When exhibiting at a tradeshow it should come as no surprise that you’re putting in a lot of time, effort and money, so it’s important to maximise that investment. Guerilla marketing is a fantastic way to extend your reach, be front of mind and generate attention that lasts long after the event is over – it doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does have to be creative and memorable.
So, gather you team and get brainstorming! Brainstorm a theme that is visually memorable and can easily extend through emails, tweets, press releases and other pre-event strategies. Your guerilla strategy should not only reflect your messages, it should surprise and excite your audience. Check out some of our pre-event guerrilla marketing tips in the list below:
- Use Humour. Try to do something that surprises your visitors and breaks through their expectations. Why not pique their interest by dropping hints but not actually giving them the whole story? People who are curious are likely to return.
- Funny Twists on Old Messages. One of the most popular ways to advertise at tradeshows is with postcards telling visitors to “stop by and see us” – put a funny twist on these more traditional messages.
- Mock Newspaper Page. Visitors to tradeshows get handed so much advertising material that most of it ends up in the bin, unread. Think outside the square and get noticed by using something different, such as a mock newspaper with creative stories that will catch people’s attention and make them want to read on.
- Social Media. Be sure to get your social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, even YouTube) working to build your story and engage with your audience (and encourage them to visit) before the tradeshow has started.
- Hand Out Half Of Something. This one is a little cheeky. By handing out half of something, you’ll get people wondering about what the other half offers or why it’s missing in the first place. Send it out prior to the event and get people to attend your booth to get the other half/remainder of the promotion.
We hope that the tips we’ve provided above have given you some ideas of how you can succeed at guerilla marketing before the tradeshow has even begun. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Part 2 and Part 3 of this series, which focus on success at the tradeshow and outside of it. As well as providing you with quality stands, Displays Direct is committed to helping you market your business effectively.
