Event Marketing: Make A Lasting Impression With These 6 Tips
Events are perfect for connecting with potential clients, vendors, and partners on a personal level. Whether you’re attending as a presenter or an exhibitor, events give you and your customers the opportunity to put faces to names, but they also give you the opportunity to establish the personality and values behind your brand.
To truly make an impact at an industry event, conference, charity event, or trade show, it’s important to take every opportunity to make a great and lasting impression. Here are six simple steps you can take to maximize your event marketing opportunity.
Be Your Brand
First and foremost, the best way to let people know about your brand and to associate you with that brand is to BE your brand. Make an effort to go beyond the pleasantries and handshakes to really demonstrate the values that define your business. Familiarize yourself with your mission statement and be a living, breathing embodiment of that purpose. Being authentic about your products, services, values, and mission, are the best advertisement you can have, and you don’t have to pay for it!
Catch Their Eye
Showcase your brand with stunning graphics and a coordinated display. Spend some time thinking about what your space will look like beforehand and go the extra mile in making it above average. Right down to your name tag and outfit (or tie), make sure that both you and your, your staff, and your display are clearly communicating your brand.
Give Them Something to Remember You By
Don’t hand out any old promo item. Spend some time thinking about unique or useful swag that attendees will want to hold on to long-term. The same goes for marketing materials. Consider whether there is anything special you can have printed that has valuable information on it that your potential customers might want to reference regularly.
Let Them Know Where To Find You
Post on social media to let your contacts know where you’ll be. You may want to have a drawing or contest and use branded social media graphics to send teasers out leading up to the event. Be sure to tag and/or use hashtags to get maximum visibility and to drive traffic to your display.
Impress Them With Quality
Use a professional designer for your business cards, brochures, rack cards, sales sheets, catalogs, or whatever printed marketing materials you need. Make sure you’re well-stocked and print them on quality paper. Just like you, these will represent your brand, and it’s worth the investment to showcase your products and services in a way you can be proud of.
Be Social!
Use social media during the event to share photos and videos. By posting, tagging and using hashtags you can reach more people—including some who didn’t attend. Be sure to get permission before tagging anyone in your photo posts.
Final Thoughts
Taking advantage of events to meet or reconnect with people in your industry is a great way to engage with your audience, boost business, and get inspired. I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing like some great networking to remind me why I’m passionate about what I do!
If you’re preparing for an event in the Tampa Bay area or nationally and need help with event websites, printed materials, graphics or displays, give me a call. I’ll be happy to help you showcase what makes your brand special!