Need Business Show/Convention Tips?

This is my first show. Realtor convention/show and I am wondering if anyone has any tips for creating traffic to my booth. What are some unique promotional items that you have seen? Best location in a convention center?

Literally every show is different. Your approach can vary based on the audience. I just exhibited at a show yesterday and it went extremely well. We did one two weeks ago and it was a flub. Very similar audiences. What was the difference? We think it was just the type of people in attendance.

A few tips.

If you have something to give away, give it away. Don't hide it. Get it out there. Because we are a web business, we give away a lot of mouse pads - seems to work for us. We also give away sticky pads, pens and coffee mugs. Making a promotional item decision is not required, but it does give you a way to engage with the potential client. I did see a neat gift yesterday that was two magnetic toys that clacked together and sounded like a cicada or a taser when you threw them up in the air. Very popular in the booth next door. Water bottles and T-shirts also do very well, but again it comes down to your objectives (lead generation or awareness building).

People like to blame performance on location, but the show planners have gone through great effort to make each booth equally accessible. Usually a poor performing booth is due to its operation, not is location. Open up your booth and welcome folks. Don't sit behind a table and look at people walk by. Stand up, put on a big smile, and talk to folks. Stand out in front of your booth area and be ready to take questions. Be prepared to stand 95% of the time you are there.

Come up with an introductory question or two. Ours was "Do you have a web site?" If you do we can help, if you don't we can help.

Have a brochure or print out that has good information on it and make it available. Visitors will be inundated with these things, but having yours in consideration when they are reviewing their bag of goods is helpful. Even better, write something unique on the brochure while you are chatting. Consider some important note or other reference that will jump out and make the brochure different and personal.

Run a contest. If you have a very vague business or it is not simple to convey your message, consider running a contest to collect business cards. Give away something significant and make sure you have it there. I've seen golf clubs, plasma tvs and larger children's toys do well. If most of your attendees are out of the area be sure to state the winner receives free shipping.

Follow up. Absolutely follow up with every single card, lead, or verbal request you get. A phone call or a written letter or both would be great. It is your one opportunity to really drive your business home for the recipient.

Good luck!