Tradeshow Etiquette

If you are staffing your tradeshow booth, there are certain tradeshow etiquette rules that need to be followed to make the most of your experience. Tradeshows are a combination of complex strategy and low-level details. As in most things in life, the small details definitely make a difference.

Whether you are an experienced tradeshow exhibitor or this is your first venture in to the world of tradeshows, it will pay to come prepared and know exactly what your behavior and actions will be.

Tradeshow Exhibit Tips

1. Listen. You may have your elevator speech ready to go, but listening to your booth attendees is even more important.
2. Show your passion. People can tell if you truly believe in your product or service. If you aren’t passionate about it, why should anyone else be?
3. Professional appearance. You are representing your brand. A lackadaisical look will make it seem like you don’t care.
4. Put your personality out there. Boring doesn’t cut it when you are trying to sell yourself and your products/services.
5. Watch your body language. Don’t put your hands in your pockets. Don’t cross your arms or legs.
6. Only sit if your client also wants to sit. Stools are great for keeping things at eye level.
7. Make eye contact.
8. Don’t enter the space of another exhibit booth. Everyone is here to do business, so be sure to mind yours!
9. Thank your exhibit attendees for their time both when they arrive and when they leave.
10. Smile. This will get you farther than you might think. A smile can be heard in your voice. If you aren’t happy about yourself and your product, your clients won’t be, either.
11. Limit speaking time with your colleagues. A simple conversation with a colleague can make you miss important potential clients.
12. No eating in your booth. That means no snacks too. Save eating your meals and snacks for your break time.
13. Avoid eating garlic, spicy foods, and drinking alcohol. You don’t have to be very close to someone to get a whiff of an unpleasant odor.
14. Keep your booth clean and organized.
15. Practice your selling process. Before the show starts, walk through the entire sales process with a “pretend” client.
16. Wear name tags. Make it easy on the attendees. There are way too many people at conventions and tradeshows to remember names.
17. Turn off your cell phone and computer.
18. No chewing gum. Enough said.
19. Ask questions. Make sure your questions are open ended and engaging. Questions that can be answered with a yes or no won’t get you very far.
20. Have more than one person staffing your booth. While you are trying to politely disengage yourself from someone who is obviously wasting your time (probably collecting giveaways), the true hot prospect just might get away.

Do you have any more tradeshow exhibit tips? Leave us a comment below. We would love to hear from you.