Did you know that eight out of 10 people prefer in-person events? Consumers want to interact with brands and build connections, which is why the components of your tradeshow booth need to extend beyond just handouts and a banner.
When participating in a trade show, your booth’s design can either draw a crowd or fade into the background. You want your materials – including your booth, your banners and your giveaways – to make a splash with your target audience. Failing to do so can cost you and your business valuable exposure and impressions.
Allegra is here to help you create memorable and professional materials to present your organization. Our team has outlined the most common mistakes and what you should do instead.
- Minimizing Your Logo’s Impact: Your company logo is, in many ways, the first “face” of your brand that customers see. A common issue with trade show materials is not displaying your branding large enough to make them visible from a distance on items like banners and table throws. Trade shows are busy, with a lot of visual stimuli drawing attendees’ attention all over. You need to stand out! Ensure your logo is visible at a distance by using a high-resolution vector image that can be easily scaled across various materials.
- Picking Poor Typography: Text that is too small, or in an overly decorative font, is difficult to read from far away. Trade show attendees shouldn’t have to guess what something says, or squint to see something better. Instead, choose a clear, bold sans-serif font for your most important information, like your company name and contact information. Remember to also consider text placement – displaying key information at eye level ensures it’s seen first. Limit the amount of text on your signs and banners to keep your message concise and impactful.
- Neglecting Visuals: Relying solely on text can make your booth come off as sterile or unfriendly. Make sure you’re incorporating compelling visuals, such as images of your products, to help capture attention. You want to be showing event attendees what you can do for them, not just telling them about yourself. Use professionally shot, high-resolution photographs; lower resolution images can appear blurry or pixelated when enlarged. Good visuals not only enhance aesthetics but also add credibility to your business.
- Misusing Colours: Colour choice can make or break a trade show booth design. Avoid clashing colours or overly busy patterns, which can be more distracting than enticing to attendees. Instead, stick to your brand colours to help overall cohesion with your other marketing materials, and use high-contrast combinations to highlight the most important information.
- Forgetting Contact Info: It may be surprising to learn that businesses often forget to include the most essential contact details in their trade show materials. Ensure that your phone number, email, website and any social media handles are prominent throughout your marketing. This makes it easy for interested attendees to get in touch with you after the show. Consider incorporating QR codes in your designs that can serve as a digital business card, directing them to a special landing page or website.
These are just a few tips that can help you avoid common mistakes that may hinder your overall success at a trade show or other industry event. But with the right preparation and Allegra, your experienced design partner, your booth can become a memorable experience for guests. Be sure to contact us when you’re planning your next event – we’ll guide you through the entire design process and ensure you stand out!
