If you’re planning a trade show booth, you’ve probably thought a bit about how to make it stand out from the crowd. You likely already know that your booth will need an activity that engages each of the senses and gives your audience an interactive activity, rather than just something to read, watch, or see. If you’re thinking, “seems easier said than done”, you’re absolutely right. Lucky for you, we’ve got some helpful tips to make your trade show booth stand out, and a few examples of their successful implementation.

• Use technology

This tip encompasses multiple types of tech. Before the event, promote your booth via social media to build excitement. When people arrive on the day of the trade show, make sure the technologies you use create the most engaging and memorable experience possible. While this strategy should include an exciting and interactive activity, there are a number of other ways that technology will improve the success of your booth. Keep visitors in the loop with an in-person QR Code that they can scan to instantly access your company’s contact information. Perhaps the most important use of technology is to capitalize on the best tech in order to follow up with any leads right away.

Example:

Netflix’s Comic-Con debut featured an enormous tunnel with 68 video monitors which played trailers of their hit shows. The booth also employed a savvy interactive social media strategy by sharing posts from fans and influencers.

• Hire exceptional staffers

Having the right tech is crucial, but did you know that 85% of an exhibitor’s success depends on the actions of its booth staffers? Hiring the right staff is one of the most important parts of planning your trade show booth. It is imperative to both hire the best and to train your staffers properly. Hiring professional salespeople is one way to ensure your staff is good, but it’s also important for each of your representatives to be knowledgeable about your brand and to understand the importance and the tangible goals of your booth. For this reason, it makes sense to hire staffers that work in multiple divisions of your company, not just in sales. You can even go a step further by inviting “superfans” or influencers (consumers of your brand, not just producers) to be a part of the trade show booth. These consumers will be able to explain why they love your brand, which will communicate a unique and authentic message to your booth’s guests.

Example:

The Miami Marlins baseball team installed an interactive playing field in a Miami trade show. Visitors could go to bat with well-informed and engaging Marlins brand ambassadors or participate in prize giveaways.

• Incentivize

Most trade show booths attract participants with a fun activity, a free or discounted product, or an opportunity to learn about the brand. Imagine your booth can do more than that. Today’s shoppers gravitate towards ethical consumption more than ever before. If your brand’s message is related to an important cause on the local or national scale, incorporate it into your trade-show booth. You can feel good about the added purpose of your booth, and you’ll attract even more guests in the process.

Example:

Sparks partnered with Pentax Medical to create the “Colonoscopy Challenge” at a trade show in Chicago. The interactive game used LCD touch screens to engage participants. Each time the game was played, Pentax donated money to the Colon Cancer Alliance.

If you’re going to implement all of these tips, you probably can’t do it alone. Let the professionals at Wizard Studios help you create the best booth for your next trade show!