How to Grow Your Business at a Trade Show

How to Grow Your Business at a Trade Show

Trade shows are one of the most efficient and productive ways to gain new business. It produces better results than cold calling, and allows you to network with others who would like to connect with those in your industry.

Expert Trade Show Business Tips

Grow your business at Pittsburgh trade shows by employing some of these helpful tips:

• Do your research. Being at a trade show isn’t much different than meeting someone to talk about what your business can accomplish for their company. You still will be doing your research – learning about the company and their products or services, seeing where they fit into the market, and determining which of your products can provide solutions. Treat a trade show like an important sales call. The more information you have at your fingertips, the easier it will be for you to connect with someone.

• Offer to speak at the expo. Nothing will get your name and business known as well as making a presentation to fellow exhibitors and attendees. Contact the trade show and ask if you can be placed on the speakers’ list, if there is a fee, and what kind of benefits you would receive for being a speaker. If the show’s management would like to have an idea of what you’d like to speak about, create some ideas, keeping in mind what audience the show is targeting. Tell them that you can speak about different topics, and ask if there are any holes in the topic schedule they’d like to fill. An interesting presentation allows you to communicate to a large number of people at once, and you’ll be guaranteed follow-up conversations.
• Go to networking events. Many business shows offer networking events so that attendees can meet and discuss their businesses. This is usually done in a relaxed atmosphere and allows you to develop a relationship with different people in a one-on-one environment. Another perk of attending a networking event is that acquaintances can introduce you to other businesses, probably because they know you have something in common or can help their company.
• Collect information and follow up. When you meet someone, how can you be sure that you’ll remember what you talked about so that you can provide accurate follow-up material? (For example, “Mr. X, it was great talking to you at the Pittsburgh Business Show. I enjoyed chatting about the challenges of starting a new business in the technology sector. If you recall, I told you I’d follow up with an email so that we could meet.”) It’s crucial that you have an information-collecting process where you can jot down notes, along with a business card, that tells you why and how people would like to follow up.

Attending a trade show in Pittsburgh will help you grow your business, become more educated in your field, and allow you to meet others who would like to talk about using your products. The annual Pittsburgh Business Show, scheduled for April 2018 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, is the perfect place to connect to business owners in the region who are looking for the services you have to offer. Go to PittsburghBusinessShow.com to learn more about registering to attend, becoming an exhibitor, or sponsoring this one-of-a-kind event.