Tag: trade show graphic design

8 Tech Savvy Ways to Spend Your Remaining Trade Show Budget

So you’ve made all the necessary purchases for a successful trade show season, but you’ve come in under budget (and your boss is high fiving you). This is great, however if the money isn’t spent it may not generate great returns on your investment. We have some seriously savvy ideas to help spend your remaining budget wisely to benefit your current and future trade show efforts.

We understand, having money left to spend can feel too good to be true. Maybe you just saved a huge chunk by reusing last seasons’ trade show display, or you saved on other big ticket items and just have some extra cash to spend. It doesn’t matter how you got it, here are some smart ways to spend your remaining trade show budget dollars wisely.

#1 – Up your game with audience engagement.
Audience engagement apps add another level of interactivity to your trade show. And before you look away, we don’t mean adding just any app – there’s some great tools out there you should be utilizing. The app industry offers easy to use web-based live sharing and Q&A solutions to engage attendees before, during or after the show. They might also allow followers to watch live presentations, ask questions, answer polls, make digital notes, live tweet & much more. By capturing what’s really going on in your attendees’ minds, you can use the data to help you target the right audience for future trade shows. If you’re not sure it’s the best fit for your company just start small and adjust from there. Review your engagement the first time you use the app to make sure it will work for your needs.

#2  – Social walls = real time engagement.
Imagine how neat it would be collecting social media posts from your attendees in real time and displaying them right on a monitor mounted to your trade show display for everyone to see. Try selecting a specific hashtag pertaining to your show and have attendees post using that hashtag. Or simply ask attendees to “tag” you in a photo. You could make a game of it and use this as a contest to win your giveaway. Let’s be real here — who doesn’t love seeing their post show up on a big screen!

#3 – Create a trade show landing page.
Having a dedicated landing page added to your existing website to showcase your trade show schedule, locations, agendas and speakers — this would be helpful to attendees, right? The main purpose is to send potential attendees to your website to help you spark interest and encourage social media sharing.  Of course there are OK landing pages and there are amazing landing pages. Make sure your message is clear and to the point. Also graphics are huge so hiring a graphic designer might not be a bad idea since you’ll want to make sure all of your dedicated trade show landing pages are fully on brand.

#4 – Let’s…chatbot?!
For those unfamiliar with the term, a chatbot is a computer program or an artificial intelligence which conducts a conversation via audio or text. Adding a chat feature to your website to answer pre-tradeshow questions may take some of the burden off your support team.  And don’t worry, your pre-populated answers don’t have to sound robotic either. You can make it sound just as natural as having a live human on the other end. But you want to know the best part? Chatbots work for you 24/7 and are pretty darn cost effective.

#5 – Retargeting is your friend.
Quite possibly one of the best tools for converting your landing page visitors into attendees. We know you’ve seen it – you go to a website and a “pop-up” appears for you to sign up. This has been around for a while but just now becoming more popular in order to run specific campaigns to increase conversions. Now you might be wondering how this actually works…well, think of your trade show landing page as a “shopping cart”. Typically you’re asked to register when shopping at most online stores so you can save your information for next time. Well, there’s a slight problem with this. Most people won’t register on the first visit, but it’s crucial to your conversion numbers. Just make sure your registration page is clear on your intent and it will be a easier decision to sign up. Lastly, maybe spend a little money to set up a specific retargeting campaign engaging with people that visited but didn’t sign up. Sometimes a little nudge is all it takes.

#6 – Create Pre-Show Teaser Videos.
Video is considered the most effective way to promote anything these days, even your trade show to boost attendance. Utilizing video before and after your trade show could help not only generate awareness to your brand but also boost attendance to your trade show.  However, professional video production can become quite costly and the cheaper options may not look as professional as you would like. So how do you meet in the middle? Try merging existing footage with still photos to create a short video to display social media or your trade show landing page. Try testing out different online tools to combine elements into bite-size video snippets in no time at all.

#7 – Consider adding a Mobile Charging Station.
We’re sure you’ve witnessed this before – someone wandering around cell phone and charging cord in hand in a desperate search of an outlet. How would you like to be the one to swoop in and save the day! Trade show attendees rely on their cell phones, tablets and other devices to check emails, answer voicemail, post to social media or chat with coworkers. Adding a mobile charging station to your existing trade show booth will certainly be something attendees will not stop talking about! Genius, right?!

#8 – Boost your WiFi.
Rather than shelling out a crazy amount of money to the venue, and sacrificing your first born just to get decent bandwidth, consider adding a portable internet hotspot to your trade show booth. It’s so crazy how these small modules can make all our internet fears disappear and for a decent price. You’ll finally put an end to that “sorry I’m at a trade show and the Wifi is so slow I can’t even load Facebook” feeling.

So maybe you still have a little money leftover?

This could also be spent on promoting your brand or products on social media. A little bit of money spent on SEO targeted content across platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram  or Facebook could also work wonders.

 

Bundle Up your Trade Show Display

So, we live in Maine and we’re used to bundling up! Maine winters can be brutal! But thats not quite what we mean here. By combining different display components, such as a 10ft tension fabric display with a retractable banner stand and brochure rack, we’re actually designing a complete trade show display set-up just for you. The combination of different trade show elements make it easy for you to visualize your trade show display booth space to the point you can actually see yourself working in the booth. And although doing this creates the look of a custom trade show booth, rest assured these complete kits do not come with the custom price tag.

Even with their already low cost, we decided to show you a little extra love and offer a WEB ONLY promotion on all our Complete Trade Show Display packages including our 3 newest packages added just last week. Check them out:Embrace Trade Show Kit

We created our bundle packages with the exhibitor in mind! We’re hoping that by seeing these displays “in action” it will help when deciding which display elements you’d like to include in your exhibit booth. And with so many options available, we understand how hard it is sometimes to put the pieces of the trade show display puzzle together. The great part about these bundle packages is we’ve included some of our most popular products as well, so you are sure to represent your company in style at every trade show you attend. You might even win “best in show”!

So, what are you waiting for? Start shopping now to take advantage of this special offer happening this month only. And make sure you visit our site often, because every month there’s a chance to save with our monthly promotions and everyday savings. We look forward to working with you and creating your next amazing trade show display!

3 Major Benefits of Push-Fit Tension Fabric Displays

Push-Fit graphics, also known as Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG), are ideal for a variety of applications with pop up displays or displays featuring channel bar applications. This is the latest technology in tension fabric displays and features silicone edge beading attached to the edges of the printed fabric graphic, enabling you to easily push the graphic into a channel for a seamless edge display.

Of the many benefits that go along with oour push-fit tension fabric displays, the three listed below are the ones that most stand out to us.

Benefit #1: available options include single sided display or double sided, along with backlit LED illumination or non-illuminated dye-sublimated fabric graphics.

Benefit #2: extrusion-based frames or perimeter channel bars that hold SEG graphics and provide a seamless appearance for a message that can’t be missed.

Benefit #3: lightweight portability for easy travel to and from your trade show venue – ship via UPS or FedEx for delivery ahead of time or transport in a car for local shows.

For 2018 we’ve recently added two of the most popular push-fit graphic display lines on the market today. Here’s a brief overview of these products so you can further understand the simplicity of the SEG technology.

First up is the new Embrace™ tension fabric displays which combine the convenience of a pop up display with a streamlined look and innovation of a push-fit silicone edge fabric graphic.

The combination of a lightweight collapsible frame and a “push-fit” fabric graphic ensures a seamless and taut appearance to your graphic every time you display your message. No more wrinkles around the edges of your graphic due to stitching or velcro! Featuring a no tool setup, you’ll be amazed at the simplicity of this display every time.

Next up is the Vector Frame™ light boxes which are considered to be one of the easiest backlit trade show displays available on the market. Featuring a durable 4” (100mm) aluminum extrusion frame, one large seamless push-fit backlit fabric graphic and LED edge lighting. LED lights come adhered to the aluminum frame, making set-up as simple as assembling the frame, applying the push-fit graphics and plugging in the electrical cord! Vector Frame Light Boxes are ideal for use in retail, marketing events, conferences and trade show environments as the perfect solution for illuminating your message. Double sided graphics are also available to insure you grab attendees attention from all angles of the trade show floor.

