One of the best ways to market your business and raise awareness is to interact with your potential customer. It’s an age old saying, people buy from people, and it’s still just as true as ever, if you want to build up your contact and customer lists, the best thing you can do is get yourself to a networking event, or even better still, a business exhibition or trade show.

These events are put together so that a huge number of business owners and users are all put together under one roof, doing a lot of the hard work for you and thousands of potential customers are effectively placed right on your doorstep (or stand).

Choose carefully

There are loads to choose from but you need to ensure that the show you choose to present your business at is relevant to your product and, more importantly, that the people there are going to want to buy your product. You should spend time researching the credentials of the various shows, looking into the expected footfall and the kind of level of seniority, and decision making powers, that the visitors have.

Remember, the people who go to the shows and exhibition go with the intention to network and buy products, so as long as you’re selling something they want or need, your sales are guaranteed.

Be Prepared

It’s vital that you prepare your pitch. In the run up to the event, make sure you network your business as widely as possible, to raise awareness that you’ll be there and why people should come and find you. Once you’ve started to generate interest, make arrangements to meet up with contacts to promote your business further!

Decide what you’re going to take, if you have a stand, make sure you have branded banners and marketing material to be able to give out to make sure you’re remembered by the people you speak to once they’ve left your stand.

Network, network, network

During the event, make the most of every opportunity to interact with the people around you. There’s no point put all the effort in to go to the show, and then just sitting back and expecting everyone to come to you. The more people you speak to, the more likely you are to get sales on the day or a potential lead for future reference.

08Direct will be exhibiting at the Business Startup Show in London on 6th-7th June, make sure you come along see us at stand 788, we’d love to meet you!