Making The Trade! Skills To Network At A Trade Show

Networking, it’s a skill that we all need at some point or another in business. When the opportunity to work a trade show arises, it is a prime chance to get in cahoots with other companies and entrepreneurs. You could potentially make a lot of successful contacts for the business there, and everybody else goes there with the same goal. When your business is a smaller one, or a startup, you need to find ways to push yourself to the front. Your business markets itself, this is where you get to market the business and yourself! And while the skills of networking are not the same as the ones you learn to deliver excellent customer service, or asking your old boss for a raise, there are some tricks of the trade show to get you started.
Be Specific In Your Goals
Know what you want, and if you don’t know what you want, ask yourself some targeted questions. What would you like to achieve? Is it more leads? Do you want to expand business awareness? Is there one person in the arena that you want to get the contact details of? By being so specific, you will work better at accomplishing great results. Everyone is on limited time in these shows, so make sure your time there counts. Don’t waste people’s time, and don’t waste your time. Be focused, and know what you want.
Location Is So Important
When you are setting up your stall at a trade show, the location is essential to getting more contacts walk by. It’s a trick that every hot dog stand owner knows, picking the right place where the most people go by means you will statistically get more people stopping by. It’s a numbers game. If you are looking for ways to stand out, pay for some custom signage to give your business some bold colors, have some unique floor graphics, or some tech to make yourself stand out.
Get Up And Interact With People
You see so many people at trade shows where they don’t do anything to sell their business, but merely sit behind their table on their phones. It is a great way to make your business stand out for the wrong reasons. Get up, and speak to people, gather people around to communicate your organization and why your company is at the forefront of the industry. Your most valuable asset at these shows is your personality. By representing your business personally, rather than via a website or social media account, you are giving an honest portrayal of your company. Once you have made the necessary introductions, you can follow up with an email or LinkedIn connection request.  
Pick Out Who You Want To Meet In Advance
Send them an invite three weeks before the trade show and be sure to set appointment times so you can spend a short period of quality time with them one on one. A trick to standing out in these situations is to set an appointment at an irregular time, like 1.10 pm.