Presenting Your Business

By Angie Major, Blueberry Business

The breakfast club is planning a business show allowing members to present their business to potential customers. Following on from Chantal's tips on how to make a great presentation at the last breakfast club meeting here are some things to consider when presenting your business at a trade show.

Key questions:

• What do you want to achieve? Do you want to raise awareness of your company, promote or launch a particular product or service or come away with a certain number of quality leads to follow up?
• Who are your targets and what are their needs? Arrange your material to attract specific targets or promote different services.
• How can you attract visitors? Have a competition or a game, something fun to get them to stop at your stand.
• Look the business – image is everything. Don't skimp on the important things. Have a professional design your material. There is nothing worse than amateur leaflets with clip art or overcrowded posters. Good design doesn't have to be expensive and digital printing is cost effective for small print runs.
• Be consistent in the words and images you use across the material on your stand. This will help reinforce your branding.
• How can you get the conversation going? Brainstorm a list of questions and answers beforehand: answers to visitors' questions and questions you may want to ask them.
• Encourage people to leave their details with you. Prepare simple contact sheets in case visitors don't have a business card. Don't be afraid to ask permission to follow up.

And finally

• Allow good time to get everything organised well in advance of the show. It is worth taking time to get it right. 
• If you have a banner or pop up stand – practise putting it up before the day.
• Consider your body language when you are on your stand. Visitors won't want to stop and talk if you have your head in a book or are on the phone. Be inviting and friendly.
• Remember to follow up leads!