Working with an experienced full-service exhibit company gives you a great space in which to work, should you decide to attend a trade show. But once you’re in the space, what do you do with it? One thing that is both inevitable and strongly encouraged is interactions with the visitors who will be coming to your exhibit. Here are some tips to make the most of visitors who see you and your business at a trade show.

Don’t Be Aggressive

One of the first important things you should be aware of is exercising some restraint. Trade shows have their own rhythm, with ebbs and flows of visitors. Don’t be aggressive about chasing down visitors and trying to coerce them to visit your exhibit. Being engaged and outgoing is a good thing, but using aggressive or forceful techniques to trap passersby at your exhibit will do more harm than good. Let them come to you; don’t chase them down.

Be Engaged In Your Interactions

When visitors do arrive, it’s important to be focused on them and engaged with them. If you or your staff simply recite a rote marketing speech, not maintaining eye contact and appearing disinterested, this will lose visitors quickly. However, if you ask questions, show an interest in the answers, and adjust your marketing and promotional approach to reflect the answers and needs of the person you’re talking to, this makes for a more productive and effective interaction with visitors, who in turn will be more receptive.

Manage Your Traffic

Another important management skill at a trade show is being able to handle your incoming traffic. In the same way that there may be times when there are few, or even no, visitors to your exhibit, other periods of the day may find you swamped with visitors and all your staff actively engaged, with more visitors still arriving.

If you or your staff are already engaged with other visitors, it’s critical not to completely ignore newcomers. While you don’t have to stop the interaction you’re currently in, acknowledging the new arrivals with eye contact, smiles, waves, or other clear signals is important. It lets them know you do see them and are aware of them, making them more willing to wait if you need a few moments to wind things down before moving on.

If you want to work with an experienced full-service exhibit company for your next trade show, contact Lighthouse Exhibits. We can help.