This past weekend, I was contacted by a former colleague of mine from Honeywell. He reminded me of a conversation we had had a number of years ago about the value of trade shows.

He wrote that over the years he has learned that a trade show was “a place where we could interact with customers and sell them on the benefits of products.” My correspondent continued about “how everything tied together to accomplish that objective….” Read More...

Our colleague, Linda Musgrove, AKA the Trade Show Teacher, posted a recent video on YouTube. In it she outlines the top reasons to attend trade shows:

• Reach prospects. It’s the best way to reach more prospects for fewer dollars
• Face-to-face interaction. You can learn more from people in less time meeting them in person.
• Showing off products and services. Your suspects/prospects/clients and touch and feel your products without having to visit a site or factory or have a sales person call.
• Gathering leads. Hey, you get to collect more leads in a shorter time.
• Develop relationships. More time with people means you know them better.
• Scoping out the competition. The show floor is great for this: see your competitors and their presentation within a short distance of your own.
• Media exposure. The trade media and popular press will be at the show and you can get their attention.
• Market research. Learn more about your market and industry in a shorter amount of time, See new products, get real-time opinions from clients or prospects (or industry insiders)

Thanks, Linda, for this good information. Read More...

A story in today’s Dallas Morning News Business section spells out a few reasons why we chose to market via trade shows.

The story focuses on CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, opening in Las Vegas this week and the 30-plus Dallas-based companies attending. Big or small, these companies see the value in being at a nexus of their business and markets. Read More...