In any kind of sales business, we all know how important it is to get your company's name out there. You call, email, go on appointments, follow up. But there's only so many people you can call or email in one day, it's just logistics. Sales is a numbers game. It doesn't matter how good what you're selling is or how much you believe in it, if you're not talking to enough people about it, you're not going to sell anything!
Enter the tradeshow. God's gift to sales people. A way to get face to face with a multitude of potential clients...all at once! And best of all, there will be minimal exasperated sighs and impatient eye rolling...these people came to hear about your company, they came to listen to you!
An estimated 110 million people attend more than 4,000 shows in the United States and Canada every year (tradeshowsandevents.com). How many clients or prospects can you see per day? Maybe 3-4 or 6-7? And that's assuming you have already made contact with them and they've agreed to hear you out in person.
A typical two day trade show can have 10,000 attendees. Of those, 86% of your visitors will be new contacts (CEIR.org). That's 4,300 potential news clients per day, all together in one room, just waiting to hear about your company.
Trade show exhibiting is a great value. The cost per lead from a show averages $212 versus cost from the field averages $308. The cost per sale from a show averages $705. And the cost per sale from the field averages $1140. That’s 38% less to close a sale from a trade show lead!
My company has chosen to utilize this growing trend. 4th Avenue Media will be at Northwest Event Show at the Washington State Convention Center on Tuesday September 29th (banquetevent.com).
So the importance of trade show attendance is undeniable. The least you need to know is this:
People are attending trade shows in high numbers.
You can see more people in one day than you would even hope to see in weeks or even months.
Most of the people you meet through a trade show will be brand new contacts.
Your sales generated from trade show leads will cost you far less than leads generated in more traditional ways.