 

Need assitance with your graphic design? Contact one of our talented graphic designers today to discuss how we can take your artwork to the next level. Call us at 1-800-723-2050 or email us at [email protected] now!

#1 Trade Show Success Factor

Trade show success depends upon applying 1 most important piece of criteria.
Read about what the absolute number 1 factor to trade show success is.

Your trade show success is dependant on just one factor — your graphics.  And, if executed with proper planning, high resolution imagery, and maybe the help from a professional graphic designer your booth will be the busiest space at the show.  The placement, coloring, and logo layout execution is critical to ensure the first impression generates the buzz from attendees throughout your days at a trade show.  Keep in mind: studies conducted by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research have found that visitors peruse a display about 3 to 5 seconds before making the decision to walk on or stop to talk.  A trade show is the most ideal opportunity for businesses to personally interact with their exact targeted market making the graphics of your trade show display the #1 success factor in hitting it big.

3 Reasons Why A Branded Booth Space Is So Important  

Reason #1
Who cares?  

Do you think attendees really care about what your trade show booth graphics look like?  One might say absolutely because at the end of the day your branded graphics will make the difference whether attendees will WANT to take the time to stop and listen to what your booth staff has to say.

Reason #2
No one wants the question mark face.

It’s a very common facial expression given when attendees glance over at your booth space, then glance at you, then glance back towards your booth space ultimately just not being able to connect the dots and ‘Get It’ aka get your point and purpose of your brand. You don’t want this face to happen!

Reason #3
How’s about a big plate of embarrassment!  

That’s what you’ll be handed time and time again during the show.  If attendees aren’t caring enough to stop or when they wind up with a big question mark face the outcome will be the booth staff standing around just plain old embarrassed at how the branded booth space behind them is being presented.  You don’t want this either!

3 Simple How To’s to Tackle Your Booth Space Graphics

How To #1
Keep It Simple.  

The key to creating the most effective and attractive display layout is to just keep it simple.  Create your graphics around one central idea, USP, core service tagline or concept.  This way you can keep the text to a minimum making the entire concept easier to comprehend within the 3-5 seconds.

How To #2
Logo and Layout.

First and foremost your business’s logo and branding should be placed front and center.  The addition of your tagline or slogan should be placed near the logo to physically connect the two together.  Plus, ALWAYS put your web address.  It’s much easier to remember than any phone number or physical address.

Readability factor #1  Attendees read from left to right.
Readability factor #2 The average eye can read 1” of text height for every 10ft they are standing away.

How To #3
High Color Graphics.

3D Eye-catching, life size, full of color graphics is the difference between a strongly communicated brand and a weak one.  Branding and coloring is what will ignite the eyes and brain connection to force attendees to stop and take notice of your trade show display space.  Our biggest tip is to ensure you’ve chosen graphics that are high resolution to truly gain the impact you are striving for.  High resolution imagery will carry your brand and take it beyond actual words.

3 Seconds of Trade Show Face Time

There is only 3 seconds to attract the attention of trade show attendees.
Spark and inspire trade show attendees to stop and visit your booth.

YOUR MAIN GOAL: APPEAL TO YOUR CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS AND WANTS in a message that is short and to the point.  At a trade show you have 3 SECONDS… that’s it. That is all the time you have to spark the passers-by and inspire them to ask questions that convert into sales.

Here are some simple tips and tricks that may ignite the creative side in you allowing your company to display its best image.

1. BIG letters?
A rule of thumb is the average eyesight can read approx. 1″ of text for every 10′ they are standing away.

2. Should you use photos or illustrations? Photos are always preferred over illustrations. Photos are more credible, easily understood and have a bigger impact with the consumer. Take your own photos or for generic photos use high quality stock photography.

3. How many words should be used?
Keep it under 10 words or less and no more than 5 lines. Lead with your strongest benefit first then the next relevant benefits to follow.  For example, if you have 30-year warranty and no one else does, shout it out.

