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Trade show tips for time efficiency.
Trade shows can be an excellent resource whether you are looking for something in particular or whether you just want to keep abreast of the latest in the industry. However, trade shows are getting more expensive, especially when adding in travel costs. To ensure that you get the most of your time when attending trade shows, follow some of these tips.
* Know why you are attending. Before leaving for a show, determine what you want to find out while you are there, says Susan Friedmann of The Tradeshow Coach in Lake Placid, NY, and author of Meeting and Event Planning for Dummies. If you have a boss and you need to justify your reasons for going, then it will help to know what you want to get at the show, she says. In addition, make sure you clarify what your boss wants you to get at the show.
"People are going to shows looking for solutions to problems/challenges that they might have at a workplace," Friedmann says. "This is where the industry gets together. Anything and everything you want to know about your industry is going to be there on the show floor."
* Research companies and equipment before going to the show. Because time is limited, it's best to get as much information as you can before going to a show. Web sites are often the best resource. By doing the basic research beforehand, you can spend your time at a booth asking more in-depth questions.
"The more prepared you are, the more you are going to get out of it," Friedmann says.
* Organize your exhibitor visit list. Sit down with the exhibitor list and map and plan which booths you want to visit, dividing your list into "must see" and "want to see" booths, says Friedmann. Plan your visits so that you are stopping at booths in a logical order rather than crisscrossing the exhibit floor. Then, decide how much time you can spend at each booth, allowing a little extra...