Attending trade fairs and exhibitions as a customer 

Before

All exhibitions are different but most will offer a programme of events, workshops or seminars which will be made available before the event. Being in the know about the programme is essential. Not only will it save you time on the day, it will also ensure you won't miss out on any events that can benefit you or your business.

Before attending a trade show or exhibition ask yourself what you would like to achieve. Who would you like to meet? What would you like to find out? What kind of new contacts would be beneficial? With the answer in mind it will be easier to spot potential opportunities and take advantage.

If lead creation is one of your main objectives for attending trade shows and exhibitions make sure you read our guide to generating and handling leads.

During

Trade shows and exhibitions are all about making new business contacts and creating potential leads. Our simple tips to networking will help you to prepare and make the most of any opportunity.

Make contact with anyone you have identified as a potential business partner, supplier or lead before the event. Make sure you get the details you need to be able to follow up after the event.

Stick to your plan and attend the events, seminars or workshops you have identified as beneficial before the event. Use your spare time to make additional contacts and find out more about other businesses in your industry.

After

Look back at the objectives you have set yourself before the exhibition and measure how successful you were. If you went with a team make sure you collate feedback from everyone involved. this will help you to identify any areas for improvement which you can address before attending further events.

Follow up on any leads you have created during the exhibition. Do so as soon after the event as possible to increase your chance of success. Measure how many leads convert into sales to help you evaluate whether your strategy is working or might need changing.