Brooke Barnett

I have done quite a few trade shows for United First Financial and I have failed miserly at most of them. it is amazing how much you learn from failure. One key principle I try to teach everyone about marketing it to do it right or do not do it at all. This is very true for trade shows.

Booth Size

A small 10′x10′ booth is great if you want to be part of the crowd but if you want to stand out gather a group of people and split the cost of a larger booth.

Electric

Usually very expensive but having power for your booth is a must.

Internet

MUST HAVE! Here you have a few options. You can purchase a wireless internet card from your cell phone carrier for roughly $50 a month. If you are traveling at all to do business this can pay for itself very easily. If you are to purchase on of these air cards I recommend that you get a USB card. It might be a little clunky when using on your laptop but it also allows you to use it on a desktop computer. It is essential you have the ability to run an analysis, show the demo software or sign up and agent at the booth.

Giveaways

You need to create a reason for people #1 to stop at your both and #2 to give you their information. This goes back to doing it right. Factor into the cost of the booth a nice prize of some sort. Maybe a small plasma TV, iPhone or if it is a home show try a few hundred dollar gift certificate to Home Depot.

This is just a few tips but remember your goal is to get their info not for you to give them info. Flyers, business cards and fancy pens end up in the trash on the way out or the next day at home. Do not focus on what you give out but how you captue and follow up.

If you have ever done a trade show(especially in Las Vegas) you know that the internet connections are usually outrageous. Take for an example our both in Las Vegas has 8 computer stations. The first internet connection is $1,400.00 and each additional is $600.00. That is $5,600 for internet connections for a 3 day show. Oh that does not include labor of running lines because we are not allowed to do that(union.)

After a few frustrating show I was flying back to my old home of San Diego reading the ever so popular Sky Mall. Side note: Does anyone really ever buy anything from Sky Mall? Anyway, I was flipping through the electronics section only to find a new device from NComputing. It claimed you could turn 1 computer into 30 unique terminals just by adding their boxes and all the the necessary peripherals to include mouse, keyboard, monitor and speakers.

This sounded too good to be true. While the advertisement was targeted at educational institution and parents to reduce the cost of computers I instantly saw that I could reduce the cost on internet, computers, labor and weight of load in. I mean if this really does work I could save $5-7k per show.

So buying the product was a cheap gamble and a few days later my shipment from Sky Mall arrived. Yes, in answer to my own question I bought something from Sky Mall. I was amazed by the small size of the terminal box. It fits behind a monitor when the monitor is mounted to a wall. I quickly loaded the software to my most powerful computer and hooked up my first terminal station.

To my amazement it worked incredible. On hindsight the only thing I would have done different is I would have not got 22″ monitors. The resolution provided by the terminals is mediocre and I would recommend 20″ monitors or less.

So this is now our third show running just one computer, powering 8 stations and paying for only one internet connection. If you have a use for multiple computers such as a trade show or maybe even an internet cafe this is a great way to do it if you have to pay per internet hookup. I will never do a trade show or expo again without this system.

If this helped yoiu save some money leave me a comment below.