! There are exhibition stands which are cost-effective as they can be re-used, while also allowing a good degree of customization. However, a full custom-built stand can really pack a punch through the use of unconventional shapes and designs. Picking the right stand for your business is a key decision. It will greatly impact your success, so it is worth spending time on this one. You can add to your exhibition with flags, tents, banners, and other eye catching branded material.
2. Digital Photo Booths
Digital photo booths allow customers to capture a memory and provide entertainment through the inclusion of filters or special effects. When attending any event, people love posting about it online and showing their friends how much fun they’re having. If you can create a fun-looking, unique photo opp that people will want to post, you’ll have a steady stream of guests readies to talk to you and explore your space. Let your imagination run wild and create a cool social media photo station to inspire posts and simultaneously promote your booth and brand.
3. Relaxing Lounge Areas
The inclusion of a lounge area can facilitate more meaningful sales-based conversations by giving your visitors a
chance to sit down and talk to staff in a more relaxed environment. The provision of refreshments, Wi-Fi, and mobile phone chargers can also help to keep visitors at your stand for longer.
4. Live Social Media Walls & Interactive Product Demonstrations
Social media walls work by encouraging visitors to get involved in the online discussion. They can help your hashtags to grow in popularity on social media, therefore brand engagement, too. Moreover, positive messages displayed on the wall can help to attract new visitors to the stand, increasing the chances of making sales. However, these need to be actively monitored to manage effectively to moderate any good, negative, or even detrimental exposure.
Touch screens are great tools for engagement at events. They allow attendees to fully interact with your content rather than simply watching and listening. Touch technology is perfect for exhibitors to demonstrate apps and 3D product models, and particularly useful for large products or complex processes that can’t fit into smaller event spaces. If you’re looking to maximize impact, touch video walls are undeniably impressive and open up the opportunity for interactive group presentations.
5. Competition/Contest/Games
By running a competition, or hosting a quiz/contest, you can generate a buzz throughout the exhibition. The activity allows brands to build a deeper relationship with customers. On top of that, the provision of a prize can help to create interest in your products or services.
Adding a game element to your stand design can be a clever way to attract visitors. Gamification has a proven track record to enhance exhibition visitors’ experience as well as improve brand recall. Furthermore, gamification can also engagement visitors, enticing them to stay longer. From bespoke games specially designed to showcase your company’s products or services, to more generic games such as stress tests or puzzles.
6. Personal Invitations
Sending personal invitations let your contacts and customers know they are valued by your business. Send out personal invitations to customers or contacts that you hope will attend. This is a good way to attract high-value visitors.
7. Ads in Trade Publications
Advertising in trade publications is an effective way to attract a more general audience. By placing ads, attendees and prospective clients know in advance that you are going to be at the exhibition. Those who are reading trade publications in your area of expertise are also more likely to take an interest in your products if they have seen your brand in an ad.
8. Branded Giveaways
Freebies are a great way to allow customers to try products before buying. Giveaways like baseball caps, for instance, can generate goodwill, while spreading awareness of your business. Anything you hand out should be clearly branded so that other attendees see passers-by with your freebies. This will entice other attendees and make them more inclined to visit your booth.
9. Speaking At the Event
Speaking at the event can help to establish you and your business as thought leaders, which can increase your standing at the event. It can also, on a more simple level, help to create greater awareness of your brand and what it has to offer customers. You can also add a speaker to your booth to create a buzz and more engagement.
10. Well Designed Uniform
A very simple technique to attract attention is to create a branded uniform. Create a uniform specifically for the show that your staff will wear when manning the stand. This is especially effective for businesses, people wouldn’t expect a uniform to be worn.
11. Downloadable Content
It is important to understand that exhibitions can become crowded and people can be in a rush. Therefore, not everyone will have time to stop by your stand and read your material. A great solution to this is to offer content that can be easily downloaded to a smartphone or a memory stick and read or viewed later.
12. Collaboration With Other Exhibitors
One method for attracting traffic is to take a team up with other exhibitors at the trade show. Come to an agreement where you will both direct visitors to each other’s stands if they seem like they will be interested in what the other is selling.
13. Eye-Catching Lighting
In the quest for a great exhibition stand, lighting is sometimes to be overlooked. Effective and eye-catching lighting arrangements can draw plenty of interest. It is essential to make sure your lighting fits the overall mood of your exhibition. Lighting should be positioned to draw attention to things like products, logos, and displays. You must ensure you are using lighting intentionally to create the results and emotions you desire your attendees to experience.
With these tips, you are now armed to drive engagements & maximize sales at trade shows. Remember, the better the experience your visitors have, the better the chance they remember your brand and products. Enhancing attendees experience and engaging your audience is your best bet to a successful booth! What’s your favorite tip for attracting more visitors & maximize sales at trade shows? Please share your thoughts in the comment box below!
Do you need help looking awesome at your next trade show or event? Call us for a free consultation and discounts on custom branded promotional gear: (801) 872-4055
FAQ’s
How do you make a trade show fun?
To make a trade show fun, use these tips to increase engagement: create interactive booths with games or demos, and host contests or giveaways to attract visitors. Use eye-catching displays, offer live demonstrations, and set up a relaxing lounge area. Incorporate technology like virtual reality to make your booth dynamic. Ensure your staff is friendly and enthusiastic, and provide fun, branded swag to leave a lasting impression.
How do you draw attention at a trade show?
To draw attention at a trade show, make sure your booth has a clear and simple message that’s easy to understand. Use bright colors in your design to stand out and set up interactive displays like touchscreens or games to engage visitors. Hand out useful freebies and host live demos to create excitement. Ensure your staff is friendly and approachable, and use large, clear signage to help visitors quickly grasp what you offer. Design your booth to be unique and promote your appearance on social media to attract attendees. Finally, consider hosting a contest or giveaway to draw in more people.
