APE APE January 2020 | Page 26

MARKETING MATTERS to the “grand prize” ad specialty item that visitors will have a chance to win if they participate in your lead gathering activity. The most beneficial engagement activ- ities are ones that will stimulate conversa- tion in a direction streamlined toward your services. For example, we’ve done a before and after website renovation competition where people rated the before and after de- signs of a website telling us if they think the re-design was successful or not. This activ- ity got our potential clients thinking about the services we provide and ways we could help them. It also gave us a chance to show examples of our work, gave customers a reason to contact us again and opened an opportunity to invite them into our mar- keting community. Give out data and information packets rel- ative to your industry to prospects during a trade show to help educate them. 6. Offer Help, Not Hype Participating in a tradeshow is about gaining exposure for your business. Only a very limited number of businesses can sell their product directly at the event. If you’re not one of those few, focus on offering po- tential clients information and data they can take home and put to work. Consider offering them documents containing rela- tive industry information and knowledge in exchange for their contact information or business card. Show people that you have solutions to their problems and ques- tions so you can start building a trusting, consultative relationship. By presenting your company as the industry expert they can come to for information, you’ll jump start your professional relationship. 7. Speak Up If you have the chance to speak at the tradeshow, take advantage of it. Doing so helps build your credibility and shows your expertise, which will attract new leads to your business. But don’t forget that speak- ing opportunities should still focus on of- fering industry information to potential clients, not just selling your product. 8. Follow Up in a Timely Fashion One of the biggest mistakes your business can make after a tradeshow is not following up with the leads you generated during the show. Contacting your leads after the show is how you move the sale along and ensure that you capitalize on your investment in the tradeshow. But you don’t have to wait until the show is over to reach out to your tradeshow leads. You can set up appoint- ments at the show or have a calendar ready to set meetings with prospects. Don’t wait until there’s a lull in business activity to con- tact people a few months later. Establishing that contact as soon as possible while they’re still in a business building mentality will en- sure that your conversation is fresh in their mind. Monica Pitts is the founder and Chief Cre- ative Officer of MayeCreate Design. She spends her days constructing a marriage of form and function; creating art with her de- sign team to grow businesses through websites and online marketing. Monica considers her- self an artist, marketer and web dork with the ability to speak geek and English. Refurbished 2000-AS Palletized Striping Unit Mounted to a 2003 Isuzu Serial#: 1298 • 2003 Isuzu NPR, 109” WB, 5.7L V8 Gasoline Engine • (2) 25 Gallon SS Paint Tanks with 10” Lids. • (1) 300# CS Bead Tank with 10” Lid. • All Stainless Steel Paint Plumbing. • NEW 20 HP Honda Engine with Electric Start. • NEW KC-78C Headset. • Refurbished Atlas Copco Air Compressor. • (3) KCN-015 Paint Guns—REBUILT. • (3) KC-600 Pressure Bead Guns—REBUILT. • (1) Refurbished M40D Skipline Controller. • All NEW Solenoids. • Rack and Pinion Steering. • No Warranty on Isuzu Chassis Visit us on the web: www.kellycreswell.com [email protected] For More Information On This Advertiser Please Visit www.CallAPE.com/e-inquiry For More Information On This Advertiser Please Visit www.CallAPE.com/e-inquiry www.callape.com [26] 1.800.210.5923