Trade shows are an important part of your business routine, playing a large role in connecting you with potential and existing clients. Not only can trade shows help you to form business partnerships with others in the industry, but they also allow you to scope out the competition.

To capitalize upon the potential of a trade show, what marketing material pieces do you need? Here is a look at some of the printed literature pieces you need to take with you.

Business Cards

If you take nothing else with you, take business cards. In fact, experts recommend taking three times the number of business cards that you think you will need. There’s a good chance that the tradeshow will take place out of your normal operating zone, and people need to know how to contact you. Business cards can be attached to every other piece of literature that you hand out. They can be given to interested clients even if you run out of other promotional items. They can also be given out to other business people that you meet and want to keep in contact with.

Brochures

Brochures are a quick and easy way to sell your product. They should be colorful and informative. It is helpful to get a rack or a table to use to display your brochures to encourage visitors to pick one up. Make sure that each brochure also includes your contact information. Many people will walk around the trade show and pick up brochures, but not actually take a look at them until they get back to their home or office.

Banners and Posters

When you are at a trade show, you will be competing with many other businesses for attention, especially those businesses that offer competing products and services. Subsequently, you need a way to make your booth stand out from everyone else’s. Banners or posters are a good way to do this and can allow you to be seen from across the room. Use text that is easy to read, colors that stand out, and eye-catching graphics to attract the most attention. Your goal is to get people over to your booth so that you can convince them that you are the business they want to use.

Postcards

Postcards are another easy advertising trick. You can ask visitors to self-address a postcard so you can inform them of upcoming specials or sales. You can even have the postcard include a mini survey regarding their interests so your sales call and other marketing efforts can be more precisely tailored to their interests. Postcards can even be used as mini brochures to highlight your top selling or newest product. Make sure that postcards are easy to read and are colorful. If you plan to have the client fill the postcards out at your booth, be sure to take plenty of pens to have on hand.

The better prepared you are for your next trade show, the more business you can attract. Having printed materials handy makes it that much either to gain new clients.