A trade show offers plenty of opportunities for any company, from picking up potential leads to garnering valuable industry information. You may be wondering, however, if it is truly worth the time and investment to go to a trade show. Here are some questions to ask while you’re deciding whether to make the leap and attend your first trade show.

Is the show relevant to my industry?

It’s smart to do your research into any show before deciding to go. You need to be sure that it will give you the opportunity to connect with others in your industry. Look at some of the businesses that are exhibiting to get a better sense of who will be attending. You might even talk to people who have attended the show before to see what their experiences were like.

How much of an investment will it be?

Even if you are only attending a trade show, there are a number of potential expenses you’ll need to consider. Along with the cost of admission to the show itself, you should think about the cost of travel, lodging, and meals for the employees who attend the trade show. If you’ll be sending any of your top employees to the show, be sure to make arrangements so that the missed workdays won’t hurt your productivity.

Am I sending the right employees?

It’s important to make sure that any employees you send to a trade show are prepared to represent your company. Pick employees who have experience working at your company and who are well-versed in the details of your business. You should also choose employees who are outgoing and personable, and who will have the energy and patience to network with a large number of people over multiple long days.

Before attending your first trade show, you should make sure that your website’s content is as professional as possible. You’ll be sending a lot of new eyes to your site, so it’s important to make a great first impression. At Pennington Creative, our team can provide the fantastic onsite copy you need to impress your new business connections.

About the Author

Justyn Dillingham

Digital Marketing Manager, Special Projects