Sonas Blog

"There is only one thing worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." -Oscar Wilde

Although Wilde died in 1900, people are still talking about him and his "wildeisms" are still quoted. The goal of every company exhibiting in a trade show is to keep that talk going and translating into business.  Trade shows represent huge opportunities to create new relationships, raise brand awareness, and make some noise.  In other words, keep people talking!

Exhibiting at a trade show is the quintessential occasion to come face-to-face with qualified prospects for your products, all the while representing a large percentage of your company's marketing budget. So making the most of the time and money invested in exhibiting means carefully avoiding trade show mistakes that sabotage all your efforts.

Unique promotional concepts and trade show ideas are what you need to make your exhibition a sought-after destination at a trade show event. If you’re creative enough to stand out from the competition, you’ll attract large crowds.

The best way to learn about these new trade show ideas is to attend as many events as possible, both within and outside your industry. Walk through the exhibition hall to see what others are doing, paying particular attention to booths that are attracting large crowds consistently. Do they have a unique trick no one else knows about? Find out by politely asking about their techniques.

Trade shows are an excellent platform to meet and engage with your customers and prospects face-to-face.

This, according to experts, allows brands to initiate conversations and build long-term relationships.

However, trade shows can also be quite challenging if you’re not prepared.

Trade show marketing doesn’t always work out the way you planned.

If you’re not sure why your great ideas don’t fly with the convention-going audience or why you’re seeing weak leads despite a lot of popularity, you’re probably falling into one of these typical traps. Address these issues, avoid these ROI-destroying pitfalls, and you’ll see business boom at your next trade show.

Finding the right place, services and staff for an event – large or small – can make for a daunting task for an event planner. Nevertheless, taking some time beforehand, to consider your needs will make the entire process much simpler. Here are some of the factors you should consider in selecting the perfect event venue:

Brand ambassadors are charismatic individuals who help spread the word about your alcohol brand or other products. They have the natural ability to connect with others and gain the trust of potential customers in a way that one-dimensional advertising simply can’t. As summer heats up, there are lots of great venues where you can utilize brand ambassadors.

Recent studies indicate that consumers are becoming immune to many standard marketing strategies. For example, 86% of people watching TV tend to skip right over the commercials, and 44% of consumers say that they never even open direct mailings. This has forced many businesses to think outside of the box when it comes to promoting special events, like trade show events, wine and food tastings, and grand openings, and use strategic marketing strategies like street team promotion.

Alcohol is one of the most social products on the market. There are few products as ingrained in the public consciousness with relaxation, parties, get-togethers, sporting events, and having a good time than alcohol. Selling such a widely used and enjoyed product why would you even need a brand ambassador ? A good product may sell itself but a brand ambassador helps it along the way. Here are five reasons why alcohol brands should have brand ambassadors.

You've spent a lot of time, money, and effort preparing for a trade show. Your company booth design is eye-catching, you've ordered customized branded giveaways that attendees will love, and you've invested in transportation and hotel rooms for your employees who will be manning your booth. Everything's set - so what could go wrong?

Attending a trade show is a great way to really drive leads and improve your company's visibility in the industry. Here are five trade show marketing tips to help you get the most from your next trade show.  

Location, Location, Location

Where in the trade show's exhibit hall will your booth be? Very few people will walk to the furthest corners of the exhibit hall in the hopes of finding the right business. Your booth must be both visible and conveniently accessible. The fact is that many attendees will wander into the hall and immediately look for the closest and biggest booth. Unfortunately, these prime spots tend to be expensive and are snapped up quickly. You will need to plan ahead to get the best booth location. In most conferences and trade shows, the best booths are reserved over a year in advance.