Top Ten Tips to Make Your Exhibition Stand Stand Out

As veterans of the exhibition world, at BusinessGiftUK.com, we like to think we know a thing or two attracting visitors to your stall and engaging with them.  After all, our tagline is “make your business memorable”! We are one of the UK’s leading suppliers for sustainably-sourced promotional products and well-versed in navigating the terrains of the expo world #ExpoExperts.

Making your exhibition stand more engaging is crucial to attract visitors, from basics such as roller banners and smaller gifts for visitors to ways to engage your visitors, such as giveaway competitions and other more interactive elements.  We can help you ensure your stall is on brand, with relevant promotional products that support your expo objectives. 

You can really seize this opportunity to leave a lasting impression, generate leads and also increase your brand awareness.  Exhibitions are effectively an extension of networking so build on those connections with people and really plant the seeds for those business relationships to grow.

Our Top Ten Tips to help you create an engaging and memorable exhibition stand

1. Clear Branding and Messaging:
   • Ensure that your stand uses your branding and brand colours.  Eye-catching logos and graphics will really help to foster awareness about your brand.
   • If you think you need help with your branding, now is the time to speak with designers and photographers to get your branding on track!
   • Make sure your branding and messaging clearly illustrate what you do and what you have to offer – and be consistent with this messaging.
   • Use a “call to action” to ensure people know what you want them to do!

We love the team at Refined Marketing for your all your graphic design and marketing needs – check them out here!

2. Interactive Elements:
   • Incorporate interactive elements like touchscreens, virtual reality experiences, or interactive games to engage visitors and make your stand more memorable.
   • Offer product demonstrations or live presentations to showcase your offerings in action.

• Interactive Displays:

3. Use something to get people involved, such as a frame to take their picture with to put on yours and their socials!  People love a good prop!  We can help with sourcing these, too.

Why not speak to a company such as The Fun Experts, about fun ways to increase interaction?

4. Engage the Senses:
   • Consider incorporating sensory elements like music, scents, or tactile experiences that align with your brand and product offerings. 
   • Branded business gifts are a great way to do this and further promote your brand.

5. Interactive Giveaways:
   • Consider interactive giveaways like USB drives or using QR codes to provide information of value. 
   • Using these also requires interaction from the delegate so it’s another marketing tool should you wish to use email marketing as part of your marketing strategy.
   • Just one caveat: make sure your giveaways are relevant and valuable to your target audience.  It is definitely worth thinking about whether they are sustainably produced too.

6. Engage Staff:
   • The people on your stall should be friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable about your products and services.
   • Encourage them to initiate conversations with passers-by and ask open-ended questions to understand visitors’ needs.

7. Contests and Prizes:
   • Host contests or competitions that encourage visitors to participate and interact with your stand – and where possible, provide an incentive!
   • We use a #ScanToWin competition to encourage people to sign up for a chance to win a special gift. It’s a great talking point and helps to avoid any awkward silences and break the ice!  Besides – who doesn’t love a freebie?!

8. Social Media Engagement:
   • Encourage visitors to engage with your stand on social media by using event-specific hashtags.
   • Repurpose user-generated content on your socials to say: “Thank you!” and reinforce the connection. It’s also fantastic for social proof!

9. Networking Opportunities:
   • Don’t be afraid to suggest a 1-2-1 or a chat sometime to get to know the delegate better.  Great connections are built on conversations: meet, like, know, trust.
   • Even if you are attending and not exhibiting, it’s great to have a promotional item to hand out to make yourself memorable to the businesses on the stalls!  Make yourself stand out – get creative!

10. Follow Up:
    • Use the contact information people give you to check in and follow-up. 
    • Provide responses promptly if they have enquired about one of your products of services.
    • Connect on your social media channels to encourage further engagement and to nurture the relationship; just like plants, connections need watering to grow!

Remember that the key to an engaging exhibition stand is to create a memorable and interactive experience for visitors that aligns with your brand and objectives.

By incorporating these tips, you can make your stand more engaging and increase your chances of success at exhibitions and events.

At BusinessGiftUK.com, we will proudly be exhibiting at the Pink Link Summer Regional on 7^th August 2024 – make sure to get your tickets so you don’t miss out!

Come along and say “hi!” – we will always welcome a chat with you!

Want more help with designing a plan for your stall?  Why not get in touch with us for some inspiration! Email kim@BusinessGiftUK.com or call us on 01772 429111.