Two simple tips to follow:
• A single sentence, phrase, or word
• Use concrete facts that are a benefit – what makes you different

Most importantly, keep to your branding guidelines and keep all text within the top half of the display design.

Final note: by clearly communicating your company information in as few words as possible will benefit you in the end. Showing large, high quality photo(s) & colors will promote your products and make it easier for people to remember you.

Take a look at our online trade show display portfolio to see what others have done by Affordable Exhibit Displays or ask our graphic design team for help in designing your new trade show display.

How To Let Constructive Criticism Be Your Guide

Being open to design help will benefit any trade show display
Letting a fresh pair of eyes can help take your message to the next level.

Many times you have looked at your own exhibit so many times that it’s at a point where you don’t ‘see’ it anymore.  Accepting constructive criticism is best to listen to when you can’t see your brands clear message anymore. The solution is a fresh set of eyes.  A fresh set of eyes may make all the difference in the world.

To know where to begin on evaluating how your current booth is working you’ll need to ask and outer source – someone who is not related to your business or industry is best. Have someone who is in no way related to the trade show industry or your company look at your exhibit and/or current marketing materials.

Give your ‘fresh set of eyes’ a good look at your exhibit booth and materials. Ask yourself these questions:

What do they notice first?

What impression do they get of your company?

What emotions do your graphics evoke?

Record their impressions and compare how they measure up to your marketing objectives. This fresh set of eyes will be viewing your booth the same way the attendees do – with no prior knowledge or preconceived notions of how the exhibit is ‘supposed’ to look.

:: Case Study ::

A prime example is one of our returning customers, Custom Service Solutions.  They came to our graphic design team and wanted a small self-standing sign to distribute to the machine vendors that would be attending the same trade show as them.

They submitted their own artwork and asked our opinion about the layout. We asked, “What’s the main goal?”: to inform customers about a drawing for a free Firetrace System. Our comment back: there is no clear, single message, there is just too much going on. So, with a bit of discussion Custom Service Solutions decided to allow us to come up with a single targeted message.

Here’s our point: by opening up the door for constructive criticism Custom Service Solutions ended up with a clear, concise design that will draw customers in to ask “How can I qualify?” Thus, in turn opening the door to obtain a lead, close a sale, or boost their ROI for the show.

Trade show branding vs. routine. Which side are you on?

 

Branding vs routine at a trade show
Which side are you on: trade show branding or just keep your brand routine.

Let’s clear this up right away.  The repetition of doing the same thing every trade show event, every year is NOT branding.  It’s simply boredom.

Routine is comfortable, it’s safe and it’s a rut you don’t want to be in especially at a Trade Show.  Trade shows should be everything else but routine.

Say you go to X show each year, you bring the same display using the same graphics, you hand out the same literature even use the same giveaways, you may even wear the same clothes. By now I’m sure you’re pretty bored. And so are your customers.

Effective branding is not just a logo or certain color scheme; it’s not a product either.  A brand is a promise of a clear-cut benefit and value that is fitting to your users.

It’s tough to decide whether you should step out of the branding box at a trade show.  Here are some arguments as to which side you are on.

To effectively promote your brand does not mean you need to keep with the same everything.  It can mean change too.  Take a large corporation for instance, for example, ExxonMobil.  They’ve been in business for over 125 years.  Check out ExxonMobil’s history here.  They’ve changed their logo over the years as often as needed to keep up with the current market.  And it hasn’t slowed the company’s progression.

So, really it’s okay to take your trade show routine in a different direction.  In fact, you really should Break the Routine all together today. Here are two quick pointers on what you can do to increase attention to your graphics.

According to a study by the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, there are two simple elements that can enhance graphic effectiveness.

1. Adding a border to focus attention on your sign helps the viewer read it 26% faster. That’s a big advantage in a fast-paced marketplace.

2. By presenting special information in a second color, you increase the reader’s retention by 78%. So whatever is most important on your sign, whether it’s a phone number or a keyword, try using an accent color to draw a better response.
Sometimes change does not need to be a full complete logo overhaul like ExxonMobil.  Maybe a small graphic update with a new focus is all you need to make the next trade show better than ever before.

3D Marketing Techniques For Trade Shows

3D trade show techniques for any brand
Appeal to customers needs and wants with one quick image.

Typical trade shows are loud, crowded and filled with colorful distractions. How do YOU stand out? Just like good advertising, effective trade show display graphics can make or break your show image and impact upon the passers by. Read on to see how you can incorporate 3D marketing techniques at your next trade show.

Trade show displays are 3-D marketing that comes to LIFE! This is an advertisers dream: interactive, touch, feel, use and see all right out there for you to use. And for a sales person, there is nothing better!
You may have tried these medias to get your name out there:
> Newspaper ads: small with little creativity allowed along with a broad audience that can flip the page in seconds
> Brochures: very specific and full of color but may get lost In the paperwork shuffle
> Billboards: large and eye catching with a broad audience traveling by in seconds

>>> A trade show display is unlike any other media allowing you to provide large images full of color and pizzazz AND all in front of your target audience with you standing right there to catch the sales. At a trade show you have 3 SECONDS… that’s it. That is all the time you have to spark the passers by and inspire them to ask questions that convert into sales.

BUT HOW? YOUR MAIN GOAL: APPEAL TO YOUR CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS AND WANTS. A message that is short and to the point is the best angle to take. Here are some tips that may ignite the creative side in you allowing your company to display its best image.

1. Photos or illustrations? Photos are always preferred over illustrations. Photos are more credible, easily understood and have a bigger impact with the consumer. Take your own photos or for more generic photos use high quality stock photography. Good websites we have found are www.bigstockphoto.com or www.istockphoto.com.

2. Colors and tones:
> Limit the main colors to less than three
> Complimentary colors = red + green, orange + blue, yellow + purple
> Monochromatic colors = several shades of the same color are harmonious and stable
> Cool colors like blue, green and white are professional yet they may not be attention grabbers
> Warm colors like yellow, orange and red attract more attention but use them wisely since overuse can cause an overload and defeat the purpose

PANTONE-Color-of-the-Year-2016
3. Words, words, words… how many words should be used? Try and keep it under 10 words or less and no more than 5 lines. You don’t need to list all your product information on your display; that might lead to information overload – save the details for your handouts. Lead with your strongest benefit first then the next relevant benefits to follow – if you have a 30 year warranty and no one else does, then shout it out! Most importantly, keep to your branding guidelines and keep all text within the top half of the display design.

Some simple tips to follow:
> A single sentence, phrase, or word
> Use concrete facts that are a benefit – what makes you different
> Your tag line or one sentence that says it all
> Bullet lists are always a great way to show benefits

4. Utilize power words (power phrases or action verbs) – these are words used to help make a statement stronger and will effectively state your products benefits.

Use power words such as:
> Exclusive or Ranked
> New or Uncovered
> Sold or Established
> Or in a phrase such as:
> Power, Performance and Speed
> Guaranteed on time, every time
> Save time. Save Money.

5. List your Website as the contact instead of your street address, phone or fax numbers which most likely won’t be remembered. Display your website by making the name a different color than the “www” and “.com”. Or if multiple words make up your website, try displaying it like this: AffordableDisplays.com. Capitalizing the first letter of each word will make it easier to read.

6. Here are some don’ts to keep in mind:
> Don’t use highly technical vocabulary unless you are certain the reader will understand
> Don’t use font types that can not be seen from a distance
> Don’t use long paragraphs
> Don’t use low quality photos (such as from the web), they will only take away from your design

Final note: clearly communicating your company information in as few words as possible will benefit you in the end. Showing large, high quality photo(s) & colors will promote your products and make it easier for people to remember you.

Lastly, add lighting to help brighten up your booth space to draw the focus to your display design. This will create a warm inviting atmosphere that will attract your prospects to you.

ACT NOW!
Don’t get caught in the embarrassment trap at your next show, start planning ahead now to enforce a few of these marketing techniques! Take your display out now and check to see if your display and design covers all the bases mentioned above. If it doesn’t then you’ve got some work to do. Get great graphic designing from AffordableDisplays.com for your next trade show display.