Never Do These 5 Things in Your Trade Show Booth

The goal at any trade show should be to make your booth look inviting and professional. But, every time I walk through a trade show floor, I see sales teams commit the same mistakes over and over. Here is my list of the top 5 things you should never do in your booth.

1. Eat and Drink

Let’s cut the clutter. Your booth looks unprofessional with your Starbucks cups and half eaten sandwiches lying around. It’s fine to keep beverages in storage for a quick sip here and there, but never leave them on the counter tops. Also, when it’s time to eat, leave the booth and have another staff member cover for you. If you are eating in your booth, no one will stop for fear that they are interrupting your lunch hour. Plus, it’s very rude to talk while you are eating.

2. Constantly Talk with Team Members

The entire purpose of being at a show is to talk with attendees, not with each other. Stop constantly talking with one another, especially in larger groups of three or four. First, no one wants to interrupt a conversation and second, you won’t notice when people are walking by your booth because you are too caught up in conversation. Instead, you should always be on the look out to start up conversations as people walk by your booth.

3. Sit Down

Don’t be lazy! Trust me, I know eight hour days of standing is difficult, but by sitting, you are unable to step out of the booth and invite people to look at your products. People prefer talking with others eye to eye, and when you sit you are no longer in a position of power. If your legs are getting too sore, take a moment when it’s slow to walk around the exhibit hall and meet your neighbors.

4. Be on Your Phone

This is probably the worst crime you can commit while in your booth. When you are on your phone, you can’t make eye contact with attendees as they pass by and it makes you appear as if you are taking a break, right there in the middle of the booth! If you are always in the habit of checking your phone, stash it in the booth’s storage. If you must check your phone, step out and walk down the isle. This will also be a good time to loosen up your legs.

5. Complain

I know that trade shows can start to feel long, especially after an eight hour shift. Your legs and feet may be sore and you may be hungry. Save all of your complaints until after the show. You need to stay positive and welcoming throughout the entire day, even up until the last 15 minutes of the show. You never know who you may run into and sometimes my biggest crowds happen as people leave the exhibit halls!

Conclusion

I hope these tips help you reflect on your etiquette and make your booth more inviting to convention attendees. If you’d like to learn about how I can train your team and how I can build crowds at your booth, click the link below to reach out to talk about your next trade show.

This post originally appeared on GatherCrowds.com which is dedicated to my trade show performances.