If you have started making marketing events such as trade shows and conferences part of your annual marketing routine, then you’ve taken a step towards improving your brand’s positioning that many of your competitors may still be ignoring.
However, while simply having a presence at these events can help elevate your brand, you can make your attendance much more impactful if you’re able to ensure you linger in the minds of the attendees who come into contact with you. Here are a few ways you can do just that.
Make Sure That You Pop Visually
First and foremost, you should ensure that your booth or display is positioned well and designed to catch the eye of attendees in a crowded marketing environment. Use strong brand colors, bold signage, and a clear, eye-level message that communicates who you are and what you do.
You can also incorporate branded backdrops, lighting, or even interactive elements to make sure that your space is a lot more visually compelling. It doesn’t have to be overly complex and, indeed, simplicity is often the way to go, but having a few key visuals that attract attention and curiosity will get more people stepping in your direction.
If you keep your visual design consistent with your branding as seen online, then people are more likely to recognize you, too.
All Hail The Almighty Swag
Swag is one of the big draws of any conference or trade show. People look forward to the free stuff that they’re going to get, but, in reality, a lot of that may end up getting thrown away. If you want to make sure that yours does not, then you need to skip the generic pens and go for useful, high-quality items that reflect your brand values.
Think phone stands, reusable water bottles, mini notebooks, or tech accessories. These are things that people will keep. Putting your brand on them makes people much more likely to see your brand time and time again, and, within the event itself, using branded bags can temporarily turn people into walking billboards for your booth.
If people see the kind of swag you’re giving away, they may be more inclined to stop for that reason, which gives you an opportunity to hit them with your brand messaging.
Follow Up Fast And Personally
When the event is all said and done, you want to make sure people remember you. Even if you have a great chat with them, you can start to slip into the back of their mind. A time, personalized follow-up a day or two after the event is an excellent form of email marketing.
Whether you’re just sending out a thank you note, sending them something relevant to the conversation you had, or following up on their interest in your products or services, it adds a personal touch that direct marketing can often lack, making it more effective.
Marketing events can be excellent opportunities to make an impression, but if you’re willing to go the extra mile and really cement that impression, it can lead to real conversions and collaborations down the road, leading to more concrete returns on your investment.