First impressions matter. This is especially true at trade shows, where the average time people spend looking at each booth is only a couple short seconds. Make the most out of this time by designing top of the line event signage with these simple tips.
1. Custom design panel graphics to use as your backdrop.
Trade show booths generally come with curtain backdrops; they look nice, but they don’t set you apart from other booths. Using panel graphics to recreate your background and add a personal touch can help draw customers to your booth and give them a better feel for who you are, what you do, and what your company is about.
Panel graphics look very similar to banner stands, but with a slightly different design. Panel graphics are designed to have a simple assembly process; the frame quickly snaps together, “panels” of banners snap on with magnets, and voila! You have a custom designed backdrop that’s sure to grab the eyes of people walking by.
2. Make it clear who you are, and what you do.
Customers spend hours walking around trade shows looking at up to hundreds of companies, so they don’t want to spend a huge amount of time searching your display to find out who you are. Most of the time, people will walk down aisles glancing quickly at each booth and stopping when interested. The key is to grab clients’ attention in the first couple seconds with a bold statement; if you make it difficult for people to decipher who you are and what you do, you completely miss out on this opportunity.
3. Less is more – don’t overcrowd. Trade shows are already overwhelming
There’s a lot going on at trade shows, so try to keep your displays to a minimum. Rather than putting out every possible product that your company owns, stick to the basics. A custom panel graphic, a simple banner stand detailing what you do, and a sample or feature of your work is better than ten overwhelming signs. You can fill up empty space on your table with pamphlets and business cards, as well as one or two awards showcasing your company’s excellence.
4. Use banner stands to display information about your company.
Most trade show booths have limited table space, so it’s important to make every inch count. Free up some of that space by displaying your company motto, logo, or mission statement on a banner stand.
The great thing about banner stands? They’re versatile and can be used in a variety of ways outside of your trade show booth. Click here to check out some ways to get the most out of your trade show banner stand.
5. Have a theme.
When we say “theme”, we don’t mean that you have to go all out with crazy party decorations. Simply have a set of colors that you’re working with and stick with it; it will make your booth look more professional and put together rather than many signs and products that just got thrown together last minute.
6. Color matters.
Signage is key to attracting attention & drawing people in. Make sure the lettering is printed clearly, and stick to colors that contrast your background. Try to avoid orange, yellow or brown, because they tend to blend into the background and don’t “pop”.
Check out the most effective color combinations for maximum impact to get some inspiration for your trade show design.
7. Never forgot to include images.
People are drawn to images, so it almost goes without saying that your trade show booth design should include lot’s of them. Whether you display them on banner stands, in pamphlets, or on individual signs displayed on your table, large, high quality images of your products are sure to attract visitors to your booth.
8. Have an abundance of business cards.
You can never be too prepared, so it’s best to bring more business cards than you think could possibly be necessary. The goal of a trade show is to get your name out there and network with other companies, so hand out business cards to anybody and everybody. Even if you don’t generate any leads or make any sales at the actual show, people will generally remember your name and come back to you when they’re in need of your product.
9. Have give aways.
Although business cards are great, they can often be swallowed up in an overflowing purse or forgotten in the back pocket of a wallet. Promotional products, on the other hand, often become a part of everyday life at home or at the office, and are the perfect way to be remembered by clients. Pens, koozies, hats, and water bottles are a cheap and effective way to get your name out there.
Another bonus of giveaways, is that they attract people to your booth. Even when they don’t need the product you’re offering, people can rarely pass up free products, which gives you a chance to network and meet potential clients or partners as well.
From panel graphics to banner stands to promotional products, Signs of Success has you covered when it comes to your next trade show exhibit. Contact us to speak with a member of our professional team about designing your best trade show booth.
832-688-8709
Written by: Signs of Success – Houston, TX
