Many companies settle for decent trade show exhibits and get decent results. Few understand that with a few simple steps, you can get a better return on your investment. Spend a little extra time and your trade show booth will be more productive during the convention, more effective afterward, and overall a greater success.

Tip 1: Avoid Information Overload

One of the most important facets of your convention presence is your ability to communicate with visitors. The main method of communication will almost always be visual; it is very difficult to hire enough staff to speak with every visitor. Even if you could retain enough staff, you will likely see a full exhibit where 100% discussion is completely impossible. Apart from theory, you don't want to have your exhibit staffed to meet every possible visitor. The number of staff may at some points overwhelm the number of guests. In addition, the cost would be prohibitive.

Instead, use your graphical design and literature to your advantage. Ensure that your message is highly targeted and that it is communicated and echoed throughout your exhibit. When designing your graphics, you should focus on making your main points clear while providing additional information for those who are interested. Avoid the temptation to pack text onto a relatively small piece of paper; you'll bore potential leads. Instead, use bullet points, lists, and other clear and concise writing strategies to get your point across. It is a good idea to use techniques such as web links to help visitors get more information. If they like what they have seen at your trade show booth, they can easily find out more from the web without being overwhelmed. Just remember to stick to that technique throughout your trade show exhibits as well as your literature; visitors will be turned away by information overload on trade show exhibits just as much as they will be turned away by overly verbose literature.

Tip #2: Consider Your Color Choice

There are certain colors which are inherently more attractive to visitors, and choosing a harmonious color scheme is a major draw. However, there are many factors which should go into your choice. The best starting point is to think of colors which will be immediately associated with your company. If you have a distinctive logo, then you should start with colors from that. Next, consider whether any of your competitors will be using the same ones. If so, blend them with harmonious yet more distinctive elements. This blend of colors should always produce an ultimately pleasing trade show booth. To confirm your selection, it's a great idea to seek opinions from others not involved in the design process before it is produced.

Tip #3: Integrate Innovative Design Elements

This tip is particularly useful if you are expecting a large attendance at the convention. You can always gain the attention of your visitors by making your trade show exhibits stand out from your competitors. To accomplish that goal, try adding innovative materials to your trade show exhibits. It is particularly advisable to use materials related to your industry. You might also consider suspending your product high above the crowd if its features are large enough to attract attention.

Avoid becoming too gimmicky in your use of these new materials. You should still present an image that matches your company; it's more important to maintain the integrity of your company than to have an overwhelming trade show booth design. Fortunately, the two can usually go hand in hand, if only you take some time to think outside the box.