Planning to exhibit at a trade show soon? You're not alone and if you're planning one I hope this article can help you in your success. Many businesses find that trade shows can be one of their best sources of; new business retail sales, a good way to attract media attention, and a wonderful way to share the "BUSINESS BEHIND THE BOTTLE" with everyone that comes by.

Exhibiting at a trade shows doesn't always come cheap. The cost of booth space, display material, product literature, travel, hotel costs, and meals can be extensive but they can be controlled. And, with proper planning you can take full advantage of the show to maximize the return for your efforts. Always be mindful of the opportunities to share the products and the business behind the bottle before the show, at the show, and after the show. Sales and sponsoring don't have to be merely hoped for - they can be yours!

There is no single thing you do that guarantees you will have a profitable show. However, there are a number of things you can do to better your success.

Here are several tips to consider:

Check Out The Show History
Is it a show that regularly attracts large crowds? Will the show be held in a place that's easy for attendees to find and reach by car and by public transportation? Will the show be adequately promoted to your potential customers? Have vendors who have participated in the show in the past done well? What has past attendance been? Ask the event manager these questions. Not only will you look like a professional they will probably give you a better booth location.

Prepare A Professional-Looking Display
You don't have to have the biggest, flashiest booth on the trade show floor to attract attendees. But you do need to have some type of display that lets passersby know what it is you are selling. Signs, photographs of products or other elements used in the display should look professionally prepared. Unless you're working a crowd that's attracted by the possibilities of bargain basement prices, banners printed with a dot matrix printer on continuous form paper or homemade posters pinned or propped up against a backdrop will make you look unprofessional and make prospects leery of your products.

Have Sufficient Literature Ready To Hand Out
Use DWG's Product Brochure and other materials to maintain a professional look. Have professionally prepared handouts should you use them. Have plenty on hand to distribute at the show, and have them prepared well in advance of the show. If you wait until the last minute to prepare your literature you'll wind up paying unnecessary rush charges. If you try to prepare it yourself on a laser printer and/or photocopier be cautious to ensure that the quality is high so that they compliment your product and not turn people away. One last thing, be sure and have your contact information on every piece you hand out.

Make Sure You HAVE Product
Remember that most people buy spontaneously and that it is usually triggered by an emotion or emotional experience. This precisely why DWG product sales are so simple; their demonstrations grab peoples attention and break preoccupation getting many of their senses involved. Because of this it's imperative that you have product right there for them to take with them. An example of how this works in your favor is that of the retail shoe store owner. The owner knows after you've tried them on or he has demonstrated how nice they look on your feet that you will buy them. But only if you can take them home with you. No one ever comes back in a few days to pick them up. Our business is the same;they want it and they want it now. Have it there for them so that when you hand them the bottle they will hand you the cash.

Do Pre-Show Promotion
Experienced trade show exhibitors don't wait for the show to start to try to see customers and make new contacts. To get the most traffic at your booth, send out mailings and announcements before the show inviting your customers and prospects to stop by your booth. Insert announcements in bills you send out, on your web page, and in local newspaper ads you run near the show date. Then, a couple of weeks before the event call important customers and prospects and set appointments with to meet with you at the show. Consider offering them something special for keeping the appointment.

Have A Giveaway/Collect Contacts Information
Your goal is to attract people to your booth who would be interested in your products and opportunity. The giveaway doesn't have to be big or elaborate. Samples of your products given away at intervals during the show are often used. Novelty items such as ball caps, golf shirts, key chains, pencils, pads of paper with your company and product name can be good too. Even something as simple as a large bowl full of bite-sized chocolates or hard candies can bring people to your booth. Use your imagination if there aren't sufficient funds for expensive giveaways. Having a giveaway requires the show attendees to fill out a registration card that will be placed in a container. A container that you will draw from every hour or at the end of everyday or whatever interval you choose. That is a wonderful piece of paper to place in your follow-up system too. Those who don't buy at the show, for whatever reason, will often buy when you make personal contact.

Take Notes
You will have conversations with dozens of people during a trade show. There are attendees and the other vendors. Many of them will give you their name or a business card. Make sure you remember what you talked about and why you saved their card by jotting a note about what you talked about on the back of their business card or on a note pad while you're at the show.

Train Booth Personnel
Your trade show booth can make for a very good training environment. Choose your booth staff carefully. Not all new distributors are ready for the intense customer contact that is about to occur. Regardless if they are experienced or not, be sure and share with each of them what you expect to accomplish at the show and clearly establish any ground rules you would like to see kept. And for those are very new at this, help them and teach them to deal with the public one on one.

Here are a few things to avoid: