7 Secrets to attending an Event

Have you ever attended a vendor event and sat there wondering, “How does XYZ company have so many visitors at their booth? What are they doing that is driving such high engagement?” We attend a multitude of events every year and consider it our mission to always have one of the most popular booths, because HEY this is what we do! After 17 plus years of attending events, we have gained some golden nuggets of knowledge that we are going to pass on to you to help you grow your business and make the most out of your attendance.

Promote

Promote the event on social media! Look to see if the Event has Social Media hashtags, follow their page and start promoting that you will be there at booth #. You might even consider creating an email drip campaign, 2 or 3 emails to get them excited about seeing you at the booth. You can also tease them with your merch or “behind the scenes” pictures. You might even be able to purchase a list of attendees from the Event organizer and send a targeted email to your guests before evening showing up.

Be prepared

We all know you can plan for months or even years for an event, but there are, also, those last-minute events you just find out about or get invited last minute to. Make sure to have an event kit that has all the basics ready to go. A brand tablecloth, a branded canopy tent, a retractable banner with your services or business info, and some branded promotional swag. Even having a branded pop-up backdrop display comes in handy for many events. These types of displays grab a lot of attention and look great for photo opportunities. It always helps to cater your booth and motif to the theme of the event. With a ready-to-go event kit, you will be set to attend any event at a moment's notice.

Consider your audience

You will receive a lot more engagement at an event when you design your booth or stand to the event. For example, a recent event Signarama Brighton attended was superhero themed. So, all our booth attendees wore wonder woman shirts with Signarama Branded capes, and we had teddy bears made with capes and masks. We had pet bandanas with a “not all heroes wear capes” design that became very popular. We threw ourselves into the theme of the event making people more apt to engage with us.

Get creative with your swag

Everyone has pens, notepads, flash drives, chapsticks, and even hand sanitizers. Getting creative with your promotional swag will have people piling into your booth. With a quick search in our promotional product catalog, you will see that there are thousands of options. (Check out our promotional products catalog) It is extremely important to think about your audience, what would be useful to them, what would you be excited to get at an event? Think outside of the box, your giveaways don’t necessarily need to coincide with what you do, you just want them to keep your giveaway so when they have the need for your product or service your promotional product is sitting on their shelf reminding them of who you are. You can also do a giveaway or raffle and text your customers who won so they come back to your booth a second time. That way you, also, have the opportunity to make a big deal to celebrate them and their prize. Take a picture of them with their prize and tag them on social.

Get active

Make your booth a popular spot by having some sort of activity to drive engagement. Consider having a golf-putting game or a spin-and-win that gets people involved and talking. Offering a prize appeals to the competitive side of people, making them want to dive in. For one event, we purchased a basketball arcade game. People were lining up through the aisle to play one of our team members who had become “hard-to-beat” (and it didn’t hurt that this was right around the NBA playoffs). While people are selecting prizes or waiting in line, make sure your team members are talking to them about your services or products and how your business can benefit them.

Partner

It’s no secret that attending events can get expensive quickly. Between the entrance fee, booth setup, promotional products, raffle prizes, it all adds up. You don’t want to cheap out on your branding because what does that say about your business? But there are other ways you can look at cutting costs. Partner with another franchise or a vendor to share booth space. If you’re a roofing company with a great relationship with a flooring company, join together to create an awesome booth space and split the costs.

Follow up

Make the most of your leads. Follow up from the Event and don’t forget to do that shortly afterwards so you are fresh in their minds! You can call them or setup an email campaign to reach out. Sending them industry-related information can really help take your new lead to the next level. Pass along helpful blogs, educational pieces you have created, or direct links to products on your website that are going to be of interest. If you are following up with an email campaign, utilize videos and gifs to attract more attention. This maybe a great time to add a coupon or promotion as well to get your new lead to bite. Tradeshows and events are great ways to attract new clients and customers. However, do not let them die on the vine. Make sure to do your due diligence and follow up with your leads. There is just as much work to do after the event as it took to plan and prepare for the event. So make sure to get the highest ROI out of your experience and push yourself to gain those new relationships. --------- Quick Summary: How to Dominate Your Next Vendor Event Attending a trade show or local event is a major investment. To see a real return on that investment, you need more than just a table; you need a strategy that drives engagement and captures leads. After 17+ years of event marketing, we’ve found that the most successful booths are those that prioritize promotion, preparation, and personality. Pro Tips for a High-Traffic Booth: -Promote Early: Don't wait for the event to start. Use social media hashtags and email campaigns to tell your audience exactly where to find your booth. -The "Ready-to-Go" Kit: Always have a branded event kit—including a custom tablecloth, retractable banners, and a pop-up backdrop—ready for last-minute opportunities. -Embrace the Theme: Increase engagement by tailoring your motif to the event's theme. Whether it's superheroes or seasonal holidays, "leaning in" makes your team approachable and memorable. -Creative Swag & Activities: Move beyond basic pens. Use a promotional products catalog to find unique giveaways, and host activities like a "spin-and-win" or arcade game to keep people in line and talking to your team. -The Fortune is in the Follow-Up: An event is only successful if you follow up. Reach out to your new leads shortly after the event with helpful industry information, educational blogs, or special promotions. SEO Keywords: Trade show booth ideas Colorado, custom event signage, promotional products for business, trade show marketing strategy, Signarama Brighton event displays. Want to Be the Most Popular Booth at the Show? From custom-branded canopy tents to the perfect "outside-the-box" promotional swag, we have everything you need to stand out. Let our experts help you design an event kit that reflects your brand’s power. [Browse Our Promotional Catalog] or call us at 303-914-9700 to start planning your next big event!